The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-03-25

SADIE and fight for the cross. God will
take care of u.s."
Stephen turned on her with flashing
eyes. crying:
Isabel Durance. heaven is with thee,
Thou shalt be called the Queen OF the
Crusade! Who follows the CROSSE"
H. and ''I.' and ~" cried several
eager voices; and within few minutes
from the time he met his sister with her
friends, he had secured eager recruits
from every noble family in that part Of
the country, and was leading them off in q
tempest of enthusiasm away from the cas-
tie he dared not enter, the romantic boys
and girls falling in with the idea Of the
Chlldrcn's Crusade with as little thought
of the future as if it had been n new game
they were playing, which, in fact, it was,
to their innocence and ignorance.
Away they went at full gallop taking
the way toward the plains that lay by
the river Durance, where it was said that
the great camp Of the childrens crusade
had been spread; to which circumstance
the village of Naucluse owed the fiery ser
mon it had heard that day.
They had not far to go, when they top
ped a little knoll, and beheld far away
before them, grassy plain dotted with
white tents, round which the smoke of the
watch fires, just as in a real camp, rose
to heaven.
The sight seemed to set the young pco-
pie with Stephen wild with delight rs
they raced their horses down toward the
camp, headed by the enthusiastic young
leader. his long curls flying in the wind.
his velvet cap blown from his head, the
white cross shining on his shoulder, as he
spurred his slight built jennet far in ad-
vance of all
But in the wild race there were two
people who took no part. Big Peter and
the sister of the enthusiastic Stephen
both appearing as if some great msfor-
tune had overtaken them. sat looking at
each other as the children tore away, and
| Blanche was the first to break the silence
| by saying:
''Oh. Peter. what will become of Them
and what Will my mother say?
Big Peter twitchcd his face. as if he
hated to answer, but when Blanche re-
peated the question he said slowly:
so please my lady Blanche, there is
but one thing to do, and that is to go and
tell my lord and my lady. Pcrchancc we
may be able to stay this folly in the
Childe Stephen"
"Childe" was the usual title Of n youth
till he became a knight. in those days
and Blanche understood Peter TO refer
to her brother.
For the first time since she had seen
Stephen with the cross on his shoulder
she began to droop. as if about TO weep
and said i'll drcary tone of voice:
"Oh. Peter. Peter, 1t will Kill my
mother, To lose her only son by this
cruel crusade that sweeps high and low,
How shall | tell her? | dare not. You
must do it"
Big Peter gave his broad shoulders an
almost impcrceptihle shrug, aS he answer
ed:
And if my lady Blanche dare not speak
10 her own mother, how shall I, who am
but poor peasant, approach the countess
! with such news
Blanche shivered. and her soft dark eyes
looked very piteous, as she said to the big
! peasant boy:
But | love her so that cannot give
her pain. oh. if it were but pain to my
self. would 20 in an instant. On. Peter,
will you tell her, or must | do it,
The big fellow closed his lips as il he
were shutting a trap. and did not answer
for some seconds, during which the girl
watched him anxiously. At last he said
| slowly:
Il will do it. good my lady, for your
sake and that of the Childe Stephen. But
| if he goes, go with him
Blanche nodded her little head, as she
said:
! And so do |, Peter. | take no cross,
! but my brother shall not so into danger
! unless | am nigh him to pray for him and
( guard him rs we'll as n weak girl can do
CHAPTER III.
Blanche and the peasant born youth
rode slowly toward the castle where Peter
helped the young lady from her horse,
and then, with the demeanor Of a man
who was going to an execution, followed
her to the hall. at the upper end Of which,
on a raised platform called n ''dais," sat
the Countess de NauS, surrounded by her
ladies. engaged in the perpetual em5roi
derry which was the occupation Of ladies
/ in those days.
The countess looked at her daughter,
as she came toward her. with a bright
smile, saying;
We'll. darling. and why home so soon
/ from the fields? Did You find no birds by
/ the river?
NO. my lady-that is, we've found
! the sport bad" was the almost inaudihle
/ reply of Blanche: ut which the lady would
/ have made some remark, when her atten
/ ton was attracted by the spectacle of Big
/ Peter who had followed the girl to the
j edge of the dais and stood there, finger
/ ing his cap in his hands, the picture of
/ embarrassment and awkwardness.
What woudSt thou. Peter" asked the
1 lady of the castle, thinking he had some
request II make
$50 please my lady" said Big Peter,
( slowly. the Childe stephen and myself,
we were riding 10 the Chateau LenoIr.
when we saw many people in the market
place of NaucluSe: and the Childc turned
( 10 see whence was the crowd, when we
] found there the monk Iiildelrand, preach
ing the Children's Crusade. rs they call
1t. and
Here he paused. unable to continue at
the sight of the face of his beloved mis-
tresS. who turned deadly pale and seemed /
10 be gasping for breath. She. too. had
heard of the Childreu'S Crusade, and
seemed to anticipate what was coming,
for She faltcred, hrokcnly:
And he What hath happened. !
Peter: Torture me not with doubts. but
tell me At once. Did he listen 70 the
prcachcr:''
He did, my lady" was the low reply; /
and the preacher SO worked on my young /
lord that he took the cross, and has gone
10 the camp of The children near Ayig- !
uoa."
The poor Lacy started 10 her Feet With |
3 faint sa-iek az the IewS. and stood fas |