iq6 wild sports of the west. 



The obsequies of the unhappy lady were piously 

 performed ; the mountain girls decked her grave with 

 flowers ; and old and young, for many a mile around, 

 offered prayers for the soul of the departed. The 

 murder was involved in mystery — ^the peasants had their 

 own suspicions, but fear caused them to be silent. 



A year passed — ^the garland upon the stranger's grave 

 was carefully renewed — ^the village maidens shed many 

 a tear as they told her melancholy story ; and none 

 passed the turf which covered the murdered beauty 

 without repeating a prayer for her soul's repose. 



Another passed — and the third anniversary of the 

 Pilgrim's death arrived. Late on that eventful evening 

 a tall and noble-looking stranger entered the herdsman's 

 cottage. His air was lofty and commanding ; and 

 though he wore a palmer's cloak, the jewelled pommel 

 of his rapier glanced from beneath the garment, and 

 betrayed his knightly dignity. The beauty of his manly 

 countenance forcibly recalled to the peasants the memory 

 of the ill-starred stranger. But their admiration was 

 checked by the fierce, though melancholy expression 

 of the handsome features of the stranger ; and if they 

 would have been inclined to scrutinise him more, one 

 stern glance from his dark and flashing eye imperiously 

 forbade it. Supper was prepared in silence, until, at 

 the Knight's request, the herdsman detailed minutely 

 every circumstance connected with the lady's murder. 



While the peasant's narrative proceeded, the stranger 

 underwent a terrible emotion, which hie stern resolution 

 could not entirely conceal. His eyes flared, his brows 

 contracted till they united ; and before the tale was 

 ended he leaped from his seat, and left the cabin hastily. 



He had been but a few minutes absent, when the door 



