Woman's Choice —The Story Of A Hero.

vainly defended ; his knights folloAved him iu moody silence . De Clisson greeted them with stately courtesy , and their leader stepp ing foi'Avard , addressed him with the frank boldness of demeanour peculiar to his country . " Sir Oliver de Clisson , " he said " Ave

, haA'e heard , and with regret , that the ( dorious spirit of the brave Du Guesclin has passed to its last account . There be those who would fain have persuaded me , Avhenthe tidings reached us in our stronghold , that our pledge to surrender this day , if

succour came not , was rendered null and void by the death of him to Avhom it was pledged . But Heaven and St . George forbid that an Englishman should fail of his word to a dead or living foe ! I will fulfil my p ledge—but to Guesclin only ! Lead me

therefore , to his tent , that he may receive in death the keys he won nobly by his valour when living . " With brief but heartfelt thanks for the chivalrous honour thus paid to the memory of this hero , the companion of the constable conducted the brave Englishman to the tent of death . Claire du Val

AvithdreAV Avith her maidens into an obscure corner as they entered , from Avhence she could behold the closing scene in the career of her rejected and immortal lover . The English warrior advanced , and gazed with a reverent and saddened expression on the calm face of the dead .

" Constable of France , " he said , after a short pause , and in a clear , melloAv voice , " I pledged thee my knightly word that if succour came not from England I Avould this day at noon , resign to thee the keys I have retained so long as mortal valour

and endurance might . To thee alone , of all the chivalry of France , would I have made that promise ! It is honourable to be vanquished by a hero , even in death . Behold , I redeem my pledge . There lie the keys of King EdAvard's fair castle and

toAvn of Chateau-neuf-de-Randon , " and he placed them on the cold hand of the corpse . " Fare thee Avell , brave knight and true ; Victor even in death ! Thy country will have a heavy miss of thee !" He turned aAvay sadland Avith a

coury , teous parting salutation to the French kni ghts who had gazed in proud silence on this singular scene . Thus closed the life of a hero .

On The Mountain Top.

ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP .

BY HAKBIET ANNIE . Whence come these pil g rims toiling on ? Up , upward still they go , Till half a league at length they reach , Above the ocean ' s IIOAV . Upon the granite rock they group , Around their altar stand , As with the signs of Masonry , They clasp each other ' s hand .

Above the blue , unfettered sky , Two thousand feet below , The city Avith its human hearts , Chequered Avith joy and woe . Above the glorious light of day , The graceful cloudlets roll , And the glories of that other Light , Lit up each Mason ' s soul .

Out to the rustling summer Avind , A snow white flag they throAV , And the peasant heard the brethren cheer , In the valley far below . The glittering spires flashed and danced Like lightning in the blast , While rolling as a silver flood , The rushing tides SAvept past .

What gained you by that bold asoent , Men of the Mystic Craft ? You learnt that the Grand Architect Needs not oar , beam or shaft . That borderings of " pure lily Avork " Wreathe where man neyer trod , Beauty and strength dAvell in his house , The Universe of God .

Was your Inner Guard that boulder vast , Cradled by thunder shock ? Did you set a Tyler at the door , Of that unyielding rock ? Missed you the wonted garniture , As in that Lodge room fair , Three hundred to your Order true , BoAved solemnly in prayer %

What gamed you by that bold ascent , To the eagle ' s native clime ? Carved in the everlasting hills , Traced you the hand of time 1 You looked above in Avondering awe , At Nature ' s treasures rare , You looked beloAv with warmer pulse , For hearts you love beat there .