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Irwin county News. JW »*i<l a 1501 > I >■ ..... Clifrord Grubbs, Publisher.......SYi ajHoJTe lHWf$T~" fyjUftTY 'd^'SOAj,........' KiL-ifj a y, “ATuii., ;iu urn Vul. Viii N\». iQ. h.a Queen QfThe ‘ T1 Crusade, Th- (By S. 0. Bwpffoi-d.) Chapter II. ) QUEEN OF THE URUSADE. It 1st “A I) ,, truant, why this delay?” i began gaily, then noticing dpss uneasy look on Steph- <he continued in slower Al- U g tones:—“Your delay, caused us much anxiety, ert and I rode forth to u, Why art, thou so §ad, uor? Art sad to leave thy adds and return to those t /pj® you? Perchance sumo 4$pfqllen the?” tfieeting thee and cousin le ! sister? Thou kuowest, Grom 80 • Thoughts of home and tlvjtj) jut;. But Blanche, e Dir maiden with tljee? the", hast thou forgotten so mu’ Agnis dear, come hither” ?“Snche turned expectantly to one w) r > rodi the rear of tip) little 11 arty, . his person now rod.- f< e ward and the form of , a beautiful maiden of eighteen was revealed. Eyes of midnight black¬ ness, that flashed beneathe heavy arching eye brows. Tresses that rivalled the blackness of the ra¬ ven’s plume. X form, not tall, but well developed, and attired in a dark blue riding habit, moddled after the fashion of the time, Such was Agnis Doranee. She sat erect upo'i l;e>r prancing horse, and, at- a glance, one could see that she was one born to command- As Steph- gnzed upon ||gr, a flusji stained his brow, and he staiqpipred forth 'Agnis Doranee, I t if tie expected to meet thee here. I thought you still lingered among the gay Pari- sions? Rigid royally do I welcome thee,” . rcl Stephen rode forward with ere ended hand. Agnirbowed her stately head and allowed a smile to flash across lier face, as she answered -.— “Right glad guj I to be once more among you. Tjxe lunshinq and warmth of Provence are far more to me than all the gold and glitter of gay old Paris, The coin- p&nionship of a few tried friends, more than the adorations of the multitudes that worship Mam¬ mons. Stephen, it gives me great pleasxirejtq ^ee agajn,” and she frankly took his hand. “Ah,” Stephen murmered, “It seems like old times to see thee here. ^ %pe,px to see again the scenes of tvyo yeare ago, when in the limit wy skimmed the hedges, qnd the. ditches. Afy, wh,at a wild free Thefn^niory life y that was!” of th& children’s prusady syymed to h.ave faded fr OB banishqd, Stephen’^ tninc|. The frown was from h^b row. Ho join- ed in the meny chatter of his friends and they'alf rode, forward t .ward the, castle, whose battle¬ ments apji, ’hrouglf .tpW$s;wejf$ thy trees. distinctly The visible t sight of the castle brought it afl back to him. His face cloudyd again, and in a few words he. tol ; d the little party to how the he rysemi had* judged of the Grave himself of to Jfesus go Christ. borne’hy lingered upon tive suf¬ ferings the pilgrims. He told how Hilderbrand had said that only the youth and innocence of the land could hope to succeed, and then lastly he told them how he had been chosen leader. That, in three days, he was to meet the children on the plain of Avihnon. The party had halted and had listened to him with bated breath. When he had finished, Blanche ex- O - where I follow “Brother, you go If you go to Palestine as leader in the Children’s Crusade, you will find me by your side to share your VI “Nobly said, Cousin Blanche,” exclaimed tip.' deep yoicg ( of Roht. of Guise. “J to(ji\\vj|| pffop apy lot with you, and qjy hand to drive the Turk fr/nw the resting place of my fyivjq)\’ ! “God bless you both,’? Stephen murmured brokenly. Agnis said never a word, but fyer looks were eloquent. The little party galfopped on in silence, and shortly entered the castle, where we will leave them. * ’Twas three days later, and the rising sun looks down upon a busy scene. The beautiful plain of A- vignon sqpni.ed respjendant with a silvery skeeq, as jtjpj dpw drops sparkled in the rising beams. In the distance toward the peaks of the majestic Alps, tho§g gfjm sentinels, who for ages kfien silent witnesses of the rise aqd fall of nations. Their snpy glafl summits are now bathed in at) pr- iflame of glittering silver, as t|jp day God’s rosy fape pety>§ above