The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28

l taken sanctuary in the Church of St. Nicholas, and Hippolita and Matilda were
 informed of the fact
 | Matilda, in much distress. retired to | her apartment in one of the towers of
 Blanca. a gossipy girl who, as she pre- 1 pared her mistress for repose. let her
 tongue run on concerning the events of
 the day The young peasant, who had been ordered placed beneath the helmet,
 she declared. bore a strong resemblance in feature to the picture of Alfonso the
 Good. in the great gallery, which your
 ladyship sits and gazes at for hours.''
 Do not speak lightly of that picture"
 replied Matilda '-The character of that
 virtuous Prince" But just then they
 heard & noise. apparently of some one in the apartment below that of the Princess and Gianca cried out that it must be the ghost of the dead tutor of Prince Conrad, as that worthy man had once occupied the chamber. Now, the lattice below that 1 of Matilda's apartment was heard to | open and there came the sound of a mans voice in song, though they could | not distinguish the words. Now, I have l it," cried Blanca, this Is certainly the young peasant and he is in love" Why in love, foolish one?" asked Matilda ''Be- cause from his songs he is sorrowful-and that means the same thing" replied Bi- anca, ''pray let us speak with him"
 May, it is not seemly," said Matilda, 'but perhaps the poor man Is in some trouble. I will address him.
 Opening her Hattie the princess leaned out and. in a low musical voice. said:
 Stranger if thy misfortunes have not been occasioned by thy own fault and are within the compass of the Princess Hippolita's power to redress. I will take it upon me to answer that she will be thy protectress. When thou art dismissed from the castle repair to the Holy Father Jerome at the convent adjoining the church of St. Nicholas and make thy story known to him; he will not fail to | inform rhe princess, who is tho mother l of all that want her assistance. Fare we'll It is not seemly for ma to hold | further converse with a man at this un-
 wonted hour" May the saints guard
 thee" returned the youth, who was, in | deed. the peasant who had aided the
 escape of Isabella, 'but tell me, is what I have heard from the domestics true that the princess is missing from the castle?" What imports 1t to thee to knowr' replied Matilda "Dost thou come here to pry into the secrets of Manfred? Adieu, I have been mistaken in thee."
 She shut the easement hastily. "Oh,"
 cried Blanca, 'it is the Lady Isabella he
 is in love with I see plainly. They say
 that this young man was found by the 1 trap door through which she escaped to
 tho church. and your father seized him
 there. From his question he evidently
 thought that 1t was yourself. or gracious
 lady, whose flight he aided; or. rather
 that the Lady Isabella was you. He fell
 in love with her on the spot, 1t is sure,
 and is anxious to know if she got away | safely" Why this chatter of Bianca's
 should so distress Matilda she could not
 tell-but 1t did, and bidding her bower
 woman be silent. she sought her couch
 for such repose as the sorrowful events
 of the day allowed her.
 With the first light of morning Manfred
 arose from troubled slumber to receive | Father Jerome. "The Lady lsapeiia,' De- gan the priest. ''commends herself to
 your highness and thanks you for the
 kindness she has received in this castle.
 She prays for uninterrupted felicity De-
 tween yourself and your princess ana
 begs to be allowed to remain In sanctu-
 ary until she can learn news or her I father or, by the certainty of his oeatn'
 be at liberty. with the consent or her
 guardians, to dispose of hersolf m a ] suitable marriage" Manfred at nrst pe-
 gan to reply calmly. but. losing control
 of himself as he went on. his face became
 frowning and terrible and he gave Tree
 rein to his violence and passion. The
 Lady Isabella must be given up to n'm'
 o- he would tear her by violence rom the very altar. Father Jerome must per