Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-16
The Flower of Rheinstein.
A Legend of the Rhine.
BY CORA BELL.


vastation having forestailed the slower prog
ress of time. The peasantry relate OF 1t the
following legend. tale of true love crossed:
Once upon time. centuries ago, there lived
in this castle grim Baron. quarrel ONE old
roober. who, when not engaged in conflict with
his neighbors. spent his time in predatory ex-
cursions in the nrighhoring countries, with
the view of replenishing bis larder and cellar.
Now, Baron Hugo Won Rheinstein, besides
being cordially hated for being surly and saw
age. was possessed of treasure, which as he
determined no one else should have share
Of. had rendered him still more an object of
dislike to his neighbors. He bad an only
child. daughter, whose peerless beauty had
rendered her the theme of every tongue; and,
though kept in such strict seclusion that
glimpse of Ter was seldom seen. rumOrs Of
her exceeding loneliness had rendered half
the noble youths in the country frantically in
love with her.
Offers for the hand of the Flower Of Rhein-
stein had poured upon the haron from all
quarters, and had been ohstinately rejected;
If not the suitors themselves. their fathers or
grandfathers had been engaged with him in
some hereditary feud or quarrel impossible to
heal or close mp.
The fair Bertha was not particularly dis
pleased at the summary rejection of her suit
ors, most of whom were a wild, lawless set of
young fellows, whose highest ambition was
deeds of violence, the bare recital of which
filled the gentle maiden with horror; another
and probably stronger reason was, that she
had already disposed of her heart. Yes, she
loved-''alas not wisely, but too well'-a
modest youth. whose rank in life was lowly
indeed, but whose stately form and ingenious
countenance marked him out as one of ma
lures noblemen. Aain Ruter, the seneschal's
or porters son, was her page and chosen re-
al wa a
ing like spirit through the dark old castle.
She had grown up to womanhOOd: and hedive
years older, still attended on her without hav-
ing excited the slightest suspicion on the ba-
rOn's mind that he could have dared to lift
his plebeian eyes to the peerless lady Bertha.
It was Alain that tanned for her use the beau
tiful Arabian she rode on, and trained the
fiery hawk that now percbed with such dainty
NEE kness on her slender wrist; it was Alain
WIN told her such bewitchiug love stories of
poor but adventurous youths who had loved
noble madens. beauteous as herself, and who,
like the dull crysals warmed by the sun into
life and vigOr. had risen to fame and fortune,
animated by their bright eyes.
One day Baron Hugo brought ZONE with
him a French knight. whom he introduced to
his daughter as an old friend and companion
in arms. Sir Guy de COurcey a sour-lOoking
warrior like himself. was captivated at the
first sight of the Flower of Reinstein. and
Immediately preferred his suit to her father.
Now. the fierce raids excepted. the baron was
not very bad man, for he loved and was
proud of Bertha; so he demnrred somewhat
at the disparity of years. Anything about
mutual love he did not care a fig for; his own
wife had been a beautiful young creature,
(sOme said a princess of the blood royal of
France. who had wandered from her train in
hunting excursion) whom he carried off and
.1,l.a
ed to marry him. Such man did not care
much about hearts: nevertheless he might
have listened to Bertha's prayers and suppl
cations; but unluckly some of the kings of
ChristendOm. had been meditating a new cru
SADIE in the Holy Land. and young and old
were arming with an enthusiasm that spread
like an epidemic.
Baron Hugo caught mp the married ardor;
he was getting tired of Faderland, his forays
were daily becoming more dangerous than
profitable, and his idle retainers more hungry.
indolent and manageable. The French
knight, who had himself amassed considerable
wealth in Palestine infiamed his imagination,
too. with the vision of winning a rich terri
| tory in the soft, luxurious regions of Asia
a land, he said. where wealth and power
awaited the strong hand.
Now, the Baron was pugnacious as Mars.
| but his Golfers Were empty, and to equip a
| troop OF men without money was impossible.
! Sir Guy arranged the matter for him, and in
a secret conference the Baron agreed that il
! both parties returned home in safety. the fair
| Bertha was to become the bride of Sir Guy:
that night was to supply the funds requisite
for the Baron's undertaking. in lieu of which
the lands and castle of Rheinstein were mort
| gagged to him until the debt was paid or can
ceed by his marriage with Bertha.
| The Baron Won Rheinstein, with a stately
retinue of troops. babe adieu to his daughter
| commenting her to the care of the Abbess OF
| the neighbOring convent, with directions to be
| pious and pray for their success against the
Infdels. He did not tell her of the wicked
compact between Sir Guy and himself or pro-
badly the Flower of Rhenstein would have
withercd away long before his return: as il
was. she INDUCED in teas and lamentations
enough to have changed her into u fountain
when she found that her beloved Alain was
to accompany the Baron. Sir Guys lynx
eyes had detected the attachment of the low.
ers. and had limited the same to his friend.
That evening they met in the shade of the
neighboring forest, and exchanged vows OF
eternal fidelity. The youth swore at her fee,
that. though no noble blood flowed in his veins
he would carve for himself name that would
render him worthy of her love, or leave his
bones to bleach in Palestine, Eyes. dear one
| by Gods help,thy father were he the proudes
lord that ever bore pennon. shall not refuse
thee to me when l behold thee next" III,
kissed his cross-handled sword as he murmur
ed these words, but the gentle Bertha threw
| herself into his arms in an agony of grief
how could she part from her beloved thu
only protector that she had known almus
from childhood. The hapless lovers gazeC
upon each other with tears gushing from
| their eyes, embraced again and again, anC
parted.
Two years rolled on. and no tidings reach
ell the Lady Bertha. Once only pilgran
mentioned that brave young esquire from
the Rhingan had saved the King of France
life, and that he dubbed him knight upoI
the field. Another year rolled like wear,
interval away; no more news; and the ono
peerless loveliness of the Flower o
Rheinstein began to droop and fade away.
But suddenly the Baron and Sir Guy again
| appeared A few wounded soldiers and SOM
Saracen slaves were all they had brough
back of the brilliant train that had departed
with them. To Bertba's tears, and poo
Bruno's demand for his child. the Barol
grufliy answered that he had fallen in a sorti
under the wall Of Antioch. He had failed I,
conquer the splendid kingdom Sir Guy hat
promised him. having barely escaped with hi
life, with the addition of an ugly wound il
| the head. which made him more fierce ant
| irascble than ever. Vain was now poo
Bertha's resistance; Sir Guy insisted on til,
immediate tulfllment of the Baron's compact
and preparations for the marriage wer
commenced on scale of unexampled mag
| nihccnce.
The legends say that never did the gloriou
sun shine more brightly and merrily on tn
lofty tower and frowning battlements of tn,
castle of Rheinstein, than on the morning o
the bridal. The bells of the neighborin,
converts sent forth joyous chime, and th,
time worn walls of the old fortress echoet
back the strains of meriiment and music
The spacious courtyard was nearly fllet
with armed men, Sir Guy and the Baron