Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-20
The Golden Arm. I.

On the north bank Of the Danube, at its near
est proximity to the Bobmurwald Mountains, lie
the ruins OF an old castle, oyer-erown By moss
and lichen. A gloomy forest of frs surrounds
IT, where the winds whistle through with strange
ana appalling sounds the bostmen upon the
oafk rolling river pass BY In silence, for the le-
gend connected with the spot is faithfully be-
iieved by them. There is superstition also
tnat some misfortune will follow those who look
upon that castle after nightfall.
Once upon time-goes the tale--there lived
rich baron, who had a very beautiful wife: sbe
was slight in figure, with an abundance of light
golden hair, that hung In bright waves to her
feet; her eyes were go calm and pure In expires.
sion, that the guilty could never look upon them
without feeling abashed the remarkable pale.
ness OF her complexion was relieved by the deep
crimson hue of her lips, and the glossy Jet OF
her long eye lashes; her dress was always Of
white, rose color, or delicate blue
The baroness, though so lovely, had not been
exempt from pain and misfortune. Hunting one
day with her husband, she was thrown from her
horse, and her left arm was go bruised by the
fallthat amputation was necessary. The baron
was sorey distressed by the accident, and an.
noyed by the gentle lady's fortitude and endur-
ance. she saw her husbands sorrow, and for
bore from repining at her own loss.
The superstitious began to regard her with
wonder and admiration, the more that her beau,
ty did not fade, and that she was never known
to utter an unkind word. Her influence over
the baron was 80 great that he seemed to have
overcome every evil feeling and passion of his
nature. Before his marriage he had been cruel
and avaricious, but now no one was more gen.
er0us and noble. The gold that he had hoard
ed up he gave to a skillful workman to make
for his vile new arm, which she wore with
ease, and she became known by the name Of
"the lady with the golden arm"
| Stormy winter and sunny summer passed by,
untouched by grief or care for the inmates Of
the castle, when one day in early spring, as the
baroness was listening to the songs o. birds (sl1
ways so musical In their happy pairing time), she
experienced O sudden detection of spiriu--a
presentiment of coming sorrow. That night
was q stormy one without, and sounds were
heard as If the spirits OF the mountains were
reveliDg in the darkness. Mournful wailings
were blended with the roar Of disturbed waters,
the noise of which reached the inner chamber,
where watched an anxious group around the
couch of the sick baroness. The life of the
lovely lady had departed before the birds had
again wsrbled their morning songs; and the
baron looked ont upon the now calm aspect oi
nature; but the scene looked desolste to him
and the clear sky and fresh earth wore to him
q funeral pail. l''', st' e~
Man cannot mourn forever, and the loneli
ness and solitude which the baron suffered hat
changed him to his former nature. Avaric,
had taken possession Of his soul, and he wa
absorbed in the love Of gold. He became cruel
hard and cold. The pure angel OF the mansion
had fed, and he was left undisturbed In his pur
suits. He at once thought of the arm that lsy
in the old vault, beneath the name of the de
parted baroness. The idea of securing It was
at fret spurned by him, but the desire of pos
seesing it became gradually so strong that ht
scrupled no longer at the violation of the grave
In darkness and gloom, and with stealthy steps
| did the changed baron seek the tomb of his
wife for the unmouldered arm. The worm had
destroyed all but II and the jewelled ring, thai
sparkled with undiminished brilliancy, The
baron placed bis treasure, the arm of gold
among his stores of wealth, Riches such az
few possess were now his. He was man Of
power and worldly greatness, but 1t was the &C
quisition Of wealth that he alone desired, fol
Il no eye but his own ever rested upon the glitter
ing boards.
The midnight following the day that tn
, golden arm had been purloined from 1t
resting place, the baron awoke with a pei
ception of depressing stiffness In the all
II was warm night Ia summer. Not lea
moved not an insect famed its tiny wings.
single star shone In the dark blue sky througl
! an open window, and its soft light was refecte
, from wide mirror opposite-everything wa
, silent and still-fearfully 30. A form, shadow
and indistinctly defined, leaned motionles
against the deep window. The baron's eye
; we're fixed upon 1t with deep horror in their ex
tended bupils. He had not the power of re
moving his gaze, or of changing his att;tud
until the horizon became tinged with hue o.
violet light, and with the coming day the ter
rors of the night were forgotten, or remember
ed as dream.
The second night at the same hour, the bu
, ron aWoke, and the same appearance presente
] itself, but more pslpably, and he soon recog
nized the form of his once loved wife; ther
: was a look Of severity upon her countenanct
. and reproach EXPRESSED in her gentle eyes.
The bright sunbeams Of the morning fell NJ
. on the wild and idiotic face of the baron. Il
. wandered for few years along the shore Of th
Q Danube, and his manner of death was unknown
q His wealth passed into other hands, all but th
golden arm, which was pever found. He SLEEPS
0 not In bis ancestral vaults, but lies no one ca
: tell where. st v
q Thus as evening closes, the boatmen voy
q aging down the Danube, tell this strange viii
: legend What messenger, In the olden tim,
first sang It, none can tell; but It has survive
q the decay of castles, the glory of knighthoot
y and the fall OF empires. 1t tells its own mora
!. How that wealth, inordinately desired, and In
d properly used, brings not blessings, but curse
4 and mayhap involves the soul Itself In etern
ruin. t7.... ~ -. IL. au,