The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25

most foolish He went at once to Gerard's family. From that hour the little house in Tergou was an abode of peace no longer. Elias was angry at the thought of Gerard's ruined career if he should marry. Sybrandt and Cornelis famed his wrath, for they could not bear the thought of having no rich priest brothers purse to loot.
 The Burgomaster counseled Elias to lock his son up for while, course that was possible in those easygoing days when 8 fond parent had disobedient son whom he wished to turn in the way he should go.
 Margaret Van Eyclx advised Gerard to turn his back on them all. "Go to Italy" said she. where artists and scribes are honored. Certain fortune awaits you there. Marry the girl and take her with you"
 Margaret agreed to marry him, but would not go with him to Italy. She de- clared that she must stay with her father, who was too feeble for the long journey; but with her pure eyes courageous and radiant with young love she promised Gerard that she would wait in patience till he returned to claim her.
 The banns were cried in church where none in Tergou were likely to hear them. But Gerards brothers, driven to unusual energy by their anxiety, had bestirred themselves so well that they discovered the plan. The day before the wedding they apprised the Burgomaster. He called out his men and seized Gerard, asserting that it was by his fathers orders. That : night he was locked up in high tower His sister Catherine set forth with the l dwarf to rescue him. They arrived at the i tower just as Margaret Brandt, aided by Martin Wittenhaagen, an old huntsman, had succeeded in freeing the captive. Margaret and Gerard went to her home. i accompanied by the huntsman. who was ! a loyal friend of old Peter. It was decided that Gerard should strike toward the Ger | man boundary at dawn. Though the | church ceremony had not been performed, | there had been solemn ceremony of be- | trothal before witnesses; and this was as 1 binding as a church celebration of the | marriage in that age, and for more than a century thereafter.
 1 Before daybreak the house was attacked l by Ghysbrecht's men. His frightened con- ! science had g, very real reason now for fear He remembered too late that he had | hidden his papers in a geat chest in the l very room in the tower in which Gerard | was imprisoned. When he learned of the | young mans escape. his first thought was l of the chest, and he discovered that the
 parchment which proved Peters rights
 to the property was gone.
 He did not doubt that Gerad had found
 1t, and he was correct in his surmise | But Gerard had not read it. He had mo-
 ticed that the parchment bore Peter
 Brandt's name, and had thrust it into his ! jerkin to read 1t at another time.
 The adventures that came to him after
 that made him forget it entirely So il
 was to be many long day before he
 looked at 1t, and Margaret and he were
 to pass through tragedy because of his
 forgetfulness. But this Ghysbrecht could
 rot know.
 He determined that he must get the | parchment and destroy Gerard. So he sat
 on his mule early that morning watching ! his hirelings He saw Gerard and the
 huntsman break from the house and run
 toward the woods and he tried to head
 them off. Gerard darted at him with a | cry of exutation and struck at him with
 all his heart and strength. The oak stefi
 came across Ghysbrechts face and laid 1 him under his mule.
 The next moment Gerard and Martin | were in the wood and there Margaret
 running like deer, joined them, deter l mined to die with her Detrothed husband | if she could not save him.
 Although the pursuers were close upon | them, and though Ghysbrecht, his fury ] coubed by his ghastly wound, sent for l tloodhounds to chase them, old Martin $
 woodcraft mocked their efforts. In an
 hour the fugitive was beyond danger
 Then the blntsman turned away while 1 the two young things knelt hand in hand | and renewed before heaven the VOWS that
 cruel men had interrupted. They em-
 braced and clung together and tried to
 part and failed. and returned to eact
 other and embraced and held tight again