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combat to the prefect Syagrius； the last of the Roman governors；
had defeated him in a battle at Soissons； and broken forever the
power of Rome in Gaul。
War； which is never any thing but terrible； was doubly so in
those savage days； and the plunder of the captured cities and
homesteads was the chief return for which the barbarian soldiers
followed their leaders。 But when the Princess Clotilda heard how；
even in the midst of his burning and plundering； the young
Frankish chief spared some of the fairest Christian churches； he
became still more her hero； and again the desire to convert him
from paganism and to revenge her father's murder took shape in
her mind。 For； devout and good though she was； this excellent
little maiden of the year 485 was by no means the gentle…hearted
girl of 1888； and； like most of the world about her； had but two
desires： to become a good church…helper； and to be revenged on
her enemies。 Certainly； fourteen centuries of progress and
education have made us more loving and less vindictive。
But now that the good priest Ugo of Rheims saw that his own home
land was in trouble； he felt that there lay his duty。 And
Godegesil； the under…king of Geneva； feeling uneasy alike from
the nearness of this boy conqueror and the possible displeasure
of his brother and over…lord； King Gundebald； declined longer to
shelter his niece in his palace at Geneva。
〃And why may I not go with you？〃 the girl asked of Ugo； but the
old priest knew that a conquered and plundered land was no place
to which to convey a young maid for safety； and the princess；
therefore； found refuge among the sisters of the church of St。
Peter in Geneva。 And here she passed her girlhood； as the record
says； 〃in works of piety and charity。〃
So four more years went by。 In the north； the boy chieftain；
reaching manhood； had been raised aloft on the shields of his
fair…haired and long…limbed followers； and with many a 〃hael！〃
and shout had been proclaimed 〃King of the Franks。〃 In the south；
the young Princess Clotilda； now nearly sixteen； had washed the
feet of pilgrims； ministered to the poor； and； after the manner
of her day； had proved herself a zealous church…worker in that
low…roofed convent near the old church of St。 Peter； high on that
same hill in Geneva where to…day； hemmed in by narrow streets and
tall houses； the cathedral of St。 Peter； twice rebuilded since
Clotilda's time； overlooks the quaint city； the beautiful lake of
Geneva； and the rushing Rhone； and sees across the valley of the
Arve the gray and barren rocks of the Petit Seleve and the
distant snows of Mont Blanc。
One bright summer day； as the young princess passed into the
hospitium； or guest…room for poor pilgrims； attached to the
convent； she saw there a stranger； dressed in rags。 He had the
wallet and staff of a mendicant； or begging pilgrim； and； coming
toward her； he asked for 〃charity in the name of the blessed St。
Peter； whose church thou servest。〃
The young girl brought the pilgrim food； and then； according to
the custom of the day； kneeling on the earthen floor； she began
to bathe his feet。 But as she did so； the pilgrim； bending
forward； said in a low voice：
〃Lady； I have great matters to announce to thee； if thou deign to
permit me to reveal them。〃
Pilgrims in those days were frequently made the bearers of
special messages between distant friends； but this poor young
orphan princess could think of no one from whom a message to her
might come； Nevertheless； she simply said： 〃Say on。〃 In the same
low tone the beggar continued； 〃Clovis； King of the Franks； sends
thee greeting。〃
The girl looked up now； thoroughly surprised。 This beggar must be
a madman； she thought。 But the eyes of the pilgrim looked at her
reassuringly； and he said： 〃In token whereof； he sendeth thee
this ring by me； his confidant and comitatus；＇1＇ Aurelian of
Soissons。〃
＇1＇ One of the king's special body…guard； from which comes the
title comp； count。
The Princess Clotilda took； as if in a dream； the ring of
transparent jacinth set in solid gold； and asked quietly：
〃What would the king of the Franks with me？〃
〃The king； my master； hath heard from the holy Bishop Remi and
the good priest Ugo of thy beauty and discreetness；〃 replied
Aurelian； 〃and likewise of the sad condition of one who is the
daughter of a royal line。 He bade me use all my wit to come nigh
