The National tribune., 1889-02-07
THE BOY DUKE.
Continued from 1st page.l

Continued from 1St pagesl
shall ever hold you as dearly as brother
| let your abiding place be where it may. Yet
think it would be well for you to go with
the Duke of Normandy"
Eric sadly answered:
Since / may not be your Esquire, Garethi
| it matters not the Knight of Nantes will be
| well served without me. And know t is
| well indeed for one whose fortune casts him
| on the kindness and protection of his Grace
| of Normandy. Therefore, Duke Richard, y
he added, smiling family as he repeated
Alan's words, " l pray you, dispose OF Eric
as you please"
Richard, with deep feeling of sympathy
for the sad-hearted boy whom he had res
cued from cruel death, hut whose life he
could scarcely hope to make a happy one,
assured him of the kindness and protection
which he would certainly receive in Nor
mandy. The Boy Duke saw that Alan was
not displeased at the prospect of his imme-
! date removal from Nantes; for, IN fact, the
| Breton Duke did not like to see so warm a
| friendship growing between his heir and
! Erie, and he at least was entirely wiling
that they should be parted.
Alan required to the matter of the Knights
fee which he had profered on his sons behalf;
saying:
No, Duke; it was not my purpose to accept
a fee for the knighting of your son, save only
to obtain this boon which you have freely
granted. Sir Gareth's accolade was bravely
won, and bestow it gladly; and more would |
bestow if there were any further gift which
could offer to the Heir of Brittany"
1t would be more to my liking if you would
accept some gift of US, my Lord" said Alan,
seriously.
81 will" said Richard quick to comprehend
the dissatisfaction of his princely vassal, who
was not accustomed to receiving unrequited
benefits. although l want no fee for Sir
Gareths Knighthood,
I WILL GLADLY TAKE TOKEN OF YOUR
FRIENDSHIP, DUKE,
in remembrance of my visit If you viii give
me single suit of mail, wrought by your
famous armorer, shall be well content"
cay, my Lord the best l have is yours, and
right gladly" answered Alan, much better
pleased and he insisted on conducting Richard
at once to the armory to make his own selec-
ton.
In the meantime the general holiday and
festival which had been proclaimed in honor
of Gareth's Knighthood and the Boy Dukes
visit, was being celebrated with the utmost
rejoicing. All Nantes was ringing with the
sound of merry making; the mobiles in the
castle-hall were not more ardently sincere III
their demonstrations of pride and pleasure
than were the common people in the streets,
who shouted for Sir Gareth and their gracious
Lord the Duke, while they reveled in the
bounteous feast set forth, by order of the SEN
eschal of Nantes, at the castle gates, where all
day long the meat was served unstinted in
supply and wine was flowing free for all who
came to eat and drink their fill.
Few there were among the city people who
had not cause to love the young Lord for his
kindly benefactions; and few among the outside
laborers and the wanderers from distance who
did not crave permission, when their appetites
were satisfied with feasting, to creep into the
hall and catch glimpse of Gareth in the glory
of his Knighthood. If the common feeling
toward the Duke his father had less of love
and more of dread about it, yet on that day at
least every hungry, toiling hind in Alan's
realm, well-fed for once every varlet who
escaped an expected whipping, and every pris-
oner whose dungeon-door Enclosed to let him
forth in freedom, at Alan's command, was
ready to uphold him in all honesty, as a very
mercful and generous Lord and master.
Within the castle, also, there was music,
| mirth and gormandizing, as on the previous
night; but, as one banquet in a feudal hall
was very like another, it is needless to linger
over details which have already been described
There was dancing in the hall, and Richard led
the figures with the Lady of Nantes, while
Osmond sighed in vain for the happiness Of
treading measure with the eldest daughter,
the grizzled old Count of Rennes being allotted
to lead out the Lady Elanore. Such was the
etiquet of court ball, even so many centuries
ago.
The next day Richard set out on his return
| to Normandy.
Eric of Arras went with him, delivered from
the jailer and the hangman, yet not at liberty;
for, though his limbs were no longer shackled,
and no bolts and bars confined him, there was
no real freedom for hostage. He took his
| leave of Gareth in deep sorrow, for he knew
they were not likely to meet again.
| Osmond of Centoville, as he sat his gallant
steed with all the grace of youth and Norman
| training, and rode in his accustomed place be-
| side his boyish Lord carried full purse from
| which to scatter Richards largess among the
poor of Nantes. He turned his back on Alans
castle, and turned his face toward Rouen, half
| in sadness and half enraptured with the re-
membrane of a parting glance of something
more than kindness-or at least he allowed
himself TO think so-from the sweet, dark eyes
of Elanore of Nantes.
| The Boy Duke was accompanied as he rode
away from Nantes, by Alan and numerous
escort of the noblest Breton Lords, Who'll left him
| only at the border of his own domain. They
all avowed themselves his faithful friends, and
| promised to be ready with their aid whenever
Alan should summon them to 90 to war for
him. Alan himself again repeated the assur-
ance of his loyalty; and Richard parted from
his warrior yassal with the kindest and most
amicable feelings on either side.
The journey to Rouen occupied week, foI
the Boy Duke did not think it needful to make
such haste as when he was riding to the rescue
of poor Eric; and he rested for one day at Sil
Ivo's castle of Belesme, in the mountains Of
La March Here he decided that Eric should
remain, as companion to Sir Ivo's only son
young Audemer de Belesme.
RoUEN NO PLACE FOR ERIC.
"I have reflected" said he, that Rouer
would perhaps not be very pleasant place fol
you. Eric; my good friend, the Count of Har
court, is so incensed against all Flemings-and
indeed, the most of my friends are of much the
same mind"
He said this as they stood upon the battle
ments at Beesme, where Audemer was point
ing ont the view, and showing a cordial desire
to put the Flemish guest at ease. 1t was thi.
evident inclination to be friendly, on the par
of Sir Iyo's heir which had led to Richards
remark. lie continued
" l have no fear that Sir Two will ever per
nit any such feeling to influence his conduc
in regard to you, Count Erie, or to render yor
unhappy in his hall; and 1 am very glad Il
see that Audemer is disposed to entertain yor
with that kindly courtesy which all my Nor
man friends would show can assure you
hostage though you are, if they could but for