The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-19

But even AS he spoke Elgiva gave q
frightened start, and the crown fell tC
the floor. Edwy's face grew very pale
1t was bad omen.
But he had not time to speak. A
harsh dominant voice sounded behind
him, and turning, he saw the cause OF
Elgiva's agitation. Dunstau, tho
naughty abbot of Glastonbury, had ell
tered, and stood stern spectator o.
the scene. He was tall powerful
man, beside whose muscular proper
tons King Edwy looked like mere
boy.
Come" he said, roughly seIzins
the king by his arm. ''Is it thus yol
guard the sacred crown of Alfred?
Making it toy with which to please a
silly girl!'
Edwy flushed angrily.
''Unhand me, Dunstan," he said,
''or by the shade of the Alfred you
mention you will rue this day."
Dunstan gave short derisive laugh,
and frightened his grasp, turning at
the same time the light of his fierce
eyes upon the queens mother, Ethel
giva, who stood a startled spectator of
the scene.
land you, madame" he said con-
temptuously, ''had 1 my way, you
should go with your daughter-the
siren who has made King Edwys name
a reproach-to convent-cell. | would
deal with you as with refractory
monk-put you upon diet of bread
and water, until you repented of your
| sins"
1t was evident that Dunstan was not
master of himself. He had partaken
too freely of the wine which had flowed
like water at the feast; else he would
not have dared to throw aside his
usual appearance of Difference to his
! sovereign, and to thus insult the ladies
of his household.
King Edwy saw that he was power
less in Dunstan's hands, and with
wonderful self-control he smothered
his anger.
"You are right, Dunstan," he said
quietly. eve are indeed truant
from our duty. We will at once re-
turn to our guests"
Then, with reassuring look at FL
giva, who stood pale and trembling
| beside her mother, he accompanied
the naughty prelate from the room.
But, although King Edwy had thus
| yielded to brute strength, the offense
was not forgotten, and the punish
ment was one equal to the magnitude
of the fault.
Dunstan was the principal sufferer,
although he had acted as the mouth
piece of his friend Odo, who. connect
ing Edwy's absence from the revel
with its real cause, suffered his hatred
to the young queen to appear in his
harsh orders to some of the noble
guests to go to her apartment and
drag the king thence by force. His
command was disregarded 10y them;
but Dunstan, in his zeal to win Odo's
commentator, rose hastily and rushed
to fulfill his behest in the manner de-
scribed.
Among other important offices, Dun
stan had filled the position of
treasurer to King Edred, brother and
predecessor to Edwy, who had hitherto
prudently kept silent with regard to
his suspicious that certain moneys had
been diverted from their proper uses.
Now, however, in his hot Indignation,
Edwy at once caused proceedings to
be instituted against him. He was
found guilty, and forced to flee the
country. But. though absent, he was
able to make the king feel his power,
for band of armed men, under Dun
stan's direction, swooped down upon
Elgiva like SO many birds of prey, aud
took her prisoner. Her beauty and
helplessness would have melted heart
of stone. But where fanaticism is the
ruling power pity exists not.
Dunstan had well chosen the leader
of this foray.
He was a stern gloomy man, deaf to
all but the voice of his duty, as it was
interpreted by Dunstan, who, even
then, was becoming renowned for re-
ported miracles which had happened
to him.
Elgiya read savage meaning in his
baneful glances, and sank upon her
knees to plead for mercy, as she heard
him order branding-irons to be heated
and brought in.
"Were you my own child" he said,
regarding her with cold IMPLYING
gaze, land guilty of the offense of lur-
ing the king into sacrilegious mar
riage, would still do my duty and de-
stroy the comeliness which has worked
such harm"
Then, as the seething irons were
handed to him, he seized Elgiva, with
the exclamation, "Thus perish thy
Circean artsw and imprinted deep
and cruel burn on each tender cheek.
She tainted at the pain.
He stood looking at her for mo-
ment with grim satisfaction.
king Edwy would little care to kiss
those lips now, fancy" he murmured
in an undertone. "Nor to carry out
the rest of my orders"
His directions had been to destroy
Elgiva's beauty, and then send her
away from England into Ireland.
He carried them out with a fidelity
worthy of better cause; and when the
captive queen aroused from her death
| ly faint, and heard the waters dashing
against the vessels side, q pain ex-
ceeding that caused by her CHASTITY
wounds entered into her heart; for she
knew each motion of the heaving
waves was bearing her still farther
from her worshipped Edwy. She
prayed for death; but it came not.
Then a numb despair took possession
of her and sealed her lips. She would
not please her captors by any token OF
her acute suffering of both mind ano
body. In this state she remained until
taken into the presence of the Lady
Ulrica, wife of powerful Irish noble
man, whose good will Dunstan wa:
anxious to win, and to whom he pre-
sented Elgiva as slave, trusting Il
her ignorance of the Celtic tongue
and to the difference in the positions
of mistress and menial, to avoid un
pleasant consequences which Nigh
result from discovery of Elgiva's rea
rank.
In this enlightened age such an ide;
would not be for an instant enter
tanned. But at that distant perioC
people were but just emerging from
state of semi-barbarism. The yOun%e
sons OF kings were not taught to rea'
and write. To be proficient in arts .
war and in the chase was considered
sufficient education for those in tn,
most exalted POSITIONS; and the rela
ton between mistress and servant
was one which was. seldom bridget
over by the amenities extended to
faithful domestic of the present day.
But Elgiva's captors had neglected
to provide her with change of ap
parel suitable to the degraded position
She was intended to occupy; and sh
i :.