The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-07-23

| tho defeneeleSS victim.
Again l ask thee, woman, wilt thou
confess?"
She shook her head despondingly,
buried her face in her hands, and MUIR
INJURED something; perhaps it was a
| PRAYER The mob burst once more into
commotion.
Where are the servants of this wom-
n?-let them be put on the rack" saii
the Judge.
They have escaped" answered an
official
Escaped, said the Judge. cha! were
they living men or the servants of the
foul tiend? Know you ought?"
Il do know" said the maiden. sud-
denly rising to her feet, and speaking
with the energy of n queen, while her
eve flashed and her bosom heaved with
excitement, land thank God they are
free, although they have left me- de-
fenseless. Yes, they are free from your
fortunes. Me. you may murder with
your accursed laws, but-mark mel
shall be fearfully avenged. My
story has been truly told-so help
me Gcd"-and she raised her eyes
to heaven in abiuration, land
if l die, die innocent. l tell We am
the betrothed bride of a noble. l am
more; l am the daughter of prince.
And now do your worst. l shall die
worthy of my race"
She sat down. Not murmur was
heard for the space of minute after
she had ceased. Her daring energy
awe-struck all. But what could even
bravery like hers effect against brutal,
bigoted populace? As soon as the
hearers could recover from their mo-
mentary CONSERVATION, they broke into
u whirlwind of shouts and impreca-
tons, and rushed on to the defenseless
girl; and had not the soldiery, who inn
mediately guarded her, interposed, she
would have fallen an instant victim to
the rage of the populace To be torn
in pieces by mob was a death too hor-
rible. She turned imploringly to the
! Judge, but there was no hope in his
iron face She closed her eyes, but the
| bowling mob still swan before her
vision: and when she buried her face in
! her robe. and strove to shut ont their
| imprecations, their fierce, wild cries
| still rung in her ears. At each moment
the tumult deepened. until the excite
ment of the populace became uncon-
.rollable
Away with her-she is sold to the
! tiend-away-away"
| Vengeance for the sufferers by her
nominations !" hoarsely growled voice
from the mob.
The Judge no longer hesitated, but
yielding to the popular current as we'll
as his own prejudices, sentenced her to
| be burned at high noon of that very day.
! 4 wild shout of exultation rose from
| the frienzied mob as the sentence was
pronounced, but over all the din
| swelled the fearful cry. ''To the stake
with her-away with the sorceress. :"
1t was few hours earlier in the
same day when n noble knight sat in a
hostelrv of the little seaport town Of.
He was of siugularly imposing cast of
countenance. His features were of the
true Norman outline, with a lofty in
tellectval brow, shaded by locks of the
richest chestnut hue. His cheek was
embrowned by Syrian sun until it
was of the darkest olive color, but the
| clear white of his forehead, which had
been protected from exposure by his
helmet. betrayed the original purity of
his complexion. He had an eye whose
glance can only be likened to that of an
eagle. His form was tall and COM
handing. He sat apparently absorbed
in thought but was aroused from his
reverie by the entrance of retainer.
Are the horses ready?"
eyes nv lord. said the man.
"We will mount into the saddle at
once then: how far did they say it was to
Bourdonnis ?"
six leagues"
1--WE shall reach it before nightfall;
lead on
The party which set forth from the
inn was a gallant sight to behold.
Knights, squires, men alarms and 9TH
er retainers swelled the escort of the
Yong count to the number of nearly
four score, while the pennons waving in
the air. and the occasional sound of a
trumpet gave liveliness to the escort
| which attracted the attention of the pass
er-bv of every rank and sex, and drew
many sigh of envy from them. But
who might pretend to be the equal of
the renowned Count Garonne, crusad-
er of untarnished fame. gallant still
in the flower of his youth and the lord
of half score of castles scattered over
| the wide domain of France.
At the head of the proud array rode
| the count himself, conversing gally with
a knight at his side, whom he Familiarity
called cousin.
LAY, by st. Dennis!" said the count,
she is divinity snch as even our sunny
Provence doth not afford. Such eyes,
| such hair, and then, by my faith such q
voice! 1t pained my heart to part from
my sweet Zilah-but she would have it
so-and so she comes in company with
Father Ambrose and score of my best
knights. Her maidenly modesty die
tated this, and was forced to submit.
We were separated, however, by that
heathenish storm, and I suppose her
galley put into Genoa. You know she
will be given away by none but the holy
father himself, and the glad lover reign
ed his horse, while the animal, as if par
taking of the masters joy curvetted
gaily.
Il long to see your princess, nor do I
wonder at your love, since she freed
you from Moslem prison; when shall
| greet my future cousin?"
ave shall reach Bourdonnis tonight,
and -morrow--let me see-to-morrow
we shall keep on the Trouchet; in an
other day we shall arrive at Genoa, and
there we will await her, if her galley is
not already arrived.
81 am all Impotence to behold her
but look at the knave coming over
yonder hill. He rides like the fiend
himself"
Gay and by st. Dennis he is black
amoor;a scarcer thing here than in
Syria. Holy father, how he dashes
on"
Even while they spoke the horseman
rapidly approached, and before
many minutes drew in the rein of
his foaming steed at the side of
the count, whom he appeared to
know. The recognition was mutual.
The man instantly spoke in strange
tongue, and with violent gestures,