Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-09-17


ton His skin was swarthy and hairy,
and his features were disfgured by
battle and the plague. Indeed, what
with his bowed legs and his low stat
ure and his unprepossessing face where
life had spoiled that little Of grace by
nature granted, my lord was not, thus
to speak, attractive.
Raoul lie Laid-Raoul the Ugly-was
he called, and when he first heard the
name instead of being angry he was
pleased. He knew that he was ugly,
and he took it for blessing, not a
curse. In this my lord showed some
wit. Would that his wit might have
served him further!
Five leagues northward across the
valley from the Chateau des Bois dwelt
my lady's cousin. When I say that he
was styled Jean lie Bel, and that he well
bore the title, possibly I have explained
enough.
Jean the fair, Jean the handsome, he
was, and must not fail to add that he
was brave and tried knight. He was
all that knight should be, and If it Is
accused that he was more let it be re-
membered after all that he was only
man.
My lord was fifteen years my Iady's
senior; her cousin was scarcely fifteen
months. My lord knew naught, cared
for naught, beyond the melee and the
rough chase; her cousin was not alone
q good lance, but courtier. My lord
allowed my lady no voice, considered
in, frf nd IoR% 10, hAr
devices within the chateau; her cousin
sought her much and helped her to
pass away her time.
do not understand how 1t happened
that my lord took my lady for wife,
since he, made nothing of her and
seemed to despise in her woman and
woman's ways. He was ugly, he was
surly, he was a man of the tourney and
of the cups, but withal he might have
had her for his, ever for his, had he
simply treated her a little better than
he did his dogs. oh, have seen the
proud blood rush into her white skin
and her Norman spirit swell until
thought her breast would burst under
his rudeness! Likely he did not deem
it worth while to realize what he was
doing, but even might he have realized
it he would not have softened his
moods-not Raoul lie Laid.
Nevertheless for all that I or any
other Of my lords retainers or any of
my lady's women attendants witnessed
she kept his true wife. She fought for
her self-aye, she fought for herself as
she must, since he made no effort by
single kind act or encouraging word to
save her
Many a time when her cousin rode
gayly into the court below she locked
herself in her room in the tower, but
sometimes she did not There are oc-
casions when the thirsty heart must
because of thirst refuse increasingly to
sip of water?
However tempted as she was by the
very devil in the person Of Jean lie Bel,
my lady's honor, to the best Of my
knowledge, remained in the sight Of
God as bright as a new sword. Con-
scious Of what Is to be the end of this
tale, say 1t still.
Now came the appeal of Bernard of
Clairvaux calling upon the Christian
world to rescue Odessa from the inf
dels and to make the Holy Land holy
la fact as well as in name.
My lord heard and obeyed, not 90
much for love of the cause as for love
of the blows in prospect. Forth be
rode, and we of his train, to don the
scarlet cross and to follow the banner
of France and of Guienne
AS we waited, equipped and gather
ed, in the court of the castle, my lady
descended clad in a long gown of
shimmering green which she was wont
to wear when she wished to look her
very best.
From the steps she gaZed searchingly
over the array until she had deserted
my lord standing ready to mount his
horse as soon as he had completed In
structions that he was delivering to the
steward. My lady glided straight to
him and put her bare arms around his
neck. My lord impatiently shook his
head.
"Just this once, Raoul," she pleaded.
And she bent and kissed him, OF which
he frowned
BE brave and victorious and faith
full to the cross, my husband" she said
But she spoke to his back.
Thereupon with a flush upon her
face and tears in her eyes, but with
naughty mien that defied any glances
of compassion, she returned across the
crowded court and entered the door
way and disappeared.
An instant later as we trotted down
the valley saw her handkerchief fut-