Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-28

ers ana or women none worth the men.
non. His skin was swarthy and hairy
and his features We're disfigured 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
ne called, and when lie first heard the
name instead Of being angry he was
pleased. He knew that he was ugly
and he took it for a blessing. not a
curse. In this my lord showed some
wit. Would that his wit might have
served him further!
FIVE leagues northward across tho
valley from the Chateau DIES Bois dwelt
my lady's cousin. When | say that lie
was styled Jean lie Bel. and that he well
bore the title, possibly | have explained
enough.
Jean the fair, Jean the handsome, he
was, and l must not fail to add that he
was brave and tried knight He was
all that a knight should be, and if it il
accused that he was more let if he re-
membered after all that he was only a
man.
My lord was fifteen years my Iady's
senior; her cousin was scarcely fifteen
months. My lord knew naught. cared
Tor naught, beyond the melee and the
rough chase; her cousin was not alone
good lance, but a courtier NV lord
allowed my lady no voice, considered
her In no point and left her to her own
devices within the chateau; her cousin
sought her much and helped her to
pass away her time
do not understand how it 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 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 little better than
ne 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
worth while to realize what he was
doing, but even might he have realized
1t he would not have softened his !
moods-not Raoul lie Laid.
nevertheless for all that | or any
other of my lords retaners 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 bv a
single kind act or encouraging word to
save her.
Many 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
drink. Can one perishing in the desert
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 nv
knowledge, remained in the sight Of
Sou us bright as q new sword. Con
scious of what is to be the end of this
tale, say it still
NOW came the appeal of Bernard of
ClalrVauX calling upon the Christian
world to rescue Odessa from the inf
neis and to make the Holy Land holy
In fact as well as in name.
My lord heard and obeyed. not 50
much for love OF the cause as for love
u the blows in prospect. Forth he
ode, and we Of his train, to don the
'cadet cross and to follow the banner
II FRANCE and of Guienne.
AS we waited, equipped and gather
a, In the court of the castle, my lady
descended clad In a long gown of
green which she was wont
o wear when she wished to look her
cry best
From the steps she gazcd scarchingly
ver the array until she had deserted
ny lord standing ready to mount his
iorse as soon as he had completed in
tructlohs that he was delivering TO the
toward. My lady glidcd straight to
I'm and put her bare arms around his