The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-27
The Counrc5s
Roma S Choice
By JULIA MacNAIR WRIGHT



of the troubadours and the proceed
ings of the Courts of Love. Then the
Germanic master of the holy Roman
empire was overload of Italy, which
was broken into many feudatories of
varied power and extent. The mobiles
were pretty generally left to their own
devices; if complications arose which
threatened the security Of the royal
German, he came upon the peninsula
and made Investigations in certain
high-handed fashion.
Among these potent Italian vassals
was, once upon time, a count, whose
castle of renown commanded one of
the chief highways of the empire be-
tween the capital and Rome, way
much travelled then by the emperor, a
high-mightiness, most magnificent to
contemplate, and hand in glove with
his holiness the pope, with whom he
claimed cousin.
The noble count in question, having
for years terrorized his household,
vassals, and neighbors, even at times
occasioned his soverign-lord some
tremors, had the misfortune to die
quietly in his bed, like a woman, a
priest, or coward, instead of joyfully
in the lofty rage of battle. Another
misfortune was that he left for sole
heir lass of IS, the Countess Roma.
Scarcely was the count sepultured,
when three neighboring princes stimuli
taneously concluded to marry Mistress
Roma, who had lived in her fathers
keep, secluded as star shut up in
the bottom of well.
Each lord dispatched to the be-
reaved maiden a messenger asking
possession of the lordless lands and,
incidentally, for the hand of the
heiress.
! The three messengers met at the
drawbridge-which served as front
door to all homesteads of the middle
ages-were admitted by the hoary
seneschal.
To each of the three messengers the
young countess gave mo" as round
as billiard ball.
Her experiences with the masculine
element of social life, as represented
by her father, had been by no means
agreeable, and being now set free Of
bondage, she proposed to live in holy
peace forever after. However, holy
peace was not an element obtainable
in the middle ages.
The three messengers returned to
their respective lords, who proceeded
to revenge themselves for the slight
put upon them.
No. 1 promptly married cousin Of
Roma, her dearest enemy and the pair
proceeded to vilify the little countess,
alleging foul ISLANDERS, as that Roma
had a cloven foot, squint eye. the
odor of carrion crow, and no taste
for man above page or clown.
No. 2, having for uncle a cardinal
archbishop. had himself incontinently
rushed through holy orders, made into
bishop, and as a first exercise of his
sacred functions with bell and book
communicated the recalcitrant Roma.
put her territories under interdict.
forbade her fire, water, food and the
good Offices of the church. AS every
body knows, such dealing was worse
than a cloud of locusts, visitation of
or a general combination Of all the
plaques of Egypt.
Suitor 8, being of a fiery tempera-
ment, gathered his vassals, ravaged
the lands of Roma and laid siege to
her castle.
no hN mo W. nd a. In
about with an army at his back, look
ing for adventures. as was the usual
employment of emperors Of the middle
ages, heard Of this disturbance and
FASTENED to set affairs right, for the
castle Of Roma commanding a chief
highroad it was important that II
should be under firm lordship.
The pope was at that time junket.
ing with the emperor, and the united
temporal and spiritual powers, arriv
ing upon the scene, made short work
of the desired adjudication.
Suitor / was divorced and his dame
sent to a convent, after both of them
their ISLANDERS. The orders of Sutton
2 were annulled, he was replaced il
his laic estate, the interdict was re
moved, and Roma returned ito goot
and regular standing" No. was or
dered home with his retainers. Each
sutton was instructed to make ready
a marriage feast and set his castle II
its highest splendor.
The Countess Roma was then dressed
with the utmost eorgeousness. She
.shone like a whole constellation, il
gold-embroidtred brocade, pearl
wrought slippers, chains OF diamonds
rubies and emeralds, until the sur
might have faded out Of sight and the
world not have missed him.
Six pages in blue velvet and silver
six maids in green satin and gold
were set as the brides escort. In one
of her dainty hands the emperor
placed a marriage ring, in the othel
the title-deeds to her estates.
Then he set her at a point wher,
three ways parted. each running
straight and without a divergence t,
the castle of one of the suitors.
l. LaI