True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-04

longed, sighed and waited for mine at
last -
A happy, happy month slipped by on
feetest feet, anil he left Pomerania 10
prepare Swabia for lis bride. When he
returned one night some few weeks after,
no hospitable lights cleaned from the
deep windows, no columns of smoke curl
ed from the vast chimneys, no gay sound
of voices rose from the court aud hail.
Only the warderS sat inside the gate, and
in answer to bis quick, vehement demands,
told him how, five days before, when
walking on the mountain with two of her
women, troop Of light horsemen led by
powerful man, dashed over the brow of
a rocky spur. snaiched all three into their
rude arms, galloped off in separate di-
rections, and were seen no more, though
her retainers had secured the country
round, and had not yet, by any means,
abandoned the search. A messenger
despatched 10 him had been found that
day slain, and thus, word of the drea dful
event had never reached him. In vain
Conrad, with his own and her follow ers,
and the gay band of sovereign lords who
had accompanied him to the wedding,
ransacked the great pile of masonry from
turret to vault. In vain all the south of
Germany rose 10 arms in his behalf, and
ranged the country through. In vain his
labor and despair, the Baron of Stahl was
nowhere to be heard Of, and no vestige of
the duchess May could be discovered,
Another year, and still with unremilted
vigor, he was searching, when one day
he met page.
Is it the Lord of Swabia 7" the boy
asked and on being assured of it,
"Does his highness recognize that!" be
said, producing from his vest kerchiel
of the finest texture, and wrought with
the initials of the duchess, although sod.
den and torn with briers.
Where got you this ?" exclaimed
Conrad. ~ NJ
"In the forest between your highness'
dominions and the next province; it has
lain long"
The purse of Conrad rewarded him, and
that very day with his band lie set out for
the forest on the path thus opened 10 him.
On his way message from the emperor,
who was marching across this region Of
the empire, summoned him TO The royal
camp, and detained him what seemed an
intermnable length of time, and thus we
find him, having lost the track Of his re-
tainers, coming upon the lonely castle Of
the baron Stahl, who is dying, and hear.
ing these words in his ear:
Penance enough, Conrad of Swabia,
without taunt of thine !"
Words, in the passion that at this mo.
ment devasted The soul of Conradof Swa-
bia were impossible he curbeI himself
with an iron will, or STOPPING, he could
have torn the dying wretch to atoms. AT
last great sigh throbbing up in his breast
relieved. him, and bending on one knee
beside the pitiful couch, he hoarsely NUT
tered:
Death, so thou hast come 10 it i
and then judgment ! The great gulf of fire
the eternal agony. God forgive thee,
Stahl! Baron Stahl. as thou hopesl mer.
cy, as thou prayest the flames do not ut
terly shrivel thee, speak truth Wherei'
she ?"
The baron laughed as bitter sneer as
if sitting in buoyant health at his wine.
"Gone BEFORE" sad he, she il
dead"
Conrad seized his shoulder.
"Dog !" he thundered, "the truth
Palter not-I could utterly annihilatt
, thee !! She is not dead. Where then !
! The baron writhed in the force of hi
grasp.
"No, no." moaned he. "No, no." il
the intervals Of a hollow cough. 81 liet
again. Not dead. But where? By
my Judge | know not !"
"Thou art dying baron Stahl! Ivan
the truth |"
> 81 know am dying-dying of I
wound"
What! do others fight with poison
ed weapons ?"
"ScOff now, it is thy turn. A year il
this castle has May of Pomerania, wit
her women, been my prisoner. If sh
: became my wife. then all her property
that vast wealth, became mine too. |
required her consent for our marriage.
He saw how his words tore Conrad
heart, and how, while he listened perforce
every nerve was racked, yethe persisted
|, A year tirelessly, have l sought he
u ! love. willing to beg where l might con
d mard. Vain, vain /" he said falling bac
with louder cough. might as es
: silly called the angels out. Of Heaven,
there be such. One day, two month
u since, l pleaded with her. She snatche
my dagger. Il will die first she al
Q swefed."
II was poisoned" cried Conrad.
;, Poisoned. I snatched it. I couI
!. easily have crushed her, so tender thin
IL in my hand. But feared, lest the daI
: ger should scratch her, and used care, ar
y in the hurry of the scuffle, its point e
tered deep into my chest. See, | die
itp .9
g "And she :"