The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-12-01
M MARLBOROUGH FRIDAY. t.

not stay eternally in this shelter, and
my father is prisoner"
"What can you do?''
go to the castle and ask if my pro-
tectors may be set free if l give my
self up in their stead" she answered,
fearlessly.
That is impossible" said the her
nit; "thou dost not want to marry
lord Enguerrand?'
"Nay, fear not; will not marry him;
that | swear When my father and
Guilbert are free, and far away from
the grasp of that mar, at night, when
the tide is hi gh and the waves are
beating against the castle walls, | will
fling myself in the sea, which will car
ry me away from my enemy"
"Nay, then; God forbid!' exclaimed
the monk. in holy horror. "Thou
must not take thy life, for it is writ
ten. Listen to me, child. will unite
you, before God, to Guilbert. Then |
will announce your marriage unto
our master, Enguerran |, and he
Will be obliged to yield; Yea, to bow
his proud head before the servant Of
of the Lord. and will call upon him
to set tlct liN rr Ia h +. and We
will be able | hope to rest III peace.
Day after to morrow will he Christmas.
At midnight mass. before the assem-
bly, of the faithful, will unite thee
and Guilbrrt for life and eternity"
The monk conducted the young girl
to Il cell, bidding her rest quietly,
whilst he told Guilbert Of his rcsolu-
ton.
The much-longcd-for day came at
last. The chapel bell had rung for an
hour, calling the pious to an evening
mass. All being in their places, the
holy hermit, after short prayer, was
about to pronounce the words which
wonld unite Guibert and Edwige,
when great tumut outside startled
the assembly. A man ran towards the
door to see What had happened, but
staggered back with ghastly face,
crying that Enguerrand's soldiers had
surrounded the chhpel. The hermit
hurried to the door and tried to open
it, but in vain, for it had been barr-
caded with the trunks and branches of
trees. At the same time the congre-
cation heard the soldiers laughing and
cursing while they stack huge branches
against the chapel walls. OF 4 sudden
the voice of Enguerrand was heard
above the din shouting: "Yc delied
your lord and master; We have dared
to wrest from him the bride he had
chosen. For this We shall die. Thus
does lord of Cartcret revenge him
self on the serfs who have dared to
beard him!" and, laughing, he fred
the dead branches. In the moment,
the flames surrounded the chapel and
the hermit's retreat.
May ye all die, and may your ashes
mingle with the sands fthe sea.'' cried
the master of Cartcret, throwing more
fuel on the now raging fire.
The men and women of the congre-
CATION flung themselves with prayers
and screams for mercy, against the
door, bnt the flames leaped up and
barred their passage.
Guilbert and Edwige advanced to-
wards the altar and knelt. as though
death were far away.
"Bless us father" they said to the
hermit, ''that we may be united in para
disc"
con your knees" cried the monk.
The moment WAS solemn. The whole
assembly, forgetting their fears. kne!t,
and the holy man began the marriage
ceremony. He had hardly finished
the words that made Guilbert and Ed
wige man and wife, when the windows
broke into thou sand pieces, and the
flames burst into the interior of the
chapel and enveloped the walls and
wood work
The hermit, knecliny, commenced
the prayers for the dying. and gave
the last abso!ution. The fire reached
the roof of the chapel and the awe
stricken congregation awaited the com
inc of death at the foot of the altar
Suddenly around the forehead of the
monk shone Il dazzling light; he lifted
his eyes to heaven as though moved
10y divine inspiration, and in spite of
the soldiers lauI Ihtcr, walked through
the flames towards the charrcd and
blackencl doorway.
"Enguerrand, cried the old monk, =,
"thinh on the curse of dying man;
Engucrrand, anathema on thee and on
thy race. For having caused the
death of innoccnts, thy punishment
awaits thee. Look to thy castle, thy
forests, and all thy treasures, for even
as speak they are the prey of flames.
Enguerrand, Enguerrand, remember!'
The soldiers, laughing louder, Knocked
at the hermts words.
'Remembcr," he gaspcd for God is
just"
An hoar later nothing WIS seen
among the sand hills but thick black
smoke that arose from the ruined walls