The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-04-19
The Fate Of Agnes Bernauer.

The love story and lamentaLle tragedy whiel
we are about to relate, occurred in the early par
Of the 18th century. The narrative Is suictl,
true, ani one more dcsply affecting is scarcely t,
he found in the pages Of history;
Albert, the only son Of Duke Ernest. Of Banaria
was one of the most accomplished and vaian
princes Of the age he lived IN. Hs father ano
family had selected fur his bride the young Coun
tess Elizabeth, Of Wuremburg. The contac
was sgned, and the marriage on the point Of TAX
ing place, when the Lady suddenly eloped with a
more favored lover, John, Count Of Wyrdcnherg
The tldlng- were broughtto Albert, at Augsburg
where he was Attending grand tournament, CIV
en- IN honor of the approaching nGptlal; but the,
fell unheedct on hIN ear as his heart, which ht,
not been consuied in the choice of tis bride. hat
Just yielded l,self rescue or un rescue" 20 The
wright eSci Of young maiden whom he had dis
iin9ulshed from the crowd Of Ueautip, that grac
ed the lists
Nrmous as she wa, lovely, Agnes Bcrnauci
had obtained, among the citizen, of Augsburg H.,
appe!iauoH OF the angel but she wa- the duu.lt
Ter u q bathcr AN employment considered Ht that
period IN Germany, as particularly dl~nouurtble
She had companion who assisted her at the
baths-a young female almost u lovely rs her
self and whose name was Bcrlinda Tn, siuccr
e.: friendship existed between these girls; auG
although there were really no ties ofreatrnShip
many persons lucicd that they were sisters
hgGcs was tall aud surorbly formed her hail
was o.. rich dark bruwu-hcr ewes of hazel
and her lips red H. coral. Byruda was not
quite SO tall hcf hair was Of light chesnut, hcr
eyes Of the sweetest blue, and her lips Of pure
yermiiun.
. -. IL Il a 4
ed by handsome young page named God'ried
AMI while the former became desperately cuam.
ored Of Agnes Bern5uer the latter was equally
smiltcn with the charming Bcrinda: Regardless
of all consequences, Albert diyulged his passion
to Agnes, but in tho most honorable terms. and
with the most correct intentions The maiden
loved him as tenJerly and as well aud their
marriage was shortly after celebrated privately
in Albcrts castle at Vohherg At the same time
Gonfrled became the husband of Borinda and
thus Agnes was not compelled to separate from
her friend aud conldane
But the happiness OF Albert and Agnes was
doomed to bs Of short duration. Duke Ernest
became possessed OF their secret, and the anger
of the whole house of Munich burst upon the
heads Of the devoted couple Albert was com
manded TO sign divorce from Agnes and prepare
Immediately to marry Ann, daughter Of Duke
Erich, Of Brunswick. The indignant prince retus-
ed to obey. Being afterwards denied admission
to tournament at Regenshurg, on tho plea of
his having contracted dishonorable alliance, he
rode boldly into the lists upon the Heide platz,
aud before the whole company declared Agnes
Bcrnauer his lawir wife aud duchess, and then
conducted her to hi- palace at Strauting, attend
ed rs became her rank.
Every species Of malice anl Misrepresentation
was now set at work to ruin the unfortunate Ag.
res. Alberts uncle, Duke Wihemp who was
the only one of the family inclined to protect her
had slcky child, and she was accused Of having
poison to it. But the Duke detect
cd the a!schoOd, aud became more firmly her
Trend. Death too soon deprived her Of this no
b'o protection, and the fate OF tho poor Duchess
was immediately sealed
Taking advantage Of Albcrt's Ubscnce from
StrLublng, the authorities of the place arrested
her on some frivolous preteNt; and the honest in.
dl5naticn with which sho asserted her innocence
was tortured into treason by her malignant iudg.
Us. To plunge her more profoundly luto despair,
aud even to kill her with grief, il possible, her
loved friend and conhdantc, Bcrlinda, was tortur.
I'd by the rack in her presence, aud thun put to n
shocking death, althouS "a abou; to become moth.
nr Gunfrled, driyenTo despair by the loss of
his wife, and the hdeous cruelties which had mar
Sed her lmmolation way laid the chief Judge and
,ssasslnatcd him. He was seized aud tried, and
,loryng in the deed which he did not deny, he
vas condemned to be rackcd to death This aw.
al sentence was carried into execution IN the
presence oi the Duchess Agnes But the unhap.
~ lady bore up against the accumulated horrors
nd miserles which surrounded her She was in
pred by the hope that her husband would reRm
u time tn save aud aycnge her. Her enemies,
hiding that she thus couragcously met her misfor
uncs, summarily doomed her to die, and on the
sth Of October, 1896, the unfortunate lady was
brown over the bridge into the Danube, amidst
hc lamentations of the populaco Having sue
ccded in freeing one foot from the bonds that sur.
ounded her, the poor victim, shrickng for help
nd mercy, endeavored to reach the bank by swim.
ming and had nearly effected landing when
in office, with hooked pole, caught her
" her long fair hair, and dragging her hack into
bo stream, kept her under wa,or until the sruol
rugedv was completed