to thee； and to say that； if it be the will of the gods； he would
fain raise thee to his rank by marriage。〃
Those were days of swift and sudden surprises； when kings made up
their minds in royal haste； and princesses were not expected to
be surprised at whatever they might hear。 And so we must not feel
surprised to learn that all the dreams of her younger days came
into the girl's mind； and that； as the record states； 〃she
accepted the ring with great joy。〃
〃Return promptly to thy lord；〃 she said to the messenger； 〃and
bid him； if he would fain unite me to him in marriage； to send
messengers without delay to demand me of my uncle； King
Gundebald； and let those same messengers take me away in haste；
so soon as they shall have obtained permission。〃
For this wise young princess knew that her uncle's word was not
to be long depended upon； and she feared； too； that certain
advisers at her uncle's court might counsel him to do her harm
before the messengers of King Clovis could have conducted her
beyond the borders of Burgundy。
Aurelian； still in his pilgrim's disguise； for he feared
discovery in a hostile country； hastened back to King Clovis；
who； the record says； was 〃pleased with his success and with
Clotilda's notion； and at once sent a deputation to Gundebald to
demand his niece in marriage。〃
As Clotilda foresaw； her uncle stood in too much dread of this
fierce young conqueror of the north to say him nay。 And soon in
the palace at Lyons； so full of terrible memories to this orphan
girl； the courteous Aurelian； now no longer in beggar's rags； but
gorgeous in white silk and a flowing sagum； or mantle of
vermilion； publicly engaged himself； as the representative of
King Clovis； to the Princess Clotilda； and； according to the
curious custom of the time； cemented the engagement by giving to
the young girl a sou and a denier。＇1＇
＇1＇ Two pieces of old French coin； equalling about a cent and a
mill in American money。
〃Now deliver the princess into our hand； O king；〃 said the
messenger； 〃that we may take her to King Clovis； who waiteth for
us even now at Chalons to conclude these nuptials。〃
So； almost before he knew what he was doing； King Gundebald had
bidden his niece farewell； and the princess； with her escort of
Frankish spears； was rumbling away in a clumsy basterne； or
covered ox…wagon； toward the frontier of Burgundy。
But the slow…moving ox…wagon by no means suited the impatience of
this shrewd young princess。 She knew her uncle； the king of
Burgundy； too well。 When once he was roused to action； he was
fierce and furious。
〃Good Aurelian；〃 she said at length to the king's ambassador； who
rode by her side： 〃if that thou wouldst take me into the presence
of thy lord； the king of the Franks； let me descend from this
carriage； mount me on horseback； and let us speed hence as fast
as we may； for never in this carriage shall I reach the presence
of my lord； the king。〃
And none too soon was her advice acted； upon for； the counsellors
of King Gundebald； noticing Clotilda's anxiety to be gone；
concluded that； after all； they had made a mistake in betrothing
her to King Clovis。
〃Thou shouldst have remembered； my lord；〃 they said； 〃that thou
didst slay Clotilda's father； her mother； and the young princes；
her brothers。 If Clotilda become powerful； be sure she will
avenge the wrong thou hast wrought her。〃
And forthwith the king sent off an armed band； with orders to
bring back both the princess and the treasure he had sent with
her as her marriage portion。 But already the princess and her
escort were safely across the Seine； where； in the Campania； or
plain…country；later known as the province of Champagneshe met
the king of the Franks。
I am sorry to be obliged to confess that the first recorded
desire of this beautiful； brave； and devout young maiden； when
she found herself safely among the fierce followers of King
Clovis； was a request for vengeance。 But we must remember； girls
and boys； that this is a story of half…savage days when； as I
have already said； the desire for revenge on one's enemies was
common to all。
From the midst of his skin…clad and green…robed guards and
nobles； young Clovisin a dress of 〃crimson and gold； and
milk…white silk；〃 and with his yellow hair coiled in a great
top…knot on his uncovered headadvanced to meet his bride。
〃My lord king；〃 said Clotilda； 〃the bands of the king of Burgundy
fol