|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 72
"Where is she?" asked the priest.
"About a mile from here--I will take you there." The Baron of Stramen
seemed not to listen, for he sat motionless; but his son manifested much
interest.
"Shall I go with you?" he said to the missionary.
"No, my child, remain with your father."
Albert de Hers had started up at the peasant's announcement, and
followed Father Omehr out of the apartment.
"Permit me," he said, "to accompany you; I feel that the call is
intended for me too. This ring," he continued, holding up his finger,
"was given me in my youth by Rodolph of Suabia; in a moment of folly and
sin, I parted with it. After an interval of more than twenty years, it
was restored to Rodolph by this Bertha, without a word of explanation.
He gave it to me the night before his death"--here the baron paused an
instant--"and informed me how and from whom he had received it. I
resolved to seek out the woman on my return; for if she be the Bertha to
whom I gave this ring, even in her madness she may throw light upon an
event hitherto involved in mystery."
"You mean the death of Sir Sandrit's brother?"
"Yes."
"I see no reason to oppose your wish," said the missionary; "perhaps the
mercy of God may choose to reveal what we vainly have endeavored to
discover."
It was not known how Bertha had escaped from the castle on the fatal
night when it was fired and its inmates put to the sword. Her insanity
might have shielded her; or she might have availed herself of the
confusion and darkness to elude observation, or extricated herself by
some secret passage. A peasant thought he had seen her, by moonlight,
walking along the moat of the castle, some days after the hostile army
had disappeared; but his account was discredited until she appeared by
daylight to the surviving vassals of Stramen, when they emerged from the
forest in which they had taken refuge. At the time of the return of the
soldiers of Stramen, she was much thinner and walked with difficulty,
rarely issuing from her retreat in the ravine, to which she had again
retired. On the morning of Margaret's funeral she could be seen, pale
and haggard, tottering toward the grave-yard. The simple peasants
recoiled before the ghastly figure, which, tall and trembling, with a
black gown and death-white face, passed among them like a spectre.
Before she reached the church she fell senseless to the ground. The
humanity of those who observed her triumphed over their fears, and they
bore her to a newly finished house hard by.
This was all the missionary could glean from his guide, as they walked
swiftly toward the shed pointed out by the peasant.
They found her lying motionless upon a bed in a corner of the room. As
they entered, she opened her eyes, and, after keenly scanning the Lord
of Hers, raised herself with difficulty upon her arm. Father Omehr
started. The wild light of insanity had left her eyes, and her glance,
though firm and resolute, was gentle and natural.
"Do you know me, Bertha?" said the missionary, springing trembling to
the bedside.
"Oh, yes," was the reply. "I have been in a long, wild dream!" and she
passed her hand over her high, clammy forehead. "And I know _you_, Sir
Albert of Hers, and I know that God has brought you here at this
moment."
The stout warrior, who never quailed before any odds, and whose
self-possession was as remarkable as his valor, quivered before the
mournful gaze of that weak woman. The room seemed to reel, and he leaned
against the wall for support.
"There is one other I must see--Sandrit of Stramen. Father, have him
brought here now; there is not one moment to be lost."
The missionary whispered a few words to a youth who was present, and the
stripling passed hurriedly out.
"Have you sent for him?" she inquired.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|