The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-04-26

y
mongst the people of the Odenwnd, that
Count Wilhelm had long arm, for it reach
ed from Vienna. The peasantry, however,
and the old reiainers, the good seneschal
of the castle, the lieutenant commanding
the soldiers, the forester himself and even
the fool whose jests or nonsense had given
amusement to the long dinners of the old
Count, begin to grumble as year after year
passed by, and their young lord never made
his appearance amongst them.
Our tale, however, refers more immed-
lately to the forester and his family, which
consisted of three persons besides himself
His wife had been dead for years, and he
had never taken unto himself another help
mate, alleging as reason-,hough perhaps
it was no: the true one-that, having noble
the Count himself, he could never hope to
find another wife of equal dignity with his
last good dame, who, by some very cir
cuitous process, was linked, by q long chain
to the Landschadens of Neckersteinach.
She had left him, however, enough pledges
of their love to prevent his home from look
ing desolate two sturdy lads, who soon
grew up into stout and powerful men aud
one fair girl, who, from pretty child, rose
day by day, into fresh beauties, ill she
ended in becoming the envy Of all the wo-
mems hearts, and the admiration of all the
men throughout the country round
The eldest son was called Karl after his
father the second was named Wilhelm
from the young Count; and the girl had
received the name of Gertrude, from the
late Countess, who had held her at the
baptsmul font. If the two youths showed
forth, in their strong and stalwart limbs, the
vigorous formation of their father, and en-
abled him to say that not knight in all
the emperor's court was better formed than
they were, whatever gentle blood the family
did really possess, made itself manifest in
Gertrude Muller, as she grew up towards
womashood. The fine and delicate fea-
lures, the graceful and rounded form, the
easy and digniGed movements, the bright
and thoughtful expression, were all above
the ordinary habits and appearance of the
people with whom she lived: and, though
she mingled amongst them with pleasure,
aud neither affected nor perceived n diff
ference, yet they themselves discovered it |;
and while few who, could not understa nd
or appreciate her worth, felt angry at the
superiority they were unwilling to admit,
the rest of the peasan.ry paid her the tacit
tribute of admiration and respect. p..
And now it was Gertrude Muller's bridal
morning, and though, amongst the youths
of the villages round about, there might be,
here or there, a sore heart, no one was un-
wise enough to show his disappointment.
Every girl, throughout ten miles of the
Odenwald, was glad for some knew Ger
trude, and loved her aud many who loved
her not, thought it quite as well that her
fair face should be one ont of the way, and
her sweet voice sound no longer in the ears
of the young men Of the neighbourhood.
In short, all the youth Of her native kreIs
wished her happiness and the mntron's colt,
as soon as might be but many of the elder
part of the community shook the wise head
and thought that both old Karl Muller and
his daughter were doing an unwise thing.
In the first place, they urged that she was
very young, too young TO take upon her the
serious duties Of wife. But Karl said
not whit her mother had been his wife
at the same age. Besides that cogcnt rea-
son for marrying soon, he had one which
was more powerful stil.--Three weeks be-
fore, youth, with several gallants in his
train, had ridden up to the castle of Erlach
demanding to sec its lord, though all the
world knew, Karl observed, that the Count
was absent. This same gay young noble,
however, after reposing for time at the
castle, bad made an excuse to go down to
the forester's house, and had remained the:e
, longer than old Karl liked. He had since
i, returned twice alone, and sought by many
f vile to speak to Gertrude in private
, 4" And have great reason to believe" the
, forester added, g that he is the young
> Landschadem Of Ncckcrsteinach, who bal.'
. at no step which may gain his own pur'
( poses So if the giri is in love, and likes tt
! marry, why let her marry at once, in God''
name"
0 Such was the answer of old Karl Mule
: to the first objection of those who had lsl'
v their remonstrances before him in form
d But the second objection was more formd
Il able. =" Why, Karl" they said, "you arr
e going to marry your daughter out OF tn
e Odenwald when there are so many youns
!, men who would have given their right han'
e to have had her, and would have kept he
VII" "s a'""yS, yo" "'' e""e 7" 81
8 to n citizen whom she has not known abov'
!, year -
Now to whom was Gertrude Muller abou
: to he welded the reader may be inclined
/, to ask and did her heart 60 with the han'
: she was to give The answer TO these tw'
e questions shall be both full and satisfactory
e A little more than year before, he TO whom
: she was that day TO bind herself Ivy ties IN
d dissoIuble, first came to the village iron
e the town Of Hebron, of which, 1t appears
y he was burgher; and his coming, OF rnih
e er the motive thereof, made old Karl Mule
}, as we'll as many another old retainer Of To
y house Of Erlach, very angry. lie cam
Il thnre 10 hug timber fnr n fnercnntIlc hOus