their icy barriers. To the yvest, tire waters of the winding Rhine were sparkling brightly as they took their laugh¬ ing way to the sea. ’Twa§ a beautiful picture} and needed but the presence of man to make it perfect. Even this is not lacking, for to the northward something white shows against, the hack ground of green. It is the camp of the cru¬ saders; here twenty-five thousand children have been recruited from the various provinces of France. The camp has been astir early. The bust le and activity to be seen every where seems to denote that some- thing of importance is -about to occur. The tall form of the white haired monk can be seen moving about from place to place. They appear to be breaking camp. The tents are being folded and placed upon the backs of patient, horses, the camping utensils are being packed. The majority ox the chil¬ dren have gathered in an open space at the center of the camp, and appeaf to be awaiting some one. They are under the immedi¬ ate command of a pale blue eyed youth from the north of France. Raoul of the Dyke. Though Hil¬ debrand is the nominal leader. Mean while to the westward a c^ond of dust was seen rapidly ap¬ proaching. The gentle breeze which had risen with the sun, blowing this aside, repealed four persons of note, riding forward in haste. In the first, who rode a noble white horse, and who was clad in the armor of the time, aixd on whose breast the white cross of the cru¬ sade was prominently displayed, we recognize Stephen, by his side rode his sister Blanche, arrayed in helm and plume. To rear rode Robert aixd Big Peter, side by side the former bearing a silken banner on which a large cross in gold was seen, with these words in red: “God i? With Us.” Stephen rodo directly to where Hildebrand and Raoul were stand¬ ing. The former met him with a strange smile, and turning to the assembled children, cried in a lqud voice: ‘‘Ye who have left the pleasure of youth behind, t,o save the grave ot your dear Master from desecra¬ tion at the ^And^ o(t,hq cruel Turk. Behold your ieader. One who hath left the joyful life of ea^ and comes with his sister and friends to devote their lives to the cause of nhiipt” A shout burst forth as it by mag- ic It seemed to break the silence like a thunder peal:- “Hold, bold, Stephen, victory! While vet the chorus resounded, a stir was caused by the arrival of a beautiful maiden on a black pal- frev equipped with shield aud lance, and wU body was protect- ed by a jacket of chain armor. Her face was bidden by the visor of her gleaming helmet from which there waved » sable plume. As she yeiqed her prancing steed $long ejde the little group, with her gloyed hand she pushed back the visor pt her heimp/t, and the flash¬ ing eyes of Ago is Durance were re¬ vealed to the startled ga?e of Steph en and bis friends. “Thickest thou that T would stay behind when ray friends have giv¬ en fheiy all. No, no, Aguis Durance will brave the uangers of land and > es, nor rest, nor stop ’till the cruel e hand of oppression be removed from the grave of him, who by dj- ing gave life to the world. Thc L.oj-d is w.th us. In a dresfn I gi-w the hosts ot Saladin flying before us as the chaff before the wind. Re¬ member ‘ Ye roust hecnoig jicf,lg chijdrer, tp enter the Kingdom pf tjeavpn. Sftith the Lfitd, God of Ijpstg. “A little child shiyll load T'hpiupn to tfip Holy Land’ 41) ibis gpfj hs.fhrp fhe startled could Spgftk, Pb how wondrously hefj,gtifql she looked in her simple eloquence. “pola, hole, Hear” from thr mul¬ titude • Stephen had lisfepgd like one dazed. Now he came forward to where Aguis wag- “Sp ihpU art bound to cast tliy ; ot with ours?” he asked. “Yea, a thousand time?,” she answered. '‘Art thou more brave than I? Is thy fair sister to show- more spirit than Agnis? No. Where you go, I follow.” ‘ Maiden, thou hast spoken right¬ ly” iha deep voice of Hildebrand broke in. 1’he spirit of Go 1 mov- eth filer, daughter,” and he pinned the while cross uson her bfe^tjp “So be ii’tf Stephen murmured. Then bidding ride forward witii the banner, be guddenly turur d io | tbe mingled thousand?, “Children, Ye have the words so bnvely spoken by her, who comes to us as a-warior. Is it not fitting