Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-12-04

SauShed to leave things haIf seen. We went
up into a ruined tower where the view SEEM
ed to extend over all the world; out on to
terasses, where the prospect was beautiful
beyond description; looked out of broken
windows that always gave Us new picture.
Then we wound up the time-wom stairway
to theold deserted chapel, and looked down
at its desolate altar, its broken images and
faded tapestry; and we thought sadly of its
former splendor, and of the queenly women
and knightly men who had tried to humble
their proud hearts within its sacred walls.
But the moments few, and we bethought us
that is was time to go. We had never dream
ed that it would be difficult to find the same
way out BY which we came in. So We de-
scended to the vaults again, ard took the
direction which we thought led to the en-
trance. But alas, our locality was at fault,
or we were bound by the enchantments of
the Gnomes who may dwell in those dim
chambers, for we were obliged to acknowl-
edge ourselves lost Lost in the strong vaults
of feudal castle-it was at least romantic.
However, after winding through various dark
passages, that led to darker chambers; after
going up stone stsirsteps and down stone
and wine cellars, and going out into grass
grown courts, from which there was no out
let, and climbing up to the terrasses again.
from which there is 10 escape but by prec-
ipice of hundreds of feet, we at last found the
right door, and gave the outsiders to under
stand that there were prisoners in the castle!
And this was how we got lost in the dim
vaults of the old castle Of Heidelberg.
This magnificent pile was built in all ages,
under the reign Of all schools of architecture,
and according to the taste of many founders,
so that it is impossible to know what the ef-
feet of its tout ensemble was, before war, aud
fire, and lightning, and time, had wrecked
and ravaged it; but the parts that have es-
capped general ruin, bear witness that the
whole was a0undersAon. ~
SATURDAY, October 4th.
We went to-day to the VOLTS Brunnen,
which is about three miles from here. By
the white cottages nestled on the green slopes
of the Kaiserstuhl, with the bright Neckar
flowing many hundred feet below us, and
the grand mountains lifting up their proud
heads far above us, we went to that lonely
valley, that tradition has made famous for
five hundred years. 1t sleeps,at the foot Of
the mountains in the deep shadows of its
venerable trees, and the voice of its limpid
waters is perpetual hymn, going out from
its heart forever. There is house there now,
where refreshments are kept, and where little
books which contain the tradition are sold;
but there are no pleasure grounds around it,;
no groves, nor avenues, nor grottos, nor haunt-
ing flowers, nor architectural ornaments, nor
obtrusive statues, nor snowy fountains; but the
people have had the good taste to leave the
Genius of the place undisturbed in his ma
tive haunts. '
We bought one of the little books, and l
will try to give you the outline of the story,
which is in German. s.-.--
In the old days, long long ago. young
huntsman met beautiful young girl in this
lonely valley, which was wilder then than it
is now. The young man was so fascinated
by the wondrous loveliness of the lady, that
be begged her to tell him when and where
he might see her again She heard his pro-
fessions of devotion with pleasant smile
and said: "The world calls me Jetta, but
you shall call me by the name my mother
gave me-Veleda." Then giving him a
white feather, she continued, "When you
would see me, write my name with this
feather On the sand aud l will come; and
take this ring, but nsverlet it leave your fin
ger for single moment. 1t Is the talisman
Of my life; sorrow and misfortune will betide
me when its charm passes away" Then she
told him how she came from the Northland,
where her father and her mother died and
left her alone in the wide world. Then
how an old servant, skilled in the lore of
the Sages, had cast y spell of epchsnt-
ment on her life and bound it with that
ring. And the young knight told her how
much he loved her, aud vowed that the ring
should only leave his finger with his life
and then they parted, happy in the dreams
ofa FIRST young love. They met again to tell
their mutual affection, and to rejoice in their
wondrous happiness; but the next time, sor-
row, and suffering, and death met with them
and their hearts grew dark and their sweet
hopes perished. 1t seems that in the night
when tho lover slept, his father took the ring
from his finger through curiosity it was but
for moment; but in that moment the en-
chantment was broken, and the charm passed
away from Veleda's life. The next morn.
ing wild wolf found her in that lonely glen
she was weak and defenceless, and the mon
ster tore her fair bosom with his terrible fangs
And so the lover found her. with the rec
blood sprinkled on her snowy robe, the whit.
lids dropping over her sweet, blue eyes, ant
the deatn-chill freezing round her lovin,
heart. In such deep anguish the soul car
know once only in its human life, he knel
beside her. laid her fair head upon his manly
heart, and wept and moaned, and said sweet
loving words Then her blue eyes opened
and her pale lips whispered, softly as
xephyr's sigh, "My Fenand. | am diving
weep, weep that thy heart may not break
for thou hast loved me we'll. The ring ha
left thy finger, but the fault was not thine.
rejoice that the spell Of the enchanter is bro
ken, that my charmed life has passed away
BY this red blood thou knowest that I an
mortal-that die thy human love-" The
sudden light came to her sad eyes, an,
beamed on her lovely brow, but it was a hol
light like that which illumines the face Of
dying saint. She spoke, and while the youn