The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-08-22
CHARLES w. FAIRBANKS.

for his desire to defeat a man in whose
ranks he had fought. But she was SO
intent on saving the kingdom from the
enemy that she gave no thought to any
thing else.
Harold at once took charge Of all
preparations. In this he was not sub
1ect to interference, for the old king
was lamenting his fate In his apart
ments At last the army Of Conrad
was seen marching in the valley. and
when 1t reached the bottom of the hill
on which Gloucester castle was situat-
ed the men encircled it, and it was evil
dent that If they did not take it by
storm they would starve the garrison
into subsection.
The king of Gloucester came out clad
in suit of armOr, but 1t was too heavy
for his reduced strength. He stumbled
and fell under its weight and was car
ried back to his room. This gave Har-
old full control He gave Eleanor his
plan. 1t was to act so that the invad-
ers would believe that they had only
to take their ease for q short time
and their enemies would have to sur
render for want of provisions. When
they seemed most confident Harold
would strike.
So he sent deputation to say that
since they had but five days provisions
the men Of Gloucester must surrender
and to ask what terms would be grant
ed Conrad said that he would grant
no conditions. The deputation return
ed in the evening, and Conrad expected
to receive a surrender the next day.
TIL midnight he and his army made
the night ring with song and shouting.
They had not finished carousing when
the castle clock struck 2. Slowly the
portcullis was raised. the drawbridge
| (the chains had been oiled to prevent
a rattle) let down, and the little army
Of Gloucester, led by Harold, silently
emerged and, dividing into four bands,
bore down from the four points Of the
compass upon the men of Conrad and
with yell began to stab and hack
those who were sober enough to resist
them and cut down those who attempt
| ed to rise.
Harold had noted the tent of Conrad,
and while the usurper, half drunk, was
endeavoring to get on his arms the late
prisoner raised his sword and brought
it down, cleaving his enemy's shoulder.
Conrad was felled by the blow, and
Harold, standing over him with raised
sword, said:
II am Harold, king of Warwick.
! come to avenge the death of my father.
came from exile and without being
known Joined your retainers as they
were setting out to fight my fathers
old enemy of Gloucester. / came to
watch my opportunity for vengeance
on you. 1t has come"
When Conrad was killed his army
was fleeing down the hill. AS soon as
they heard that their leader was dead
they gave up all hope of getting safely
back to Warwick and expected to pass
the rest Of their lives In the dungeons
Of Gloucester. In the morning Harold
rode down to them and. calling them
together, announced himself as their
legitimate king. Conrad had been hat
ed by them, and they received Harold s
announcement with Joy.
Harold babe them re-establish their
camp and promised to lead them to
Warwick. Then he rode back to Glou-
cester castle.
He found great Joy there, even to
the old king, who had got up from his
bed and. come out to the courtyard to
welcome and thank his deliverer. But
Harold. ignoring him. dismounted and.
kneeling at Eleanors feet, said:
Good lady, told you would fight
for you and not for the enemy Of my
father, for am king Of Warwick, who
as child was spirited away to pre-
vent my being murdered by this infa-
nous usurper."
'"The enmity between our houses"
replied Eleanor "is ended by this splen-
did defense Of yours"
And leading him to her father she
effected a reconciliation.
The reconciliation was cemented by
the marriage Of King Harold and the
Princess Eleanor. But that was many
centuries ago. The house of Warwick
still occupies Warwick castle, but the
lineage has often changed since the
period OF this story.