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

ing women for company, and the min
strel was cast into dungeon to bide bis
time.
Now In those days there were knighte,
and the knights were under VOWS TO pro-
tect the fair fame Of innocent ladies, II
one werc accused Of evil, u knight might
offer to fight her accuser; and, il he con.
quered him, the people of those days bo-
lieved that God had declared the lady
innocent by giving her knight the VIC
tory, and no ono dared to think her
guilty after that; and the waiting maids,
who knew their mistress chaste as Ice
and pure as snow, said to each other
that surely n knight could be found to
prove her innocent. Ono of them offered
to ride forth and seek brave knight
with the red ribbon across his breast,
and Loyaute aux DANES for his motto,
who would prove the queen guitiess by
fighting Sir Aldingar.
The queen listened as she wept; o lit
! tic hope revived in her bosom.
perhaps there may be a knight to
fight for me-" she said. II never be-
lieved in dreams before; but now, alas
l do, for but few nights ago dreamed
that as ! sat upon my throne griffin de-
scended and carried off my crown and
all my jewels; and then, as sat shrek
ing. he returned and lifted me In his
great claws to carry me to his nest and
there devour me; but just then there
arose little white dove-so mild you
would not think he could harm hum
ming bird-and he attacked the griffin
and there killed him, and so saved me.
The griffin has como in Sir Aldingar.
Now perhaps the white dove may come
in the form of some true knight. So ride
forth. Margaret, and seek him."
Then the damsel, Margaret, kissed her
queens hand and went forth and rode
far and wide; but the story that Adm
gar told had gone forth. All believed
the queen wicked woman, deserving of
her fate. No knight offered to fight Al
dingar, for every one thought that he
had only done his duty. So the maiden
returned TO the bower broken-hearted;
but, riding through tho woods, she met
q little boy--a child so small and delicate
that he was not more than babe, and
clad in one white garment, over which
his golden hair fell to his waist.
"Why do you weep, fair damselT" he
asked.
"For something child knows nothing
Of" she answered.
"Dry your tears, good damsel, replied
the child, land take this message to the
| c,,aan TliJ hae rap,ap, ha,. hos J,ao,,,
Bid her remember how, as the griffin
would have borne her to his nest, the little
white dove came and saved her from It's
claws. Tell her that Heaven knows her
innocence, and that it shall bo proved"
The damsel was silent with astonish-
ment, and the child seemed TO her wide
open eyes to vanish into air even as he
spoke.
She rode home sadly, and her story of
the child in the wood was all the COM
fort she could bring. And the day of
the queens death approached, and the
preparations were made for her death
and for that of the blind minstrel. Two
trees were shorn of their limbs and wood
piled high about them and soaked with
oil, and the queen was led forth on one
hand and the minstrel on the other All
that remained was TO tie each to stake
and fire the pile. But first tho herald
must do his duty.
He, riding forth into the open space
about the stake, which was guarded by
soldiers, waved his hand, blew blast
through his trumpet and uttered these
words, "lf any knight desires to fight |
for the lady now about to die upon the
stake, let him speak, or ever after hold
his peace"
lie paused; there came no answer
Again he repeated the cry. Still silence
And now, for the third and last timo, the !
words were uttered, and Sir Aldingar felt
his wicked heart begin to beat again, for
he feared the justice of God, knowing |
how evil were his deeds, when, suddenly !
whence no one knew-a little white |
clad figure stepped into the open space
the white clad child Margaret had scen
in the woods. lie stood and looked at
them with glorious eyes like stars, and he
lifted up his hands.
II challenge Sir Aldingar to fight me
for the good queens lifc," he said. 81
stand here ready"
Then all saw in his hand sword that
was not there before.
"Aldingar!" they called.
And the traitor stepped forth and con-
fronted the child.
alt is not fitting that should fight 20
small a childF' lao said.
81 am large enough TO avenge wrong,
as you shall see, replied the child.
And so, perforoe, Aldingar produced
bis blade; and tho story goes that the
first stroke Of the child's sword pierced
liz body and he fell, dying.
The priests surrounded him, holding
their crosses before his face, and 70 them
be made full confession Of his 6in and
begged the queen 70 forgive him.
Her answer was: "slay Christ forgive
.hrp. AldiBgar, rs freely ~ dor
Then the king clasped his wife In his
arms. and besought her pardon, aud the /
.iny champion himself unloo5-i the [
lond5 of The blind minstrel. and kisscd !
aim upon hi5 eyes. which. az the kiss, !
-ccsived their sight again; and, after 3
vards. tie king made him oue % his '
nights, and exalted him % great favor. Z
But a. for tho tiny chlnTi1n. 10 ouc Q
.ver knew Just how be departed. cr cz- Z
-tly a. what moment Only. surely }
here We5 a strange mtric in fho az.
nj @ rrsfiiug a. of the wings ~ uusstl
.1gels. aui q Crcat mass uas said, and
Dee story u TIE rairslie uFrs recorded o. c
ile mouls. who found the sword with 2
,hicb the Cue-el's honor vas d,fadei ]
.pou tie rr0uud. a1d enshrinel itau0f.- q
ll4ir balisst rsI5cs- -Eeu -1-E rTsfI and @