Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-09-11

at thought OF her, and gladly would have
laid itself, and all it possessed, at her
feet, for one smile or one word from her
lips. But for many hearts made sorrow
full, only one was made glad and as
fortune would have it, the youth who
bore that heart belonged to a family be-
tween which and the Barons Won Sheur-
endorf there had existed an hereditary
feud for two or three generations. I for
get what caused it, but no matter. 1t
was probably some trife, as a jest, or
even scornful look for quarrels are
plants that thrive best when their roots
have very little soil to nourish them
The feud was fierce enough for Made
leine to wish to keep her secret for the
present from her fathers knowledge, be-
lieving with loves true confidence, that
time would bring all things to a sweet
and happy issue. Walter Won Hegen,
her lover, in the overflow Of his new
happiness, was not quite so discreet as
might have been wished, and his COM
rades soon discovered that Madeleine had
promised him her hand as soon as her
fathers consent could be obtained. This
discovery was fraught with dangerous
consequences, for Walters life was re-
peatedly threatened by a hot-headed
youth, who went by the gentle name of
Fiery Will, and who had aspired 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 at
tanning bis ends; and what these were
must be explained.
At that time the whole region between
AK la Chapelle, Maastricht and Was
senberg was infested by a numerous and
singularly disciplined band Of robbers,
who held their own against the people
and the government for more than TWEEN
ty years. They never apperred except
by night and generally only when it was
stormy, so that the people used to say
when the sun went down behind clouds,
and other signs gave prophecy of bad
weather before morning, " the gnats will
be out tonight t''-meaning the bandits !;
for it was currently reported and believ-
ed among the peasantry, that they had
sold themselves to the devil, who in con-
sideration of having an eternal lien on
their souls, consented to supply them
with demon goats for coursers, upon
whose backs they could jump from AK
la Chapelle to Wessenberg, as easily as
a grasshopper would spring yard Dur
ing those twenty years, not night set III
but it brought terror, if nothing worse,
upon all the farmers within the infested
districts. Even castles were sometimes
plundered, and if resistance was made
murder and frightful cruelties were GER
tain to follow. There was a terrible mys.
terry connected with the initiation of new
members, which told with strong effec
upon the superstitions of the peasantry
It was said that deep in a pine forest
never penetrated except by the robbers
stood a solitary chapel, dedicated to th'
evil one; and there, on tempestuou
nights, when it rained, and lightened
and thundered, and the wind swept tn
branches with mighty roar, dreadful
gatherings were held, and the novice
6 renounced God and salvation, and re
ceived fatal mark on their bodies, whic
signifed that they had given themselye
up to the service of Satan. True or no
n this superstition led the ignorant pea
G santry to hold the bandits in great aw,
= and it was no doubt encouraged for tn;
o purpose by the leaders.
2. Itmust not be supposed that the han
l. of justice lay idle while all this Grim
Is was going on. The gallows and tt
c wheel were erected at every crossin
e and neither was ever allowed to 60 hui
/ CRY longat time. But the severest mea
= ures proved insufficient to check the ev
q The robbers increased in number al
l. audacity, and that too when the mo
II strenuous and even cruel measures we
Sc taken to put them down. Their leade
< managed with consummate adroitness
conceal all outward show Of organic
o, ton. The members Of the order we
E. never separated from the rest of Il
+ community, nor were there any gre
+ dens of them, to be discovered a
IL broken up. They mingled by day wi
Mt other men, apparently good, honest CT
a. zens, earning their livelihood like t
in rest, by the sweat Of the brow. But t
h. shrill whistle at night drew them for