The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-19
Q Heaven in token of her trust in

to Heaven in token of her trust in
God
Tears rushed to Lady Ulrica's ewes,
and putting her arms about Elgiva
she kissed her upon her forehead.
! Then she commanded her waiting
women to conduct her to her own
sleeping-room, and provide her with Il
change of garments; and robeh in linen
fragrant from the sweet-smelling
herbs in which it had been stored. Ell
giva rested her aching head upon a
comfortable couch for the first time
since her abduction.
! A leecn, wonderfully skilled in the
healing arts, was member of the
household. Lady Ulrica sent for him,
and placed Elgiva in his care.
'DO Your best for the pretty Great
ure, she said, ''aud cure those pain
| full wounds upon her cheeks. 1t must
have been fiend in human guise who
could have thus branded ayoung girls
! tender flesh"
Under his treatment, after weeks of
lingering illness, Elgiva rallied. Even
the scars of her burns had disappeared
under the effects of potent ointment.
the secret of whose preparation is
among the lost arts, and under the in
| fiuence of Lady Ulrica's gentle kind
ness, hope revived in her heart. With
its return came an earnest wish to
converse with her benefactress in her
own language, and though at first linn
tied to signs, her ready intelligence
soon mastered the elements of the Gel
tic tongue. Then Lady Uirica learned
to her amaZement and dismay that it
was England's queen who had been
thus maltreated.
She soon matured plans to re-unite
her to her husband. Months had passed
slowly by to Edwy, whose deep deiec-
tion increased with each succeeding
day, for it brought with it no news of
her he so passionately loved. At last
he resigning all thought of again see
ing her alive, and put on q mourning
garb, ordering the ladies and gentle
men of his court to do the same. Then
he secluded himself, refusing to be
drawn from his brooding privacy un-
less to confer upon important State
matters.
But one day message reached him
that an Irish lady of high rank craved
an audience with him, hoping to in
duce him TO redress the wrongs of a
youthful member of her household,
who lad been abducted and cruelty
treated by certain of his subjects.
Edwy sprang to his feet in sudden
anger.
Bring the suppliant in hither," he
said. ''Such wrong shall be redressed,
if it cost me the half of my kingdom"
He paced tie floor in his excitement
until Lady U!rica came in, accom-
panied by slight, yelled figure. Then
he calmed himself, and was again the
dignifed sovereign.
Speak" he said, ''and tell me the
extent of the evil which has been
wrought upon you. I would be un-
worthy the blood which empurples my
veins did l not punish the foul mis-
creants, could their offense be proven"
But even as he said this, his head
dropped in detection upon his breast
For had he not been powerless to find
and chastise those who had extin-
guished the light of happiness upon his
own hearth-stOne.
The blow had been struck in the
dark; but he well knew at whose door
to place the outrage; and had learned
to his cost that it was like beating
against a rock to disregard the man
dates of the powerful Church party
whose heads had placed themselves in
opposition to EIgiva.
Lady Ulrica remained silent for
moment, then she drew her companion
forward and lifted the concealing COW
ering from her face.
One startled, almost incredulous
look, and King Edwy clasped his re-
covered treasure to his wildly throb-
bing heart.
After an interval devoted only to the
joy of meeting, Elgiva told tine sad
story of her capture and cruel treat
ment. and of the friend. she had found
the beneticient Irish lady to whom she
had been sent as a slave.
As the king listened. his Indignation
was too deep for words. But within
his heart he registered vow to be re-
venged upon Dunstan and his follow
ers. The way he kept it is matter
for history to tell.
Life is not measured by years, but
by momentous events. Let us hope
that enough joy was crowded into the
brief reunion of Edwy and Elgiva to
atone for any sorrow which might as
sail them in the swift-coming future.