The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-31

PIaywrights, authors and poets
find a deep fourst of inspiration and
story IN the troubadour literature
of the middle ages. Most famous OF
these tales are the French tales OF
the thirteenth century, and from
one of them is taken the story pre-
sented today. 1t deals NTH that
part of the Champagne from Sois-
sons to Reims, aUhere today a long
line is held desperately by French
and Germans, who are face to face,
and in some parts almost aotthsn
touch of each other.
Messire William was loyal knight
of Champagne who was honored by
all men who priced truth and nobility.
His fortune, however, did not equal
his merit. He possessed castle, it Is
true; but the only income that he had
was obtained painfully In tournaments,
out of the ransoms of his overthrown
adversaries.
He owned only one thing that was
valuable. 1t was his horse. Gray it
was, flower-bright of coat. Never had
men seen another such steed, SO proud,
SO impetuous and yet so dainty of foot.
Men near and far coveted it and offered
him wealth for 1t, but he would not lis
ten. Between these two, knight and
horse, there was great love as be-
tween brothers.
Poor as he was, Messire William set
his heart on the daughter of the rich
est lord In all the Champagne. She
was as good as she was beautiful,
which is no scanty praise, since the
Ministries all sang that she was In
truth part and parcel of the loneliness
of their land.
She gave her heart to the tall, splen-
did knight but never could they meet.
) Her father kept her close, never per.
hitting her to pass from the battle
ments and walled gardens. Still the
knight rode to her castle every day,
and every day they saw each other and
talked love, though they could do II
only through gap in the masonry OF
great wall.
. Although he well knew the futility
Of 1t. Messire William ventured al
|. last to ask her father for her hand
'sThink you am so bes0tted as to.giys
my child to knight who live bA
play?r roared the old man. She slai
marry no beggar! have not yet fbunt
. the man, from Scissors to Reims, anc
from Reims to Chalons, or from the
, Lorraine to Germany, who is mel
, enough to match me This fruit is tot
high for your seeking!
Cursed be your fathers wealth 2
!. said the knight when he saw his sweet
o heart again.
81 would go with you gladly, and b.
a beggar!" said she. "But my fathe
is old, and prayers will not move him
for age and youth cannot understand
each other. Yet I would counsel you
Have you not an uncle, fully as ricl
as my father? And do these two no
greatly honor each other? Why do 70,
not ride to him and ask for his inter
cession?"
ii The knight took courage and rode 7
his aged relative, who not only agree
J. to help him, but started at once, tel
. ing the knight to return to his ow
q castle and wait for word from him.
- 1t was an evil word that reache
l. him after week of anxious waiting.
ss friend brought him the news that hi
= uncle had wooed indeed, but not fc
Il his nephew. He had wooed and wo
fol- himself, and the girl locked safel
within the castle, could do nothing bl
wiring her hands.
Scarcely had the news reached th
y poor knight before one Of the nobl
:, mans varlets arrived to ask him II
III his steed. my lord prays you," we
r the message, ITO lead your beautify
q q. horse to carry his daughter in hone
=. and state to the church on her we,
ls ding morn"
tMay heaven bless my wicked unc
never for this foul, reasonable deed
: lamented the knight. He has kille
" mel Cain wrought no redder wrong
= Yet Twill send my horse gladly to h
who gave me her dear love. It is Il
- last service I can do her. Never sha
I hear her sweet voice again or see HI
, come to meet me, dainty-fair! Sadd
the horse with my best gear and lee
1t to the most tender of maidensW
That night the wedding company
the rich mans castle Toasted and mac
n SO merry that when the warders SCUM
ed their trumpets at dawn to awake
all for the wedding journey to Il
r. church, city guests and guards we
" alike sleepy and before they had ri
den far they were nodding IN their sa
- dies,
8 Even those who were detailed
guard the bride rode with closed eye
Soon there was none to guide Il
IN brides horse, for she rode weepil
4 with thoughts far away, and the rel
- lay idle on the animals neck.
- When the procession entered de-
:. Gus forest trail, the horse, being left
Z. itself, turned off on his own accou
" and entered hidden woodland pa
Il that led to Messire Williams home.