The morning call., 1890-10-01
CHATEAU DE COURCY.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIvAGE.

SEFS-9 carved Odhtu Cldll, III ulo Sttoe an
tSs4S cestral hall at the decline of day
Though it was yet early autumn, and though
the rays of au unshadowed sun poured
through the high western windows OF the
vast apartment. huge fire was burning on
the hearthstOne. near to which the OLD noole
had established his seat. SO motlonleSs and
stern he sat that lie seemed more like one OF
those sculptured effigies of chiyalry that
kept watch and ward over the tombS OF the
crusaders than living being. a large robe
of crimson velvet, lined and trimmed with
costly ermine, envel0ped his limbs, descend
ing from his throat to his feet.
A cap of crimson cloth and gold was on
his head, and beneath this descended the
long. sivery locks that betokened his eX-
IRENE age. His,cheek and blow were FUR
rowed by thousand wrinkles, and his eyes,
dimly visible beneath their heavy, oyerlang-
ing brows, seemed lgsterlesS and raylesS.
His sunken mouth was entirely overgroWn
by white muStache, which mingled with a
long and flowing beard of the same color.
His age was nearly fourSeore years and ten.
On the other side of the fire sat, sur
rounded by r*handmaidens, the Baroness
3 de Courcy, pale and sorrow-Stricken lady
ofapparently not half the age of Bthe aron.
. A low word addres sed bvNher from time to
time to one of the maidens alone broke the
chilling and almost sepulchral silence OF The
hall.
At last the sound Of a trumpet echoed
through the hall. The Baroness dropped
her embroidery, clasped Her hands, Whlle
the b non started as a dead knight might
: start at the trump Of an archangei.
TT is lie, it is Victor" exclaimed the bar
oness, CHANGING at her husband.
Tee. Baron HUGO fTOWued darkly, but
made no reply. The next moment a glitter
ing figure advanced throughthe arched door
way in the further end Of the hall, the sun
slime projecting its shadow far before it.
Victor de COurcy was % years old; a
handsome and well-bult figure a bold and
martial bearing, frank and open counte-
nance we'll became the splendid armor he
wore aud the military profession lie had
adopted.
Father" he said, bowling before the old
Barnn, t'you sent for me ami L am here"
You aretardy," replied the Baron coldly.
'"Ydu knew the castle was menaeed by enc
'sAnd have REACHED it before Them" was
VicLor'S reply. " Mother, lie added, rush
ing: to the side. of the Baroness, :. you, at
least have welcome for your soHr'
F The Baroness Erminia casped: MIN in her
arms and blessed him. Then, with a gesture
of. her hand, size dismissed her train, and
Victor and his parents we're. left alone to-
fi,.f,
e.::.'Iyhy did you not Gene .hither s9oner?"
asked the Baron, Strrnly, ":G0ur presence
might have held the knights of Nalmont III
check" -. ~ -. .
'sWould it have prevented my. brother
EuSt8ee from hunting on. their lands-fronl
bratipg their yassalss and driving off their
/. ctttle~?" asked Victor hapghti1y. -:
st.:N nenceget sou these ta4sehoeds ofyour
brother p aske ed the Barun tieice1y. =.
!: From the complaints of the Knights of
YalmQnt before the throne u Philip Angus
tuS.'' = - -. ;: T.
" Do you believe the charges of.your enc
nies?"
Before the King said they lied. Before
you, father, l confess that l believe them
true"
Are you come hither to sustain them ?"
81 come hither to fight them. They shall
not touch a stone OF the castle while | re-
main between them and the ramparts."
1t is WE'LL" said the aged Baron. But
tell me what hast thou been doing in the
four years OF your absence from the Chateau
de CouIcy?"
"In AQuitaine I fought for the Glscons
against the lion-hearted Richard of En-
gland. Thrice did | meet hin in the field
thrice did our lances shIyer, without either
yielding foot of ground.
