Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-01-28
The wondrous uarp,

/ There Is ruin adjacent to Ludsdorf. on
the right bank of the Rhine, between Col
s ogne and Bonn-a low square tower OF un-
4 certain origin-of which the following sim
GUAR legend is related In the time Of
the Merovingian monarchs-'he fifth and
sixth centuries Of the Christian era--thers
dwelt in he castle Of which this ruin is
said to be the remains of The keep, a power
ful chief, who ruled the village of Luds-
dorf, then possession OF the Ripuarian
! Franks, and the circnmjacent country along
the shores of the noble river. His name
has not been handed down to posterity;
but The remembrance of domestic trase-
dy which took place in his family, still lives
| in the tradition of the dw1lers on the mar
gin Of those waters. The chief had two
daughters, both of surprising beauty; but
both as dissimilar in appearance and dispo-
si9ion as may be imagined. One was fair
as the morning when it bursts forth all
Sunshine and smiles the other was dark
as staress right between the tropics. The
fair girl was 10 be welded to one who bad
loved her long and we'll, one whom she
loved iondly to but her dark sister WAS
still unwooed of any. The nuptial day was
fixed and every necessary preparation
was made for the joyful ceremony. Sis
ter dear! sister dearl' spake the dark lady
to the fair, on the eye of the morning when
the marriage was to take place, come, let
us walk forth on the shore of the shining
river. The sun is in the west the clouds
are like cushions of gold and crimson, OIL
which angels may repose; the water rip
pies like music: the air is cool and balmy:
every little wave is mirror to reflect the
glories Of the sky and earth and we shall
be so happy" She sighed in very sad
fashion as she said these words, but her
sister noticed it not and they walked forth
togeth Hand in hand they wandered
along the banks Of the broad Rhine, maxi
ing the shores vocal with their songs. 1t
was deep twilight before either thought of
returning: SO pleasantly did the time pass
that they perceived not its flight. They
were just then AT the point of that almost
peninsular piece of land, formed by the
reach of the river, between Zundorf and
Nisder Cassel directly opposite the present
village of Nieder Wesseling, which at that
period had no existence. Then, as now,
the land was marshy, and covered with
willow plants to the streams edge; and
among the willow twigs grew the broad
leated lotus, and other water flowers, in
rich and rank luxurance. ssSister dearl
sister dear" again spake the dark beauty.
!" oh reach me one OF those lovely lilies!
Fain would pluck il myself, but / fear to
fall in the water The gentle, fair girl,
stretched forward over the edge Of the
stream to crafty her sisters desire; but
just as her hand had grasped the prize, the
iraiioress pushed her in. She sank in the
bubling waters with the stream, and, in q
moment, was swallowed up in the depth of
the river. @Sisteri sweet sister r she
shrieked as she rose again to the surface,
still struggling with eagsr element which
gathered round TO desour her. Help!
helpl Give me but your hand till / get to
the shore, and you shall have my grdle of
red gold.' "Ha! ha y laughed the dark
sirl.D For all on this broad earth you
should not have hand Of mine to held
you. Perish p II was thus she answered,
8s her sister sank once more. Sister!
sweet sister, again shrieked the drowning
maiden once more rising 10 the surface
and her cry was piteous TO hear, commin-
gIed as it was with the gushing current
which gurgled around her; "helpI help?
Only hold out your hand till | get 10 the
SilClt Ou ci3ssil itafC. dii 1OQ VIII, MY
beloved bridegroom" +" Ha . ha ha p again
laughed the fiend in female shape. & Your
bridegroom shall be mine at any rate uo~;
but all the bridegrooms ON this broad earth
should not buy you from the grave which
goes TO close over you. Perish y The
struggling victim sunk again, and the bub-
bling current rose over her. - Sister!
sweet sister, once more shrek the gasp
ing girl, emerging for the last time from
The caaldron OF the waves in the strong ag-
ony OF death, help. helpl I'll be your
slave forever and ever. Save mel sink
sink 49, Perish." was the only reply of
the female fend on SHIRE.
The waters rolled over the spot where
the fair importunate had but y moment be-
fore struggled vainly against her fate; and
only single ripple on the smooth face of
rsie rirsr po'pted out the pAscs vhsrs ~