that she assist as leader- ” “Yen, Yea,” pi me thhft thunder¬ ous answers. “Are V/.e will to end.” “Ye have chosen wisely” he answer¬ ed, and taking a woven garland of ivy from Ids sister, he turned to Agni-, while at a motion, Robert b> Id the banner above her drooping plume. Sa¬ • ‘Here beneath the cyosq., the cred symbol of our Lord, I crown thee Queen of the children,’,! cru¬ sade,” and with these words he laid the ivy garland upon her h® 1 * met. The approving thousands cheer¬ ed till the echoes rang again. ‘•’Tis time tp, be upon the march Stephen,” Hildebrond reminded. Soon the long lines of children were upon the march., following the great road leading from Paris to Marseilles. It was an enthusiastic army, vpifh shout and song they marched along. The children were in two divisione^the forwards led by Stephen and our princess. Hii- brand was with them. Agnes and and Stephen rode side by side be¬ neath the Silken banner carried by Robert. All of the children were afoot with the exception of the leaders, aud marched 8 abreast, Tuere were about 15000 in the di¬ vision led by Stephen. Tbe second division was under tne command of Raoul of the Dyke, with these the pack horses yvith the damp e - quipage. Of provisions, fhgrqpvore none, they expected the inhabitants of the countries through which il» ‘y passed to feed them. Chapter III, ON TO MA RSEIL LES, The long lines of children marched on, the sun came out, the mists were dispelled, and the dust of the road being trampled fine by the myriads of f>et, rose in a chok ing cloud and enveloped all. Many of the children had been reared to life of ease, and the toil ol r/jurpt f tg became irksome long before fbe poqn halt wan called. When that time arrived, a glad ...epppp ebwt rang along the line, many peer hoys and gins dropped down troip utter exhaustion, Too tired to eat the little f od there was. only wanting to rest. To soon came the order to proceed, and the weary children staggered on their enthusiasm being the only thing that kept, them up. As they advanced peasants came from field, and ft 11 to cheer them on, and provide thsm with food, whole villages turped out to wel¬ come them, gave then all the pro visions they possessed, and with many a prayer sued them on their way. About three o’clock in the after goon as Stephen at the heap of the column halted for a moment, a great cheering was heard oil to the right, and glancing that way our friends beheld the advance of a col umr, approaching at right angle to their own. At o glance they ecog- nizs the approaching force to be the children recruited m the neigh borhood of Rouen. They were in the neighborhood of thirty thous and of them. The two columns immediately went into camp for the night. What tew tents thev possessed were raised, hot the majority had no protection what ever from the elements. Numbers of the children especially the del¬ icately girls weie completely ex hausted. Hildebrand went among 'Cheering them up, with words of sympi-y.hy. meal After the e\ening had been prepared and eatt n, the leaders ol different forces come together (or a consultation. The commanders of the Rouen contingent appeared to be, Co'gnt Henri R bault, who claimed rela lionship with the Count de Paris, He appeared to he about 20 years of age, with a haughty expression a, .d carriage that could ill hook op position. His darkly scowling face and shifting black eyes belonged to one whose disposition was such that he would stop gt nothing to gain his ends. He came to the consul¬ tation with a naughty step, aud stood with folded arms, and scowl¬ ing brow, while Hildebrand wel come him in the following well chosen words:— Young man thou and thy fol- fowing art welcome truly welcome The Lord will shower his blessings upon the. Those who have never known gjn ryijl surely conquer, for the Lord the of Hosts will lead the way -The children the pure and the innocent of Gids chosen people have been called of him to rescue the Holy Selphulche from the un¬ righteous hesthern who revili and spit upon his tomb. In the name of Stephen DeVanx I again wel¬ come the Host thou formed any plan,? “ Ypst h,o!y. father.! ship let_ us either cross, the Alps and take at Genoa