Year: 1873

O1Gen enough ]!

 Just now, the old keeper awoke, and, giving orders to lead the stranger to his apartment, he himself went out. When our knight entered his chamber, he went to the window, and vainly strove, through the deepening twilight, to find the tower in which he supposed his dear king to be-. Soon, melancholy voice was heard singing these words ::

 "The golden stars wander over hill and valley, messengers of my longings and my griefs. In this gloomy prison, I pass my life, and can only conide my woes to Heaven"

 ooh my king p sobbed the knight, as pale face appeared at tower win dow. How can I tell you how near your friends are ?"

 The harp p he cried suddenly, and, snatching it up, with trembling fingers, he played romance which he had once composed for the king.

 No sooner had he finished few bars than the voice in the tower caught up the air and finished it. Blondel ?" exclaimed the king. For answer, the minstrel again seized the harp and sang:

 ''Oh, Richard oh my king!

 The world abandons thee,

 And no one now is seeking

 Thy deliverance but me.

 ..'.~ I'll save thy precious person,

 will break thy cruel chain.

 pledge myself in song

 Thy freedom to regain"

 Blondel spent the night in laying plans for the deliverance of Richard. He resolved to gain admittance into the castle for his followers through his friendship for the lovely girl, who had already made aD impression on his heart.

 Within 0 day or two the newly elect ed emperor was to be crowned at Frank fort. On the evening of the coronation, he directed the landlord of the little inn, near Trilfels, to give to the garrison of the castle @ banquet, that with prop CT ceremony they might drink to the health of the new monarch. Mean while one by one, his own trusty knights stole, through the twilight, to the woods behind the castle.

 At late hour of the evening the little sidegate of the fortress opened, as the young maiden cautiously stole out to meet Blondel.

 Then for the first time, he unfolded to her the real object of his meeting with her, entreating her to fly back to England with the king (whom he was about to liberate) and himself, assuring her that every token of love and gratitude should be shown her ii she would yield to his wish.

 With cry of astonishment and pain, she exclaimed, "Oh, traitor oh, woe! my poor uncle p As she turned to fly within the castle walls, the followers of Blondel-who, in the darkness, had approached unperceived-focked about her, and made their way to the castel- lan's room, where the tower keys were kept. The few defenders of the fortress who were not at the village feast were soon overpowered. The old keeper was powerless to do aught; but he cried out, as the liberated Richard stood before him: "Against this deed, con- trary to the law of nations, I protest, and swear that you shall not leave Ger many in safety P The poor maiden threw herself upon her knees, and ac- cused herself as the cause of this terri ble disaster.

 Meanwhile, the report of the attack upon the castle had reached the inn, and the warriors came back in hot haste to find themselves barred outside the walls, with threat that if they did not disperse the castellan should lose his head and the castle be destroyed.

 Blondel and the king urged the maid en to return with them to England, but she could not forgive the man who had used her heart fer an act of treason.

 Blondel left her, but not till she had accepted ring and chain of gold in token of his remembrance of her love and service towards him. We do not propose to follow the fortunes of Occur de-Lion after his escape from Triefels j; but to tell our readers what tradition says of the minstrel Blondel and the unhappy maiden. Many, many years after the events which we have described and on another summer day, a gray haired cavalier rode over the same l mountain pass, where the king had been sought and found.

 "Here, murmured he, ''here have I felt in days gone bJ the highest bliss and the deepest woe of my life l! " Slow ly he rode till he had reached the little inn.

 As he looked into the face of the land lord he discovered the features of the young shepherd boy. With an almost tender interest the two Gone of whom was BlondeD talked of the past.

 In tears the now old minstrel learnt the sad fate of the castellan and his niece. He was killed by some hidden hand after the flight of Richard was dis covered. The broken-hearted maiden entered convent near Baden, where henceforth her life and history were lost to the world.

 None can visit this ancient ruin of Triefels without 8 melancholy interest as they recall the dreary prison-life of the great King Richard, the touching romance of the minstrel knight Blondel, and the lovely, loving maiden over whose story centuries have now rolled.