The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-09

cNlstcu an nereuitary lcuu ioi wv VI WV
generations. ! forget what caused it, bu
no matter. II was probably some tritlt
Jest, or even scorntul look for quar-
rels are plants that thrive best when thei
roots have very little soil TO nourish them
The feud was fierce cnongh for Madeleine
to wish to keep her secret for the presen
from her fathers knowledge, believing
with loves true confidence, that time
would bring all things to sweet an,
happy issue. Walter Won Hcgcn, he
lover, in the overflow of his new happi
ness, was not quite so discreet rs NIGH
have been wished, and his comrades soor
discovered that Madeleine had promised
him her hand rs soon rs her fathers con
sent could be obtained. This discovery
was franghtwith dangerous consequences
for, Walters life was repeatedly thrcaten
ed by hot.headed youth, who went by
the gentle name of Fiery Will, and who
had aspircd to the good fortune which
his friend had won. Finding Walter on
the alert, however, and perhaps fearing
the consequences of an open attack upon
his life. Will at length resorted to other
means for attaining his ends; and what
these were must he explained.
At that time the whole region between
AK Ia Chispelle, Maastricht and Wasscn-
berg was infested by singularly disci-
plincd band of robbers, who held their
owon against the people and the govern
incnt for more than twenty years. They
never appeared except by night and gem
erallv only when it was stormy, so that
the people used to say when the sun
went down behind clouds, and other
signs gave prophecy ofbad weather be-
fore morning. '.thc gnats will he out to-
night"-mcaning the bandits; for it was
currentlp reported and believed among
the pcasantry that they had sold them
selves to the devil, who in consideration
of having an eternal lien on their souls,
consented to supply them with demon
goats for courscrs, upon whose backs
they couldjump from AK la Chapellc to
Wesscnberg, as easily rs a grasshoppcr
would spring n yard. During those
twenty years, not night set in hut it,
brought terror, il nothing worse, upon all
the farmers within the infested districts.
Even castles were sometimes plundercd,
and if resistance was made, murder and
irightfnl crueltics were certain to follow.
There was a terrible mystery connected
with the imitation oinew members, which
told with strong effect upon the super
stitious of the pcasantry. 1t was said
that deep in pine forest, never pcnc-
tratcd except by the ROBBERS, stood soll-
tary chapel, dedicated to the evil one;
and there, on tcmpcstuous nights, when
it raincd, and lightcncd, and thundcrcd,
and the wind swept the branches with a
mighty roar, dreadful gathering were
held. and the novices rcnounccd God and
salvation, and received fatal mark on
their bodies, (which siguifed that they
had given themselves up to the service OF
Satan. True or not, this superstition led
the ignorant pcasantry to hold the BAN
dts in great awe, and it was no doubt
encouraged for that perposc by the lead
crs.
1t must not be supposed that the hand
of Justice lay idle while all this crime was
gong on. The gallows and the wheel
were ercctcda every crossing, and neither
was ever allowed to go hungry long at a
time. But the scyerest measures proved
insufficient to check tho evil. The rob-
bcrs increased in number and audaclty,
and that too when the most strenuous
and even cruel measures were taken to
put them down. Their leaders managed
with consummate adroitness to conceal all
outward show of organization. The
members of the order were never separ-
atcd from the rest Of the community, nor
were there any great dens OF them, to be
Observation-Disclosures They mingled
by day with other men, apparently good,
honest citizens, earning their livelihood
like the rest, by the sweat OF the brow
But the shrill whistle at night drew them
forth masked like demons, and armed tC
the teeth, TO plumber, murder and curn
The community was well aware of this
vet as the robbers were distinguished by
no outward sign, and indeed knew cacl
other only by means OF n single watch
word, and as they used the utmost caution
in leaving their homes and returning, Il
WAS very rare that any one OF them was
caught. Still more rare was 1t to finC
one who would reveal, even under th'
scyercst torture, the names OF any OF thu
band. The name of the great chief an'
leader could not be discovered, and mos
people believed him to be the devil him
SELF .
Now Castle Sheurcndorf stood almos
in the center of the infested districts, brl
, mp to the time of my story, had not bcel
, molestcd bv the robbers, and the Baror
{ probably expected to live out quiet OLE
age, and at last TO die as quietly in hi
old ancestral home. But this was not 4
bc. One night large fires were seen from
the castle in the distance; the next nigh
others wcrepcrceived in another direction
: and it was improbable that the robber
, would leave the neighborhood withou
/, paving their respects TO Baron Won Sheur
cndor, however willing he might be t
4 dispense with the honor, and as the thir
!. evening set in, the whole household be
: gan to feel their hearts beat quicker tha
Q ordinary in their bosoms. But the
r could do nothing but wait.
During the early twilight Madelein
!. went out upon the little grassy terrace
: which once had been bank Of the moa
Y and sitting down looked over the field
n towards her lovers home. The last fire
h had been in that direction, and her tho'i
is were pcrplexed between fears for his SAFE
y ty and apprehcnsions of what migi
> come in the .cnsuing night. Ye. the,
d was something in her heart which tol
i her that her lover was 10 be with he