Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-09-26

treasures of the Princes of Eszterhazy are
guarded by grenadiers kept in their pay.
The most picturesque o: all castles in that
neighborbood are the stately ruins of Kirchs.
chalg, encircling the brow OF a conical noun
tain projection. and overlooking a magnificent
valley aud borough of the same name.
About hall an hour distant from that place,
in eaSteIly direction, stands an isolated tower
on granite block, its messy walls partly hid
den by lofty FIR trees. 1t was in former times
one OF the Notifications erected at the COM
mand OF Matthias for the protection of the
borders, and is situated at the left bank of a
mountain rlvulet, which at that point, for sew
eral miles, forms the boundary between Hun
gary aud Austria. The secluded nook is
known as the Grave of the Hungarian Girl"
name we'll adapted to its loneliness aud sol
emu stiffness. But the melancholy the place
inspires Is changed into painful sympathy,
when recalling the traditions attached to it,
the touching as well as Soul-Stirring episodes
which invest that otherwise uuimpOrtant ruin
with an untading interest, and at the same time
connects its fate with that OF the castle of
krchSchlag.
The facts, as they were narrated to US, ran
thus (: When Matthias established his line of
defe2ce, the land in the vicinity of the Grave
OF the Hungarian Girl, ," fell 10 the share of
karol, a gallant officer in the Black Legion,
who, after building his stronghold, settled with
his family and dozen men-at-arms, clearing
from the woodland as much ground for agri.
! cultural purposes as was necessary for their
subsistence.
| AL that period, the castle of Kirschlag be-
longed to powerful and wealthy Austrian,
! Magnate, the Count of Puchheim, who besides
! possessed several other castles aId seigniories
| throughout the land He was of the new ia
| vorltes OF Frederick ", hating the Hunga-
rlans most heartily, and ravaging their coun.
try on every plausible opportunity. As he
howeVe: pluntered not only Hungarans, but
also his own countrymen the people bestowed
on him the expressive denomination of the
Knight of Evil
Puchheim a widower, with an only son,
Rudolph, a youth of noble disposition, who,
quite the reverse of his father, abhorred his
nightly revclS and predatory excursions. He
therefore, SO often as he could, withdrew from
the bauqueting at Kirschlag, aud taking his
bow aud arrows, rode out to hunt in the for
ests of his fathers domuonS, whch even now.
a.days have an iuexhaustible supply Of game
One evening, as be bent his way homewards
|
| caught the tones OF female voice, singing the
Ave Maria with touching sweetness whilst
the evening bell toiled from the castle With
mingled feelings Of pleasant surprise and curl
oSity, Rudolph followed the sound, and after
| a short walk, at a sudden turn of the path be-
hind the overhauging cliff, be discovered
scene OF peculiar interest. On the deep bank
Of the sparkling streamet, which there formed
4 n t.l. Itav ,F
knelt on the green turf, teaching her little sis
ter the melody of that evening prayer her
couutenauce lighted up with an expression of
chIIdIIke piety. The group was charming, bur
still more 50 the SOngStresS, who in the first
bloom OF youth, looked the very picture OF in
nocence a0d beauty No wonder that the
scene produced marvellous effect upon the
young count and he uncousciously tarried lost
IN contemplation, uut he was accoSted by a
warrior OF imposing appearance who on learn
ng the name Of the stranger, introduced him
to bis daughter Gizela, inviting him at the
same time as a good neighbOr to bis house.
karol led bis guest aud children up fight
of stairs, rudeiy hewn into the rock, TO spa
Cious clearing, where, round a massive watch
tower, stood several hutS, surrounded by a
plot of arabic land, the whole enclosed by a
rampant and ditch There on Hungarian
ground, Rudolph enjoyed the hospitality of the
simple but true-hearted inhabitants, giving
himself up wholly 10 the uncomfortable emo
tionS which the presence of the commanders
eldest daughter awOGe in him. The hosts
friendly wish, that the young count should re-
peat his visit was wecC me preteXt for his ,
coming again and again to the Hungarian set /
tIemeGt, til at last he felt that he could not
exist one day without listening TO that voice +
which thrilled through his every nerve-with +
out seeing those features that reminded him
of picture OF a guardian angel in the castle /
chapel of krSchlag. When unable any longer /.
to resist the force of his love, he avowed the .
state of his heart Gizea, whose affections be .
already possessed They mutually plight
ed their faith, and the father of the maiden
blessed their happiness with feeling of per-
feet aud content, caring little wItha their own
fairy circle for the egotiStcal scheme OF the
outer world, where, however the storm was
already gathering round their heads, that
would so soon break upon their bliss with an
annihiating power
Among the garrison al the watch tower was
youth, by birth, a German whom karol
when boy, had rescued from destruction, at
the storming Of an Austrian fortress From
that time, the warrior kept him in his family
as a playmate for Gizela. The youth con
ceived violent passion for the maiden his
suit, however, having been rejected, his love
changed into hatred to which the success of
the young count added fresh aLiment. His
keen, Jealous eye detected without much diff
Guilty. the cause of Rudolph'S daily visits, aud
on remarkng the progress be made in the
maiden's favor, the uugratetul miscreant,
forgetting the numerous marks of kindness
bestowed upon him, by the family of bis 6ene-
fnrtnr nsnlrnS nn hatra wing the secret OF the !