The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-04-26

divides and allows the victoriou
General to ride between its linel
the very heavens seem to open an
join the mighty shout of welcome. Cap
and hats are thrown high into the ar
as the brave hero moves slowly on, hi
steed prancing and curvlng his hand
Some neck. Arrived at the marke
square, the General mounts the steps o
the Capitol, and amid deafening shout
proclaims his victory. As a proof o
the fruits Of his conquest over bar
barian tribe he summons his prisoners
They march before the eager multitude
with bowed heads dragging their massive
chains in the dust. Their doom il
sounded aud they are led away. Then
the fearful chief, who has caused SO much
alarm and threatened so many calamities
to the State, is brought forward. A
scream of terror at his ferocious aspect
escapes from many throats. The Cen
eral asks in what way he shall punish
this chief of all barbarians, a shout OF
torture and the axel'' comes in an aw-
ful tide Of condemnation. But bark
The song Of Blondel penetrates the dis
cordant sounds and reaches every ear.
Perfect silence reigns. Every hat is
itted. Every head is bowed. The
guard releases the captive. When the
song has died away, with tears in his
I eyes, the General says; Unhappy
Blondei, art thou still faithfuln Then
turning to the captive chief he cries in
loud voice: Think not l am so base
as the Duke of Austria; be freelp
In a rough and wild mountain pass,
many thousand feet above the sea, where
the snow is piled in heaps and desoiation
.Felgns supreme, two robbers meet. They
exchange grim and saTtless greeting
and suilenly enter cave near by, where
may be seen lantern and few of the
essentials Of life. Accusing fire is started,
and as they warm themselves they curse
their bard luck, for neither has found
any one to rob for two whole days, and
they have no food nor drink, nor that
with which to buy. Without the wind
bowls, the snow drifts and the elements
rage. Old kings of the forest, oaks and
pines long dead, are unable to Withstand
the blast, and come crashing TO earth
with fearful sounds of destruction. Cold
and famIshed beasts see the fire in the
IN the cave aud prowl about, growing
and snarling in their distress. The dark
est villain now rises, seeks the moth of
the cave, and stands a moment thought
tul. He starts. He hears sob. And
looking whence it came he beholds a
shivering youth. The dark robber drags
the boy from his retreat and with |
sparkling eyes sees that the lad is covered |
with jewels, rare and most brilliant. |
Roughly he pulls the boy into the cave,
who though trembling with fear, feels that
the fire is kindling ray of light from
heaven The villains hasten TO despoil him
Of his valuables, but he protests that he
will die before he parts with his gems.
They fercely say he shall die, if he so
chooses, and raise their swords to slay him.
He kneels and prays for mercy. They
augh, cold, hOarse, fiendish laugh,
and bid HIM pray the half frozen lion
IS for mercy; or implore the hungry
md dying tiger. But now, as the
blades of the rusty swords are again
aised, Blondel-for it is he-sings
lis magic song, and lOl the swords
'leaYe the ar and fall harmless upon the
ocks of the cave. The villains invol-
lntarily bow their heads until he fin
shes, and then with shamed faces rush
nto the night, leaving the trembling
Minstrel alone in the cave with the FIRE
o give him warmth. The lad does rot
ote the departure of his enemies nor
he height to which the flames are reach
ng, but sits lost in his meditationS or
roaming, it may be, of his master.
In the morning he awakes and realizes
There he has spent the night. He re-
MEMBERS the fierce villains and wonders
here they have gone At length he
-arts on his journey again, for the day
bright and warmer. Not more than
alf mile beyons1I+ssae4e- cave, and
srther down the mountain, Blondel I
anne upon q man dead, as he supposes, {
! the snow. He at once recognizes him
, be the boldest of the robbers. His +
ms and hands are almost gone, torn in s
eces, and his limbs are frozen. A lit '
e life remains, however. Perceiving c
lis the affectionate boy leans over the b
Fing villain and asks in what way he
ay bring assistance The bold robber
plies that he hopes and expects and
.sires to die. He says that a lioness t
Is utterly devoured his colleague and
at he himself escaped in this frightful 4
The lad tries to help him
ION his feet aud offers him wine from
SIX he carries, but the robber will not
INK: he cares not to prolong life.
Blondel to draw nearer that b
may catch ca h word, he says: :
81 know you. You are Blondel in
-ofa 80 gok, I = Il
iploY of the Duke of Austria when the
rur de Leon was captured. am dying IL
W and consider that among my great W
crimes; therefore, let me somewhat m
0ne for it by telling where he is i'm.
isoned. Follow this path about twenty Al
les. and in yonier valley you will see HI
isolated tower. The castle, of which
was part, has long since persisted;
t in that tower lies the King of Eng nj
ID.
As he finishes speaking he heaves q
'ubled sigh, and is soon free from pain
deaths embrace. Blondel weeps over W
body, as an atIectionate lad is prone he
do, and prays God to forgive the rob 10
rs many sins on account of this one ma
ed of virtue. Then covering the
-pse with the soft snow, swiftly FL
ward pushes the boy Twenty g,
les is a long way, and it is late TO
the evening and quite dark when ca
0ndel sees the tower, standing alone b,
/ isolated. Everything in this valley
warm and beautiful, all remnants Of
, snow and cold which threatened
n during the night are a long distance vo
lind, far up IN the rugged Alps. The b,
lis before which he stands are over SCI
,wn with vines, and roses cluster W,
tut their base In fact, he has de-
nded from the cruelest of winters to
kiudest of summers. It is a peace oil
night, but very dark, as the moon
not risen. No light may be seen in wi
I window of the lonely tower. Nc Ia
rs of human life are visible. Every
ng seems to be in ruin. Huge rocks
as they have fallen from turret topi