or Brenice, I have a cousin at Brenice who will help us in this respect.” “But think you” Stephen cried, “That the children could Bland the long dark passage of the Alps; would not the snow keep us back? the awful avalanche bury us be¬ neath its folds? would not the ter¬ rible cold of the glaciers kill ua by the score? what would we do for provisions? we could not carry them with us. Horses could not make the passage. It would be a needless sacrifice of life, I much prefer the plan of Hildebrand, Let us to Mar-eilles and there take ship • Henri had listened to this inter- uption i&ith rising anger now he broke in with a saviige gesture:— “Boy who art thou?”. Thy leader called of God to com¬ mand this crusade” Stephen an¬ swered. “Nay” the other cried, ‘s‘H*nri Ribault will not owe alle- geance to euch a etrifling as thou art. Tninkst thou I wit) let a metv- ing infant stand in my way. *• I say thou shalt” Stephen an¬ swered •'Peace quiet peace” v. Hildebrand cried sternly remember the words of our Lord. “Love ye one an other.’! say that ye must stop this foolish quar¬ rel, as he steped between Henri and Stephen, but the former laid violent hands upon him and push¬ ed him gsjde and again confronted Stephen. “What!” he roared ‘Think you I would take orders from the son of a skulking peasant. “Thou beast” Stephen returned wrath rising - “4 8 food blood Hows in my veins as thine vein boaster.” Again Aildebrand -strove to in¬ terfere, bet again he was brushed aside so rudely that he staggered back and fell in a heap. Henri hounded and with Ins steel gauntlet smote Stephen fierce ly on the cheek. So awful was the blow that Stephen was for the moment confused. There was a fierce murnaer from the surround-1 ing throng and they sirged nearer, before Stephen could recover Hen¬ ri turned vsitV y. spill to the crowd “ Back Dogs” he shouted, he looked as fierce in his fiery wrath. that tha surrounding children mo¬ mentarily shrank back, aji but one with a bourn! like a tiger Big Peter was upon him and bore him back- ward to the grpqnd, “You would strike my master” he ground out between his set teeth. Henri seem- ed but a b»be in his strong grasp. At this moment Stephen came has¬ tily forward and laid a hand on his arm- “Peace Peter,” he said, let him arise, he must give me satis¬ faction. A i)( Vaux will avenge the insult, and as Big Peter sullenly with drew and Ribault drew him¬ self to his leet. “You shall meet h«?e before ail the assembled children of the crusade and let the contest decide who shall command Art willing boaster.” “Aye doubly so. “Let us to work.” Blanche timidly pressed forward and laid her hand on Stephen’s arm :— ‘‘Brother let it pn<s. Do not meet him” she pleaded with tears in her violet eye “Blanche I must in the name of Devaux shall ha vin¬ dicated” he leturned gently. “B.ravely said Sephen,” Ages de¬ clared, “Let the dog feel your steel’ “Aye” cried Hildebrand, “show him no mercy Opd will aid thee,” In an incredibly short space of time the temporary lists had been cleared, and Stephen and Henri sat on their respective steeds as either end clad in complete armor, with visors drawn • They were armed with only a shield und lance. Tak- all together it was a very im¬ pressive scene the moon looked down upon the vast army of chil¬ dren looking on with white anx¬ ious faces but the majority with a great show of interest. Behind Step lien were grouped, Father Hilde¬ brand Agnes Blanche a,nd Robert, who was to act as the second ot Stephen, A dark eyed tad from Paris named Eugene D Arne had been chosen second by Henr^ Ag¬ nes gave the word:— “Now: One: two: three: for- ward,” There was a flash as the moonlight fall upon the armor and two steeds were rushing passionate¬ ly at each, other from opposite ends of the arena By ti skillful move? meet Stephen caused his horse to swerve at. ju*st fhe right moment and the lance of his opponent glanced by him. The next instant his own laqqg,rang loudly on Hen¬ ri shield, so great was the concuA- Bion that be reeled backward and the horse giving piunge he was thrown headlong to the ground while a tremultious shout burst from the assembled throng. 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