Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1905-05-14

though secluded in one of his monas-
terry retreats. weighing the affairs of
state, nearer and nearer drew the sol
diers of Louis of PfalZ- Crfeld-roughly
calculating. a force numerically as
strong as the emperor's own guard.
The young girl, her face now white
and drawn, watched the approaching
band Would Charles never give the
signal: lmperturbable sat the mount
ed troopers of the emperor, awaiting
the word of command At length, when
her breath began to come fast and
sharp. Charles raised his arm. In
solid, steady body bis men swept on
ward. The girl strove to look away,
but could not.
Both bands, gaining in momentum,
met with a crash. That nice symmetry
of form and orderliness of movement
We're succeeded by d tangle of men and
horses. the bristling array of lances
had vanished. and swords and weapons
for ha nd to hand warfare threw play
of light amid the tumble of troops and
steeds. flags and banners. With sword
red from carnage Louis of Hochfels
drew his men around him, hurting
them against the firm front OF Charles
veterans 1t was the crucial moment,
the turning point in struggle that
could not be prolonged, but would be
rather sharp. short and decisive. 1t
his men failed at the onset all was
lost If they gained but a 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
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 on 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 Oh each
side it was inevitable they, too. must
soon be overwhelmed. Involuntari1y,
as the quick eye of the emperor detect
ed this sign of impending disaster. he
half started from his chair. His hand
steely light. The prelate quickly cross
esl himself and raised his head as if in
prayer.
"The penance, sire he murmured,
but his voice trcmhled.
Mechanically Charles replaced bis
blade. Yea. better Il kingdom lost"
lie muttered. than broken VOW
I<
field and diet, after titanic contests
with kings in Chris tendon and Soly
man in the east. to fall by the mockery
of fate into the grasp of thieving
mountain rifier---
"Ambtion. power, We SOW but the
sand" whispered safety
"Vainglory is sleeveless Grand"
murmured the spirit of the fiagellant.
Yet he gaZed half tiercely at his
priestly adviser, when suddenly his
gloomy eye brightened; the inutility of
ambition was forgotten; unconsciously
he clasped the arm of the jocula trix,
who had drawn near. His grip was
like gauntlet. Even in her tense
strained mood she WINGED.
claimed.
! AS he spoke the figure of knight,
i fully armed. who had made his way
through the avenue of tents, was seen
swiftly descending the hill. Upon his
strong Ara bian steed the riders APP
pearance and bearing signaled him as q
soldier apart from the rank and file Of
=,
of the house of Friedwald. was richly
em&na zoned 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
as one well satisfied. As this late COM
er approached the scene Of strife the
TANKS of the guard were wavering yet
more perilously.
"A miracle. sire" cried the prelate.
But one that partakes more of earth
than heaven" retorted Charles, with
ready irony.
the young girl. At her feet whimpered
the Dlue eyed page, holdlns 10 her
skirt, all his courage gone.
But ere he could answer-if he had
seen fit to do so-from below, out Of the
vortex. came the clamorous shouts:
THE duke. The duke!'
The master of the mountain pass
heard also and felt at that moment a
sudden thrill of premonition. The
euerdon, the quittance-could it be pos.
sble after all the end was not far!
He could not believe it, vet paroxysm
of fury seized him. His strength be
came redoubled; wherever his sword
touched trooper fell.
But, like wave, recovering from the
recoil, the soldiers of Friedwald broke
upon his doomed band with force
manifold augmented-broke and car
ried the tanks with it. for the assault