Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-12-06

array 10y The young champion and
marvclously inspired 10y his speech.
We swarmed up and down through
the v3ilcts wherever the baron's re-
tainers were TO be seen. Finally we
stormed The castle. and the baron. IN
desperation. fcll on his sword. The
young cOnqueror led us toward you
until we had nearly reached here, then
he yalloped back To the castle 10 make
ready for your reception. If YOU will
DC pleased 10 let us escort yOu thither.
we have with us three gentle. well
broken horses from your own stables
for YOU and our noble lady and the
/ g-aciouSSdamSci DiOtwina"
The old noblcman blessed his brave.
faithful people with Wide outstrctch-
ci s. ns. The horses were led forth.
the three were lifted into the saddles
and the journey TO the castle was be-
gun amid great rejoicing
The old peasant walked beside his
masters horse and told OF the nights
battle and the marvo3ouS fcats of Rich
ard As Lcuthold heard with ever
increasing wonder and admiration the
many divers instances Of his ucpheyv's
maSnanimity. generalship and hero
ism. his noble heart was $50 overflow
ing with grateful enthusiasm that he
cried out loudly, 81 that the whole
band heard.
Now 10y my nightly troth and hon
or. ! swear that our brave dciivcrcr
shall have the most precious thing
that 2 kuoW ulou this earth. and that
~ ut fair niece Diotyiua, She is
hereby h"trothed to him before God
and MANI
He had stretched out his right hand
t"W4rd heaven as II asng solemn
"Atf- The proc. Ssiou halted ina amaze
ia"nt and looked M the impctuouS old
man. hut hi~ wife was dcathIy pale.
and at length she said sadly:
"iiuShand. husband, what have YOU
douot How can this fatal raShness
bc found With hair So whltcr Look
around you and see where we stand.
fonder is thc chapel within which our
only son sleeps. and Won have Just an
nullcd DiotWma's solemn vow to live
and die tine purc beuothcd OF our Sige-
bald. Which oath shall now be broken?
Hers or yoursT'
Tho old nights head sank upon his
breast and he sighed
lit rs ever thus. Heaven conCcrS its
MOST precious -iiis. ard man ln his un-
triUlcd dcli@ht uses them 20 his ruinr'
The whole band regarded their dis
treSScd master SorroWruily Then Dl-
otWina opened her lovely lips IN n
smile like that OF an angel and said:
Father ami mother. DO not grieve.
! think our oaths are not So conflicting
as YOU Imagine"
And. turning toward the old peasant.
she continued.
How do YOU know that your leader
OF last night was Richard:"
I'm Gods name, gracious lady. who
else could il be-" replied the old man.
He wore the colorS OF our masters
house. and its arms were ON his scarf
AMI shield. Even his speech and man
ner and way of riding were like our
lords. And he cried out the family
name as mighty battlccry every time
that hc charged the enemy's ranks.
Indeed. he told us that we we'c fight
ing under n shoot of the stock.
Who. then, could it have bc. ut Sir
Richard? Though, IN truth. no one
saw his features, for he kept his visor
down"
Then let me tell what happened TO
me last night" said Diutwiua in "A
clear voice. and give careful heed 10
what l say. for I speak the pure truth
aS 4 pure maiden should. l stood at
my window, and my tears fel upon a
beautiful myrtle bush which i'm former
happy days | had intended for my
bridal wreath. Now fl had reached the
fullncsS of its beauty. but the feast
which il should have graccd was never
10 be. | was interrupted in this and
other like thoughts 10y Il slight noise
outside the door of my room. / could
distinctly hear some one coming up
the little stairway with soft light
steps. but with clanking spurs. and. as
father and mother had long since gone
10 bed. l was afraid Then the door
was pushed half open and AN arm in
caSed I'm steel was thrust inside my
room. holding a scarf which had en-
broidcrcd for my betrothcd and which
was laid in the coffin with him. Then
Sigcbald'S voice said.
1T is l. May ! come ia without
frightening you 10 DEATH
In Gods name" | cried. trembling
with fear and hope
Then the pale youth stepped slowly
and glaVcly into the room. clad il
armOr. With raised visor. l knew the
dear features well. hut yer l had not
the courage 10 gaze straight into his
helmet, 50 l do not know whether his
eyes were fixed and hollow. like those
Of corpse. or glowing with tender
tONc, as they were i'm life.
DO You still need the myrtle for
your marriage day. he asked mc kind
ly.
Il shook my head
'NcVcrmOrc, truly
I shook my head again.
Then he begged cOaNingly. gentle
and true hearted rs hc ever was in
life weave me a wreath Of victory Of
II. my dcaT little bride For. see. il is
permitted me To accomplish the work
Of revenge and delvrrance i'm this pale
earthly form, and when il is again laid
In its coffin il viii take the wreath of
victory with it,
81 hound and hound InftlN and txvin