San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-12-12
HE SAVED THE QUEEN.

In the Fourteenth century, in the days
when there were knights, and when
those who committed great crimes in
England were burned at the stake, there
lived king who had beautiful queen,
as good as she was lovely. All men adj
mired her, but for her part sho thought
of no one but her husband, the king.
There was. however, in the kings ser.
vice steward called Sir ,Aldingar, who
thought himself irresistible, and who did
all he could to cause tho queen to smile
upon him. She, however, knowing what
true wife should be, not only showed
herself unmoved by his smiles and eighf
and tender glances, but was brave
enough to rebuke him for them, and tell
him that If he repeated his insolence she
would inform the king.
This not only made Sir Aldingar furi.
Gus, but caused him to fear that he
might lose that place at court which
was so valuable to him.
He had good wages. and the favor OF
tho king. Moreover, no doubt, being
dishonorable in one direction, he was SC
in all, and robbed his master of his
money as he wished to rob him of his
wife's love. Therefore, he resolved to
bring the queen into disgrace, to make
the king believe her false to him, and
to compass her death if possible. The
queen who was untrue to her husband
in those days was burned at the stake,
and the steward was fiend enough to en-
deavor to bring this about, for, once
burned, the beautiful queen could never
harm him more.
She, for her part, thought that she had
asserted her dignity, and had no fear of
any harm coming to her.
Perhaps she should have denounced
the steward to the king, but she was
pitiful, and justice was prompt in those
days. The steward would have met
some fearful death. So she prayed to
heaven to keep her heart and her life
pure, and sat among her. maidens teach
ing them to spin, and weave, and en-
broider, and giving them, one may BIZ
sure, good counsel.
But Aldingar did not soften. On the
contrary, his wrath grew greater, and
his determination to do the queen to
death stronger with every hour.
Now, the queen had q beautiful sum-
mer bower, in which she eat alone ut
timee. 1t was hung with tapestry, and
rich rugs from the orient were spread
upon the stone floor. Without the deep
windows were blooming vines, swaycd
by every breeze that blew, and the birds
perched on the carven sills and pecked
the crumbs that tho queen cast them;
and here not even the maidens entered.
No one ever came there but the king,
and as the August days grew warm the
beautiful queen, in loose and graceful
dishabillo, reclined upon her couch and
read her missal or sang to her lutte until
the king came to rest there also.
Sir Aldingar knew this, and planned
accordingly,
There were minstrels in those days
men who travelled along the road with
lutes in their hands or harps on their
and were fed and housed by
those for whom they played. There was
one who was handsome, young and
blind, who played the lutte divinely.
This man Aldingar met upon the road
one day and spoke kindly to him.
"Come with me-" he said, land you
shall meet u lady who will give you
large aims and good entertainment, for
she is fond of music like yours
And then he led the blind man, who
could not see where he was going, and
had no thought of treacbery, into the
good queens summer bower, where it was
a crime for any man 10 get foot, save at
the royal bidding, and led him also to
the queens couch. where he babe him
rest himself until some one came.
After this he sought the king and told
him that he had sad tidings, which lie
was loath to utter. However, the king
Dade him speak boldly, and Aldingar,
with great show Of sorrow, declared that
.he queen had lover; that she invited
/ handsome blind minstrel to her sum-
ner bower and there listened to his mu- !
nc. In fact, he made n very bad story
# it, and added that the minstrel was
low IN the queens power.
The king, lashod to fury, swore ven
,cauce if the tale proved true. but added
hat, if it were not, Aldingnr should be
ianged upon a gallows,and rushed away, I,
ollowed by the steward, 70 find his
queen.
Meanwhile the ebcauiiful lady he'd gone
70 her bower and, entering.
aw q man seated on her couch She
new him 20 he blind, and cav that he
gas wandering minstrel, and her in
uiry rs TO how he cume there was less
tern than il would have been ~ one
-ho could sc.
The minstrel, hearing the lady's voice,
rtysc and answered tat a most kindly
nd courteous knight, or gentleman, lad
rought him thither. saying that lady
-lso loved the lutte would listen % him
nd recOmpenss him.
1T could be no o;hcr than the king.
y husband, said tire queen. "Ani
nee il is his commsll. play for M.
Tl.en. with her Own .Ilnd, size bel hifu
sat near b., that be nigh; rt=t
ere while he piayei; and a. she dil
J. tlie dor % tie b.-er tur-t oren ard
entered tie king. foilyUed b. Adm
sr
The BEAUTIFUL wife t5ll the truth. the
instrei sEore % his tale- 5ut t5e kinz
-s tlai11s- rll. tl-1g iia 70 de-