The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-10-26

Quoted him 20 the loft and showed him
six children asleep or, bed Of straw.
"Conceal myself. and quickly. for I
hear thy pursuers already at the door,"
she said, pointing to thelstraw.
The earl hastily crept in among the
slumbering children, taking the young
est one in his arms. There was no little
r~uarreling at first.
"How big brother MAJ has grown"
said one little girl as she Struggled close
beside the mighty potentate who had
taken refuge in that rude bed.
Why can he not come to bed earlier
and not awake us7" grumbled q lazen
haired boy.
But they soon became quiet, and the
earl lay still with Gretchen Numbering
beside him and flaxen haired Hans snor-
ing fearlessly.
Meanwhile a loud pounding had sum-
moned the widow to the door again.
where is the man who has just en-
tered thy hutY' demanded a savage Gan
tots. E
"Art thou not MISTAKEN she answer.
ed. II ann a widow and live her alone
with my children"
may, but we saw the light upon the
way as 1t glared forth from the open
door"
81 did but open it to throw something
into the street. II there be q man with
In, search and find him."
The man casts a quick glance within.
He saw the ladder leading to the loft,
and taking the light from the widows
hands he hnrriedly assembled. A row of
children huddled together was all that
he saw, and he descended again. 1.-THE
woman is right" he muttered to the
crowd. There is only a nest of chill
dren sleeping together like pigs in a sty,
and there isn't room enough for an ant
to hide, much less the Earl of Flanders"
Uttering cries of baked vengeance,
the throng of White Hoods, as they were
called, pushed on, while the earl, with a
thankful heart for his wonderful pres
ervation, went to sleep in the company
of the young children. Sorely wearied
by fatigue, he slept as soundly in the
mud howell of the poor widow as though
he had lain in one of his own palace
chambers.
The next morning was the Sabbath,
and the great earl was awakened by the
wondering cries of the children.
"How funny! Brother Max has come
to bed with his clothes on, " cried the lit
tie girl, who had slept all night in the
arms of her illustrious bedfellow.
Hush, Minna," cried Max himself.
1T is some friend of mothers. ! heard
him last night when he came in"
NAY, but / am q friend to You all,
said Earl Louis. From this hour count
the Earl of Flanders your protector"
The children were hushed to silence al
the mention of that great name, and thu
earl presently descended to the lower
room, where he found the pious widow
singing her Sunday morning hymn.
"And who art thou, to whom Louis oi
Flanders owes his life?' asked the earl.
ST am the widow of Dolph the Diker
whom the wicked men of Client slew
when he was at work for his lawful soy
ereign."
81 cannot restore to thee thy hus
band" said the earl, t'but / never shall
forget thy generous kindness in riskin,
your own life to shelter me. Here is
purse Of gold crowns, all that / can Civ
thee now, but
"God forbid that I should take it whe,
thou needest the gold more than T." in
terrupted the woman al she put tn
purse back into his hands. Thou ar
not yet out of danger, and it has cost u
nothing to give the shelter"
when j have my rights again, tn
widow Of Dolph the Diker will not re
greet that she entertained her sovereign,
replied the earl.
He staid all that day with the widow
and her family, keeping a better Sal
bath, / dare say, than he had for a lon
time before. and the following night b
succeeded in making his escape out @
the city, disguised in the jerkin an
marsh boots in which poor Dolph use
to work at the canals. He reached Lisle
one of his loyal towns, in safety, and a
army soon gathered around him quit
large enough to enable him to take til
field against the rebellious White Hood:
In q great battle he completely d.
feated the Gantois. and Philip Of Artt
weld, their leader, was slain. Cher
was delivered up to him, and Flandel
once more passed under the sway of il
rightful lord.
When Earl Louis returned to BRUCE,
he richly rewarded his faithful preservel
the widow Mechie, who was enabled
pass her last daysin comfort and luxury
Max became q page in the great castle
and all the other children, from Hans I
the laughing prattler, Gretchen, becam
the proteges Of the earl who owed hi
life to their mothers generous prote.
, tion.-Clinton Montague in PHILADELPHIA
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