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

as one well satisfied. As this late com.
er approached the scene of strife the
hank3 of the guard were wavering yet
more rerilousiy.
"a miracle. sirew cried the prelate.
"But one that partakes more Of earth
than heaven" retOrted Charles. with
ready irony.
"Who is he. sireT breathlessly asked
the young girl. At her feet whimpered
the blue eyed page, holding to 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 dukev'
The master of the mountain pass
heard also and felt ut that moment q
sudden thrill Of premOnitiOn. The
guerdon, the quittance-could it be pos
sible after all the end was not far7
He could not believe 1t, yet paroxysm
Of fury seized him. His strength be-
came redoubled; wherever his sword
touched a trooper fell.
But. like a wave, recovering from the
recoil the soldiers Of Friedwald broke
upon his doomed band with a force
manifold augmented-br0ke and car
ried the fanks with it. for the assault
ing parties to the right and left were
dismayed by the strength unexpectedly
hurled against the center. The bulky
Flemish. the 1.-THE Spaniard, the lofty
trooper Of Friedwald. Overfowed the
shattered line of the marauders.
Duke Robertw and "Friedwaldw
shouted the Austrian band.
"Cowards! Would you give way"
cried the free baron, striking among
them. Fools! Better the sword than
the rope. Gomez
But in his frepzted efforts to rally
his men the master of Hochfels found
himself face to face with the leader Of
the already victorious troops. At the
sight of him the pretender paused. His
breast rose and fell with his labored
breathing. His sword was dyed red,
also his arms, his clothes. From his
forehead the blood ran down over his
beard. His eyes rolled like those Of an
animal. He seemed something inhu-
man, an incarnation Of baffled purpose.
IF it is reprisal you want, Sir Duke,
you shall have it" he painted.
"Reprisalw exclaimed Robert Of
Friedwald scornfulIy. "rhe best you
can offer is your life"
And with that they closed. Evading
the stroke; IF his more bulky antago-
mist, the younger mans sword repeat
edly sought the vulnerable part Of the
others armor. The free barOn's
strength became exhausted. His blows
rang harmlessly or struck the empty
air.
A sensation Of pain adm0nished him
of his own disability. About him his
band had melted away. Doggedly had
they given up their lives beneath
sword. mace and poniard. The ground
was strewn with the slain. Riderless
horses were galloping up the road. The
free baron breathed yet harder. Before
his eyes he seemed to see only blood.
: or what avail had been his efforts!
He had won the princess, but low
brief had been his triumphs. With n
belief that was almost superstition he
imagined his destiny lay throneward.
But the curse of his birth had been a
ban to his efforts; the bitterness Of de-
feat smote him. He knew lie was fall
ing; his nerveless hand loosened his
blade.
II am Sped" he cried-"sped." and
released his hold. while the tide of con-
flict appeared abruptly to sweep away.
AS he struck the earth IN ornament
that he had worn about his neck became
unfastened and dropped to the ground.
But once lie moved, to raise himself on
his elbow.
"The hazard of the die! he muttered,
striving to see with eyes that We're
growing blind. A rush Of blood in
terrupted him, he fell back. straighten'
ed out and stirred no more.
Now had the din Of strife ceased al
together when descending the slope ap-
peared cavalcade, ut the head OF
which rode lady on Il white palfrey,
followed by several maids and guarded
by an escort of soldiers who wore the
kings own colors. A stricken process
sion II seemed as it drew near, the
faces of the women white with fear.
the gay attire and gorgeous trappings
"A mockcry OH that ensanguined arena.
Proudly proceeded the lady Oh the
white horse although in her eyes shone
a look Of dread. 1t was an age when
women were accustomed to scenes OF
bloodsl,ed. Injured to conflicts in the
lists, yet she shuddered as her palfrey
picked its way across that field. At
the near side of the hollow her glance
singled out motionless figure among
those lying where they had fallen. a
thickset man. whose face was urturn'
ed to the sky One look into those
CLASSY eyes, so unresponsive to her
own. and she quickly dismounted ana
fell OIL her knees beside the recumbent
form. She took one Of the cold hands
in hers. but dropped 1t with scream.
"Deadw she cried. "Dead"