The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-25

love she promised Gerard that she
would wait In patience till he returned
to claim her.
The banns were cried in a church
where none in Tergou were likely to
hear them. But Gerari's brothers.
driven to unusual energy by their
anxiety, had bestirred themselves so
well that they discovered the plan
The day before the wedding they APP
prised the Burgomaster He called out
his men and seized Gerard, asserting
that 1t was by his fathers or lers
That night he was locked up In a high
tower.
His sister Catherine set forth with
the dwarf to rescue him. They arrived
at the tower just as Margaret Brandt,
aided by Martin wittenhaa& n, an old
huntsman, had succeeded in freeing the
captive.
Margaret and Gerard went to her
home, accompanied by the huntsman,
who was a loyal friend of old Peter,
1t was decided that Gerard should
strike toward the German boundary at
dawn. Though the church ceremony
had not been performed, there had been
witnesses; and this was as binding as
church celebration of the marriage
in that age. AMI for more than a CEN
fury thereafter.
Before daybreak the house was at
tackled by Ghysbrecht's men. His
frightened conscience had a very real
reason now for fear. He remembered
too late that he had hidden his papers
in great chest in the very room in
the tower in which Gerard was i'm
prisoned. When he learned of the
young mans escape, his first thought
was Of the chest, and he discovered
that the parchment which proved
Peters rights to the property was
gone.
He did not doubt that Gerard had
round IL, and he was correct in his sur
mise. But Gerard had not read 1t.
He had noticed that the parchment
bore Peter Brandt's name, and had
thrust 1t into his jerkin to read 1t an
other time.
The adventures that came to him
after that made him forget II entirely
So 1t was to be many a long day be-
fore he looked at 1t. and Margaret and
he were to pass through tragedy be-
cause OF his forgetfulness. But this
Ghysbrecht could not 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,
darted at him with a cry of exultation
and struck at him with all his heart
and strength. The oak staff came
across Ghysbrecht's face and laid him
under his mule
The next moment Gerard and Mar
tin were In the wood. and there Mar
garet running like a deer Joined them.
determined to die with her betrothed
husband IL she could not save him
Although the
upon them, and though Ghysbrecht. his
fury doubled by his CHASTITY wound
sent for bloodhounds to chase them. old
Martins woodcraft Knocked their eff
forts. In an hour the fugitive was be-
yond danger.
Then the huntsman turned away
awhlle the two young things knelt
hand in hand and renewed before
Heaven the VOWS that cruel men had
interrupted. They embraced and chung
together and tried to part and failed
ana returned to each other and en-
braced and held tight again like
drowning despairing creatures.
The old man stood patiently He
heard Gerard sob and Margaret moan.
Al last there was hoarse cry and feet
battered on the hard road He turn
ed and saw Gerard running Wildly with
his hands above his head. while Mar
garet came totterlng toward him with
palms extended piteousIy as IL for
help. -,1
The old man took her home silently
TO SeVenbergen. Then he fled to Rot
terdam where the Duke pardoned him
for his little outrage against AUTHORITY
indeed. the good Duke preferred his
old soldiers, such as Martin had been
TO mere Burgomaster any day. He
sent pleasant message to Ghysbrecht
20 say that he had hanged, Burgomas-
tiers before and would be glad to do n
again So poor Margaret had peace, AT
Ieast' II she did not have happiness
Happiness was far from her. Mar
garet Van Eyck. watching the girl with
an affectionate eve. saw that she was
suffering. and at last she said:
Sweetheart. I did desire that cerard
should stay in Italy five or six years
and come back rich. ana. above ali a
great artist. But your happiness ia
above all. We must have him back
and will write to him by Hans Mem
ling who is going to Italy to paint
He will be sure to find him. and your
Gerard shall return. since the Dukes
pardon is for him as well as for Mar
tin"
Unfortunately Hans MemlinE loved