The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-01-02

time.
Now in those days there were knights.
and the knights were under vows to pro-
tect the fair fame of innocent ladies. If
one were accused of evil. knight might
offer to fight her accuser; and, if he con.
quered him. the people of those days be-
lieved that God had declared the lady
innocent by giving her knight the vic
tory, and no one dared to think her
guilty after that; and the waiting raids,
who knew their mistress chaste as ice
and pure as snow, said to each other
that surely knight could be found to
prove her innocent. One of them offered
to ride forth and seek a brave knight
with the red ribbon across his breast,
and Loxaute aux DANES for his motto,
who would prove the queen guiltless by
fighting Sir Aldingar
The queen listened as she wept; 1T
tie hope revived in her bosom
Perhaps there may he a knight to
light for me. she said. II never be-
lieved in dreams before; but now, alas;
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 il, his
great claws to carry me to his ne,. anf
there devour me: but just then mere
arose little white dove-so mild vosl
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 come in Sir Aldingar.
Now perhaps the Write 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 the woods, she met
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 damsel?' he
asked.
For something a child knows nothing
Of" she answered
Dry your tears, good damsel, replied
the child, "and take this message to the
queen. Bid her remember her dream.
Bid her remember how, as the griffin
would have borne her to his nest, the little
white dove came and saved her from its
claws. Tell her that Heaven knows her
innocence, and that it shall be 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 a stalks
and fire the pile But fi-st the herald
must do his duty.
He, riding forth into the open space
about the stake, which was guarded by
soldiers, waved his hand, blew a blast
through his trumpet and uttered these
words, "f any knight desires to fight
for the lady now about to die upon the
stake, let him speak, or ever after hold
his peace" d.
He paused; there came no answer,
Again he repeated the cry. Still silencs.
And now, for the third and last time, the
words were uttered, and Sir Aldingar felt
his wicked heart begin to beat again, for
ne 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 seen
in the woods. He stood and looked at
them with glorious eyes like stars, and he
lifted up his hands.
II challenge Sir Aldfngar to fight me
for the good queens life," he said. 81
stand here ready"
Then all saw in his hand a sword that
was not there before.
"Aldingarl' they called.
And the traitor stepped forth and con-
fronted the child
1T is not fitting that should fight SO
small childl' he said
Il am large enough to avenge wrong,
as you shall see" replied the child.
And SO, perforce, Aldingar produced
his blade; and the story goes that the
first stroke of the child's sword pierced
his body and he fell, dying.
The priests surrounded him, holding
their crosses before his face, and to them
he made full confession of his sin and
begged the queen to forgive him.
Her answer was: May Christ forgive
thee, Aldingar, as freely as dor
Then the king clasped his wife in his
arms. and besought her pardon; and the
tiny champion himself Embossed the
bonds Of the blind minstrel, and kissed
him upon his eyes. which, at the kiss,
received their sight again; and, after
wards, the king made him one of his
knights, and exaked him to great favor.
But as for the tiny champion, no one
ever knew just how he departed, or ex.