The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-27

Baldwin, of IreFeS was wei uIountee,
and, although the road by the margin OF
the river was in places bad, the august
horseman nevertheless made good pro-
gress along it, for he had long distance
to travel before the sun went down. Inc
way had been rudely constructed by
that great maker of roads, the army, ana
the troops who had built it did not KNOW
when they labored at at that they were
preparing a path for their own retreat,
should disaster overtake them. Inc
grim and silent horseman had been the
brains. where the troops were the hmbs;
this thoroughfare had been of his PLAN
ming, and over it, back into Ireves, mad
returned victorious, not a defeatea
army. The iron hand of the archbishop
had come down on every trucuient nopie
in the land, and every castle gate tnar
had not opened to him through fear had
been battered in by force. Peace now
spread her white wings over all the
country, and where opposition to his
lordship's stubbord will had been the
strongest there was silence as well, with
perhaps a thin wreath of blue smoke
towering over the blackened walls. The
provinces on each bank of the Mosele
from Treves to the Rhine now acknowl-
edged Baldwin their overload, suzer-
ainty technically claimed by his lord
ships predecessors, but the iron arch
bishop had changed the nominal into the
actual. and it had taken some hard
knocks to do it. His present journey
was well earned, for he was betaklng
himself from his more formal and exact
ing court at Treves to his summer palace
at Cochem, there to rest from the fatigues
of a campaign in which he had used not
only his brain, but his good right arm
as well.
The palace. which was TO be the end of
his journey, was in some respects well
suited to its master, for, standing on an
eminence high above Cochem, with its
score of pinnacles glittering in the sun,
it seemed, to one below, light and airy
structure, but it was in reality fort
ress. almost impregnable, and 300 years
later it sent into less turbulent sphere
the souls of 1,600 Frenchmen before its
flag was lowered to the enemy.
The personal appearance of the arch
bishop and the smallness of his escort
were practical illustrations of the fact
that the land was al peace and that ne
Was the master of it. His attire was
neither clerical nor warlike, but rather
that OF a nobleman riding abroad where
no enemy could possibly lurk. He was
to all appearance unarmed, and had no
protection save a light chain mail jacket
of bright steel, which was worn over
his yesture and not concealed as was
the custom This jacket sparkled in the
sun as if it were woven of fine dia-
monds. 1t might ward off dagger
thrust, or turn aside half-spent arrow,
but it was too light to be Of much SER
vice against a sword or pike. The arch
bishop was well mounted on powerful
black charger that had carried him
through many hot corner and that
now made little of the difficulties of the
ill-constructed road, putting the other
horses ON their mettle to equal the pace
set to them.
The escort consisted of ~ men, all
lightly armed, for Gottleib, the monk,
who rode sometimes by the archbishop
side. but more often behind him, could
hardly be counted as warrior should
defense become necessary. When the
archbishop left Treves his oldest general
had advised his taking an escort of a
thousand men at least, putting it on the
ground that such number was neces-
sary to uphold the dignity Of the office.
but Baldwin smiled darkly, and said
that where he rode the dignity of the
electorship would be safe, even though
none rode beside him or behind him. Few
dared offer advice to the elector, but the
bluff general persisted, and spoke of
danger in riding down the Moselle valley
with so small a following.
'sWho is there left to modest meT ask
ed the archbishop, and the general was
forced to admit that there was none.
An army builds road along the line
Of the least resistance, and often when
a promontory thrust it's rocky nose into
the river the way led up the hill through
the forest getting back into the valley
again as best it could. During these in.
land excursions the monk, evidently un
used to equestrianism, fell behind, and
sometimes the whole troop was halted
by command of it's chief until Gottleit
clinging to his horses name, emerged
from the thicket, the archbishop curbine
the impatience of his charger and watch
ing with cynical smile curling his stern
lips the temperance of the good father
After one Of the most laborious as
cents and descents they had encountered
that day, the archbishop waited for the
monk. and when he came up with his
leader, painting and somewhat DISNEY
eled, the latter said: "There appears
TO be lesson in your tribulations which
hereafter you may retail with profit te
your flock, relating how good mar
leaving the right and beaten path and
following his own devices in the wilder
ness. may bring discontinue upon him
self"
"The lesson it conveys to me, my lord,
said the monk dryly, is that a man is
but fool to leave the stability Of good
stout sandals with which he is accus
toned. to venture his body on a horse
that pays little heed to his wishes"
"This is our last detour," replied the
elector, "there are now many miles OF
winding but level road before US, and
you have thus chance to retrieve yoll
reputation as a horseman in the eyes
Of our troop"
"In truth, my lord, / never boosted OF
it." returned the monk, "but lam right