Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-03-21


srcramcnts to his priestly confessor?
And from ,;loof she studied him, with
now doubts and misgivings, her
.:io:,-h;; ruunin. fast, and anon bent
lcr eyes to the hill OH the other side of
lie valley IN her condition Of mind,
cJnfusrl us before crisis, 1t was q
slmct relief when toward noon word
was brought that the free baron was
approaching. Som. not far distant, the
cOrtege OF Louis Of ROchfels was seen;
at the front, flashing helmets and
breastplates: behind, a cavalcade Of la
dies on horseback and ltters, above
which 1oated many flags and banners.
Would he come on? Would he turn
back? Many opinions were rife.
ooh" cried Il PAGE with golden hair,
"there will be no battle after ALL
And truly, confronted by the aspect
of the emperor's camp, the marauder
had at first hesitated. But if the dan
gers before him were great those be-
hind wee greater. Accordingly, leav-
ing the cavalcade of the princess, her
n..ids and attendants, the free baron
of Hochfels. surrounded by his own
trusted troops. dashed forward AFRO
eantIy into the valley. bent upon
sweeping aside even the opposition of
Charles himself.
"Yondcr's daring knave. your maj
esty." with some perturbation observed
the prelate who stood near the emper-
Or's chair.
"Ccrtes, lie tilts at fame or death
with bold lance" replied Charles.
Would that Robert of Friedwald were
there to cry him quits"
While thus he spoke. as calm as
though secluded in one Of his monas-
terry retreats. weighing the affairs of
state. nearer and nearer drew the sol
diers of Louis of Pfulz- -Urfeld-roughly
calculating. force numerically as
strong as the cmperor's own guard.
The young girl. her face now white
and drawn, watched the approaching
band. Would Charles never give the
signal? lIiperturbable sat the mount
ed troopers of the emperor, awaiting
the word Of command. At length, wien
her breath began to come fast and
sharp. Charles raised his arm. In Il
solid, steady body his men swept on.
ward. The girl strove to look away.
but could not.
Both bands. gaining in momentum,
met with Il crash. That nice symmetry
of form and orderliness Of movement
We're succeeded by tanGle of men and
horses, the bristling array Of lances
had vanished. and swords and weapons
for hand to hand warfare threw play
of light amid the jumble of troops and
steeds. flags and banners. With sword
rcd from carnage Louis Of Hochfels
drew his men around him, hurling
them against the firm front of Charles
veterans. 1t was the crucial moment,
the turning point in struggle that
could not he prolonged. but would be
rather sharp, short and decisive. II
his men failed at the onset all was
lost. If they gained but little ascend
ency now their mastery of the field
became fairly assured. Great would
be the reward for success; the fruits
Of victory-the emperor himself. And
savagely the free baron cut down a
stalwart trooper. His blade pierced
the throat Of another.
"Clear the way to Charles" he cried
exultantly. He is our guerdon!"
So terrible that rush the guard Of
Spain OH the right and the troops Of
Flanders on the left began to give way.
Only the men of Friedwald stood, but
with the breaking Of the forces on each
side it was inevitable they, too. must
soon be overwhelmed. Involuntarily.
as the quick eye Of the emperor detect
cd this sign Of impending disaster. he
hnlf started from his chair. His hand
sought his side. In his eyes shone a
stecly light. The prelate quickly cross
ed himself and raised his head as IL In
prayer.
The penance, SIRE" he murmurcd.
but his voice trembled.
Mechanically Charles replaced his
blade. "Yea, better Il kingdom los"
he muttered. than a broken vow."
Yet after SO many battles won in the
field and diet, after titanic contests
with kings in Christendom and Soly-
man in the east, to fall by the mOckery
Of fate into the grasp Of thieving
mountain rifler-
Ambition. power, we sow but the
sandw whispered safety.
"yainglory is sleeveless errand."
murmured the spirit Of the flagellant.
Yet he gazed half fiercely at his
priestly adviser, when suddenly his
gloomy eye Frightened; the inutility OF
ambition was forgotten; unconsciously
he clasped the arm Of the jOculatnX,
who had drawn near. HIS grip was
like gauntlet. Even in her tense,
strained mood she WINGED.
"The fight is not yet lOst!" he ex-
claimed.
As he spoke the figure Of a knight,
fully armed, who had made his way
through the avenue of tents, was seen
swiftly descending the hill. Upon his
strong Arabian steed the riders up
pearance and bearing signaled him as a
soldier apart from the rank and file Of
the guard. His coat Of arms. that
Of the house Of Friedwald, was richly
embiazoned upon the housings Of his
courser. Whence had he come? The
attendants and equerries had not seen
him in the camp. Only the taciturn ar
morer Of Friedwald looked complacent-
ly after him. stroking his great beard