The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-03-18
(Copyright.)
CHAPTER |.


was the matter, changed the whole course
of his life.
He was an ardent, romantic boy, just
such rs many we have to-day, and shall
have, | trust, for many year to come.
He had done many foolish thing in his
haste, but never a mean one. And his
heart was in the right place. or l should
not think it worth while TO be telling his
story, seven hundred years after he lived
and died.
Perhaps some Of you may shy away
from from me the moment you hear what
an old story is coming; but as Mr.. Lin
coin used to say, "hold your horses" Good
things can afford to grow old; bad ones
fall to pieces before they are fairly of
age. We Americans are liable to think
that people who lived before us ought to
be forgotten. We are so busy. boasting of
the marvels of to-day, dreaming of great
er maryels to be accomplished tomorrow.
that we dub the events of our fathers
boyhOod by the scornful title of ancient
history" and, by reason of our scorn,
tumble into many pitfalls.
\ certain wise Greek-never mind his
name now, for | don't wish to frighten
you-called history philosophy, teaching
by example" The wisest of Englishmen
tells US that histories make men WISE"
while the most dishonest politician Eng.
land ever had said that he liked any
thing but history; for history must be
false You can take your choice be
tween Bacon the Wise and Walpole the
Cynic; but if you are boys Of the right
sort from seventeen TO seventy, you can
60 hunting for the moral that was buried
in this story, seven hundred years ago.
Let MS so back to our boy. His name
was Stephen, after his father The elder
stephen, in consequence Of owning 4 largn
estate in 4 famous valley, was called Ste
phen of the Valleys" which, in his native
tongue-he was a man of the southeast
of France-became Etienne de Vaux
Both young Stephen and old Stephen
were called mobiles; not. as many think,
because they We're thought to be better
than their ncighbors, but because they
were known men" in the country; from
the Latin word nobilis. The founder of
the family had been famous soldier, a
chosen companion to King Clovis. who
conquered France from the Romans
When the Franks won the victory, they
gave to the kings friends the Roman title
Of "Comites.' which means 'compan-
IONS" and this. in time, had been cor
ruptcd to counts"
Young Count Stephen being rich
healthy and happy. had never known
what sorrow was in his own case He
lived in the little kingdom of Provence
where the wars that desolated Europe
rarely came. Provence thanks to gen
erOus soil and TO a climate like that of
our own Florida. was the richest part of
France, and her mobiles and peasants, in
stead of being soldiers or robbers all the
year round, had leisure to cultivate the
graccs Of life.
Young Count Stephen was we'll known
throughout the country rs Il sweet singer
and poet. whose verses had made him Il
youth of mark in the ranks of the troUha-
iours; and when he turned his horse to-
ward the crowd in the market place of
NauCluse. he bore Il Iutc ut his back, and
was on his way 10 join Il congress of min
strels at the castle of his friend, Raymond
Lcnoir
Not far behind the boy count, and fol
lowing him on another horse. was a stout
hurly young fellow OF his own age. called
Pierre lie Gros, or Big Peter" from his
great size Big Peter had a shrewd. kind
and devoted affection for his young lord.
whose foster brother he was, and for
whom he would have laid down his life
ut any time.
AS Count Stephen rcined in his horse at
the outskirts of the crowd. he perceived
that it was gathered round an old man.
whose brown robe, bare feet and emaciat-
ed look proclaimed him as n mendicant
/. b.,
kind that sent people wild in those days.
Just as a noted reyivalist does in our own
times.
As the careless youth neared them. he
perceived that most of the people in the
crowd were pale and frightened. Some
were in tears; others, with eyes flashing
wildly and heavins breasts, stared At the
speaker. and hung on every word he
spoke. as if afraid to lose n syllable: while
all were rapidly working themselves into
state of frantic excitement.
Count Stephen. who had heard at Le-
noir's castle. much sneering at the wild
preachers of the "CrusadeS." neyerthe-
less stopped to listen. and checked his
horse right in front of the preacher. who
saw him and instantly drew the attention
of the crowd TO him, on account of his
conspicuous appearance.
Raising his skinny arms in the mir and
shaking his white beard from side to side,
he called out 10 the careless boy. in pierre
ing tones of warning:
"Ho, you that ride on horses, you that
sing gay songs to the music Of the lutte.
know We that the day of wrath is coming,
yea, is now at hand. Is this a time for
music and dancing, when the cross Of
Christ is trampled in the dust, Sing
while the Turk defiles the sepulcher.
Dance while he spits upon the cross
whereon your Saviour died that ye might
live, Az. az. sing on. dance on. But
remember. the day Of doom Is coming.
His voice rose 10 almost a shrek a. he
paused for breath. staring straight 1t the
uow awe-Strickcn Stephen. who began to
tremblc, he hardly knew why, while the
eyes of every person III the crowd were
concentrated on him, with a fixed gaze
that increased his agitation and excite
ment. Then the old monk went en- III
lower tone. redoIent Of intense sorrow:
But what know ye Of the agonicS that
have made me an old man before my
Time Ye are safe at home where the
golden fruit hangs from the green bough.
where the purple grapes cluster on the
TROLLS. whore the sound of the lutte luilS
tn sler, fhr conscience that naught but
the voice Of God can wakcn. Bat II
have seen and heard il all / have been in
the midst of the slaughter. have listen
cd TO the dying sign Of the last crusader;
have seen the negce Turk tramp!!ns be-