Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-02-25

for subsequent insertions per week, 25.
From the Columbian Magazine.
THE MAIDEN'S LEAP.
BIZ MRS. E. r. ELLETT.
0iS the most remarkable mountains, both for
e7an1s6f scenery and romantic associations, not
6lJf many but in all Europe,is the rock noun
atsof Oybin, not far from the town of Zittau. It's
5sidss are shaggy with gray and broken rocks, and
shadowed by dark frs ntermingled with the lighter
III the birch. Venerable monuments, defaced
er1mbling nom the effects of time, but majestic
their hoariness, and scafsssed about the old burial
ground on it's summit, and the ruins of the Coetes-
tine convent as still to be SEEM well as the Rob-
bers CASTLE in old times, terror to all Che surroun-
ding country. 1t is completely destroyed, if it
ever existed at all; but tales still told among the
people of the occasional appartion of monk in the
ancient mansion of Zittau, where the subterranean
passage said to terminate: and it had been cred
itabIy maintained, that sometimes at midnight pro-
cesson of monks may be seen upon the mountains
moving towards the disocated chapel, where they
perform religious service at that silent and mys-
ferrous hour.
The traveller will find his imagination sensbly afec-
ted by the influence of these singular traditions. He
will lnger withan interest beyond that of mere
osity by the ssiye bed and chair of state, which
Charles IVes said to have reposed when he came to
destroy the terrible Robbers CASTLE He will call up
remembrances ofthose fierce and bloody times. But
with feeling gilmore than ordinary sympathy with
Ibis eyes resting the savage ravine, and the spot
allied the ssMaiden's Leap" He will listen with a
kinding heart to thestory connected with that wild
place which is still treasured in the popular memory.
8 In an age of darkness and barbarism, many centu-
res back, when force usurped this place of right and
the sword the common arbiter Of differences be-
tween man and man, the castle that mount
Oybin, stood in its rude magnifcence defyng the as
saults OF INVADERS ard inhabited by band Of knights
who owned no law but their own WILL andfrom their
almost lmpregnable fortress, looked with scorn on
the restof the world Every day the sounds of feas
ting ard revery might be heard within the walls Of
the burg. Sometimes the knights descended alone
6ppanies to the neighboring town, but -
-sre always marke by some deed of violence ra-
,ie, perpetrated the unofending citizens. The
freebooters soughaccess frequently to the fairest
DANES and danselof Zittau. The chronicle does
not mention that y of its discreet maidens ever lis
tened to the courhip of these lawless men; but il
explicitly recordshe fact that more beautiful women
lived in the cy at that time than at any period
since.
1t is mattepf history therefore, that the lowell
est among thes women, was Agnes, the daughter
of rich burgh, of Zittau. Whenever she went &c
church, attiredn her simple and holiday-dress, he1
rich brown Gus, falling gracefully from under hel
4 liz III -hf
passed, stoppe to look after her, and not few were
the sutors fothe hand of beautiful maiden.
She had ben seen by the knight Hugo Won Uwald
one of the frebooters of Oybln, she sat spinning
by the wndovof her fathers house: and again she
passed her q, her way to church. One Sunday NOR
ming as sbewalked toward the place of worship, he
eyes fixed nodesty upon the prayer book in her hant
Hugo stepped boldly in her way: she stopped, regar
ding him With terror. He took no notice of her a
larm, but,n few words, declared tie passion he hat
concevedior her favor for his suit. His entreaty
however was uttered in such tone revealed bu
too plainly that the knight deemed refusal lmpossi
bic.
Agnes was more frightened at his words than hi
looks. She made no reply, but grew pale as death
and the next instant, darling past him, fed with thu
! speed cfan arrow in the church.
The knight stood in blank astonishment, for thu
idea that his proposals could be unwelcome had
4 ssurred TO him. The coyness of the maiden nves
with tenfold charms in his eye. He made
! sword to win her, and resolved to leav
W" up'l - the accomplishment of his pur
pose. he saw notbino of III
From that day, howeyN -.
fair Agnes, neither at the - - 'A' S'
HE could not learn if she was in the u no'' 10
none of her neighbors had seen her.
The truth was, that the girl, like dutiful ana
bedient child, had Immediately informed her father
her meeting with Uwald and his strange language
The father was prudent man; and well acqualnte
with the character of the knights Of Oybin. tie dread
A the worst, and Immediately placed his daughter
1 necunty and concealment.
- AShc must endure the privaton of liberty awhle'
uaidbe, atill the knight he forgotten her for som
newer face and that will be soon, Warrant mt
the, will marry her to some brave mar who wi
know how to protect her from danger"
4 Thus weeks and months passed. The beautif
,;4 WAS never permitted to 60 out, and all o~a'<
1 s,.rcb after her was in vain. At length ne guess
,esecret of her strange disappearance and Instant
a.,srmined to circumvent the poor Durgner VINO u
...,sed his wishes He came no more 70 z-l.~
| ri -.,,sol # to he rumored that nc had gohc
p,aoue. to Join in the amusements Oh tne cou'''
How JOYOUS was Agnes at this news, and the
II her release came. Her fatnef NO 'v.se -