The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-03

play our banners and let the trumnets
sound the marchr'
Her scorn of the base insinuations of
the soldiers, her matchless beauty. her
dauntless courage, her noble and com
handing presence, awed the mutineers
and abashed them. "well," said old Clan
vile, the banner carrier, shamefacedly.
"many a battle have I seen, but never
under such leader. Repose you, lady,
we will march under this boy Amelot."
And as the trumnets sounded he displayed
the banner of De Lacy, and the soldiers
went laundering across the drawbridge.
But the troops under the banner of De
Lacy were too late to save Wenlock, and
they returned dispirited and doubling to
the castle.
A few days later appeared before the
Garde Dooureuse a royal pursuivant de-
handing the body of that false traitor
Damian De Lacy" and that the Lady
Eveline should Immediately deliver up her
castle to the Kings pleasure and herself
to his wardship Damian, though still
unable because of his wounds to leave his
bed, begged Eveline to deliver him up
and no longer to hazard aught in his be-
half. But the courageous maiden replied
that she neither could nor would comply
with the royal commands, and placed her
castle In a state of defense. Rose was
distressed at the equivocal position in
which the continued residence of Damian
In the castle placed her mistress. She
knew that the two loved each other, and
reminding Eveline that the three years
stipulated were up urged her to marry
Damian and thus put an end at least to
the continued ISLANDERS of her enemies
But Eveline replied that she was no base
usurer who counted days In the fulfill
ment of a pledge. Until all hope of the
constables return was at an end she was
his betrothed.
Yet something that the pursuivant had
said when upon her refusal of his sum-
mons he had pronounced the royal ban
upon her held in her mind. In refusing to
deliver up the castle he declared that she
betrayed a trust, as it was held for the
King "Betrayer," she thought, "and |
am also widowed wife and welded maid
1t only remains for me to be betrayed
myself to fulfill the prophecy of Wanda"
Two weeks later appeared before the cas-
tie the king himself with large and
powerful following. Setting out from Lon
don at the head of an army Henry had
completely subNued> the peasant uprising
and now turned himself to the chastise-
ment of those who had aided or abetted
it. Among the banners which floated
near the royal standard was that of De
Lacy, borne by the false Randall. The
constable being supposedly dead and Da-
milan attainted, he had succeeded to the
wealth and honors of that ancient house.
and collecting the vassals had joined the
army of the king.
But even with the banner of st. George
displayed before the castle and the King
himself knocking for admission, Eveline
would not Yield, declaring she would keep
the place as long as one stone stood upon
another, or man remained alive to fight
Tor her. But the fiery Prince Richard. he
who afterward was known as Occur de
Lion, carried the place by assault. Da-
milan was confined in chains in a dungeon
and Eveline imprisoned in her own apart
assault ceased when palmer desired
audience of the King.
1t was Hugo de Lacy the constable
who having escaped from captivity In
Syria, had, after many adventures. now
returned to his native land. Even while
they talked came news of the tragic
death of the false Randall Going out to
deliver charter to the Flemings he
had been assassinated by Welsh fanatic
who had mingled disguised among the
crowd. This fanatic had mistaken Randall
for the constable, Hugo. upon whom he
had sworn to avenge the death of his
chief, Gwenwyn.
The king and the constable immediately
set about investigating the charges
against Damian and Eveline. Although
the course pursued by the heiress of Ber-
enger in defying the royal authority had
been rash In the extreme and her or
dering of Damian to the castle for treat
ment instead of sending him to some
other place was an imprudent step, yet
an examination of her retainers and at
PENDANTS, especially the testimony of Will
kin Hammock, established her innocence
and also excused, If it did not Justify the
action of Damian. Randall de Lacy being
dead, his agents readily confessed as to
the intrigues and false reports set on
foot by him. Meantime, in her imprison-
ment Eveline was thinking: "Widowed
wife and welded maid, betrothed, betray-
/ Grand now I am betrayed into the hands
of my enemies. The curse of Wanda has
fallen"
But just then Rose came rushing in to
| tell her that the constable had returned
and that both she and Damian had re-
ceived full pardon. But Eveine's iov
was clouded by the further intelligence
that she was ordered to repair at once to
the chapel, the king having ordered that
her marriage take place immediately
| Summoning all her fortitude the girl
prepared to fulfill the duty which her
| fathers wishes and her vow had imposed
| upon her. But what was her rapture
when approaching the rail of the altar she
| beheld standing there bridegroom, not
the war-worn and grzzled Lord Consta-
| BILE, but Damian de Lacy. The constable,
broken in health and still further aged by
| his recent experiences in the crusades,
| when he realized the steadfastness and
| loyalty which Eveline and his nephew had
| shown him, had resolved to sacrifice his
| own hopes in order that the two younger
| xooxIo ,,,;rxI,+ Ia bo npu King Henry HIM