''And from Aquitaine whittier went you?'
continued the Baron.
1.-THE next year | was with King Henry
VII before the walls of Rouen. Twice did
scale the walls with no other help than my
good sword"
And afterward ?'
Il fought against Henry II. King OF En-
giaUd, in the Duchy OF Berry"
And thence?'
Il went with Henry of the Short Mantle
to Paris. wheleI took part in the games and
tournaments: =: -;
s.: And what happened 10 you then ?'' as ked
the lSir6n with EpIin sin uIiirirr I1Ols:
Nothing worthy Of rgclalfS3 Sid the
young man, casting down hiS:eyess =
:: IhpIe " as a SILENCE OF some moments /; and
perhaps the Barron wauld have renewed his
inquiries had It not been for the entrance Of
,Eustace, the sOh:of the.eld:n0ble by bis first
wife. Ihe .Wretched young iiiau came lie:
fore lis father with an unsteady step-hiS
eyes We're blo:dSiot, and his face; was
flushed with drtnling-he had fallen from
his. horse and Ills garments were covered
with mud. a tlaslf:of anger colured the pale
cheeks 0f:the old warrior, but he uttered not
| aword of reDroach against his favored but
unworthy son,
Hal" exclaimed Eustace. My brother
here-:I knew not this. Let me clasp you
to my heart, Victor
But the yonng man stood with folded
arms.
"Vctor!'' exclaimed the Baron, sternly,
embrace thy bIotherw
Victor Obeyed, but the ceremony ended,
he called page and said, disdainfully:
Wipe this filth from my armor. The
purest steel will rust ard talnlsh if such
stains are not speedily effaced. aud then the
time comes when the g0odly armor thus
deyoured refuses to defend its master"
The Baron was preparing to make an an
CRY comment on this speech when a trumpet
again sounded without the castle, and he
rose with an effort to his feet and thus adj
dressed Victor de Courcy:
81 Nou nrp Summoned homa for n dor,
bic purpose In the first place, 10 guard the
chateau against the menaced attack of enc
mics, which l. am too feeble TO repel and
chastise; and in the second place to be pres
ent at the nupials of your brother"
= At the -nuptials OF my brOtherp
Yes. Victor, stammered Eustace, "wiSll
me JOY"
"And the lady?" asked Victor.
You viii know her soon enough" said
the Baron, with a smile of peculiar near.
ing.
At this moment the folding doors at the
lower part of the hall were thrown open,
and surrounded by pages and attendants q
beautiful and richly pttired tady entered.
Blanche de Montreuilp' multered Victor
as his eye rested for moment on her fea-
lures; this is too much"
The Baron and Baroness welcomed the
lady courteously. Eustace staggered for
ward and sought to take her hand, but she
turned from him with disdain, and sank into
sat, pale and agitated.
This is a marriage of Ry Making" said
the Baron, leading Victor forward to the
lady. "Haye 1 not been happy in my second
son?"
The lady gazed for an instant on the
young knight; and then with faint cry
sank back in her chair. Erminia sank oyel
her and then molioned to her husban nd and
sons to retire.
1t was midnight-a wild storm was howl.
ing over the tllrret of the Chateau de Courcy
| Victor, in whose breast storm of passion,
fierce as the strife of the elements without
YVES raging, strobe up and down in a lonely
| corridor, lit only by the flashes of lightning
that momentarily penetrated the deep loop
| holes in the walls.
NV father is rightw he muttered. 81
| must fly. i cannot remain to see the woman
| once loved sacrificed TO another. Hence
| forth my home must be among strangers.
He gave me an hour to decide. l have made
up my mnd-I will return to him and tell
| him that | yield"
| Victor soon regained the bedside of hi:
father. beside which his mother was seated.
Father! mother!" cried the young man
:" lave returned to bid you adieu. Per.
haps, if in the rude and perious career tC
| I how Aax toI liz