Woman's Choice —The Story Of A Hero.

ind armour , Avhen suddenly the Lord 01 ploermel entered the tent followed by one of the defeated champions . " Sir Knight , " said De Ploermel , Avith a peculiar smile , and addressing the victor , ii Sir Oliver du Guescliu , touched by your

courtesy in returning to him unransomed his horse and armour , and admiring the . singular prowess of so young a ivarrior , has begged me to present him to you , that he may offer' his thanks and applause in . "

person The young warrior bowed gracefully as the old knight Avas presented to him . " Of a truth , young sir , " said Du Guesclin , " the noble lord hath but spoken my true sentiments . I love valour , and honour the knightly skill which has , for nearly the

first time in my life , vanquished me in the lists . I have a son , near , methinks , ' to your age . Would to Heaven he Avere of your rare promise ! my grey hairs Avould then go down in peace to the grave . " The knight trembledand silently raised

, his visor . Du Guesclin uttered a sharp cry , exclaiming : " My son ! my Bertrand !" sprang forward , and caught the victor in liis arms . The glory his son had won , by appealing to that master passion , his vanity , was sufficient to efface from the recollection

of the old knight the misdemeanors of Bertrand ' s youth—greatly even as they had been magnified hy the subtle misrepresentations of his brother—and he not only pardoned him , but promised to restore him his lost bride , and ivoulcl have had him return home at once , but the youth firmly refused .

Clan-e du Val loves my brother , " said Bertrand , " and as you have UOAV , sir , consented to their union , it would be both « uel and unjust to sever them . Her wealth Avill make him as rich as I shall be m my rightful and beloved inheritance of tie Chateau de Guesclinand his

child-, ren will be also my heirs , for I shall henceforth seek no other mistress than Glory—3 mistress that will be Avooed by hard bloAvs , "ot specious flatteries ; but I cannot return awl see Claire as ' the betrothed and the wide of another . Moreoverthe Lord of

, tloermel , who received me in my destitu"ou , and Avas my true friend and councilor , merits the devotion of my future hfe . " J "Thou art altogether translated , Berk ' and , " si ghed the old knight , inainazement ;

" thou canst preach like a grey friar now , as Avell as fig ht like an experienced knight ; but 1 will not murmur . Come to thine home when thou Avilt , boy , and thy mother and I will g ive thee a blithe welcome . " Thus the father and son parted . Years passed' aAvay . Claire du Val

Avedded Guy du Guesclin , and learned too late that the abject spirit Avhich crouches from motives of self-interest or fear will tyrannize where it may do so Avith impunity . She led a weary life Avith her wily and selfish consort , and many a sigh heaved her

bosom as common fame bore to her ear the name—hallowed by a nation ' s enthusiasm —of Bertrand du Guesclin . While her lord , with the cunning of his base nature , vacillated during the English wars betAveen Edward of England and Charles of France —despised and suspected by both—Bertrand ' s name was the watchword of his

native land , and venerated by friend and foe . Many a minstrel told in the halls of his native Brittany IIOAV a princess had pledged her jeAvels and a king taxed his impoverished treasury for Bertrand du Guesclin ' s ransom ; how at his call the robbers Avho ravaged the plains of Prance

assembled beneath his banner and became discip lined soldiers and champions of suffering humanity , fighting against the monster monarch of Castile ; how he had opposed injustice , even when exercised by the spiritual head of Christendom , and

refused wealth drawn from the hard earnings of the oppressed peasantry . She heard all in silence , and dared not name her early lover to his brother , for jealousy of Bertrand ' s glory preyed like a vulture at the heart of Guy , inflicting on him , in very deed , the fabled tortures of Prometheus . But Claire had no right to murmur—she had chosen her OAVII lot .

Eight-and-forty years had elapsed since the tournament at Ploermel , and a beleaguering army lay before the English fortress of Chateau-neuf-de-Randou . As bright a summer sun as that Avhich had lighted young Du Guesclin from his home \ A as

now looking clown in quiet splendour on the fair ' plains of Guienne ; on the strong castle , and the Avhite tents of the besieging army , over one of which the banner of France , half-hoisted , drooped heavily , the breezes not being sufficient to unfold it and display its golden lilies , A spell of