St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-11-21
IEoNARD TOWN. ND THURSDAY MyINlN( NOVEMBER 81 1861

this possibility" be said. "but bring m,
three huadred bars of silver, such rs yo,
have described. and your marriage viii
the princess shall be, celebrated at once
In order. also. that you may from til,
iirss appear suitable at court. I here Great,
you Duke eZehring and assign you ths
revenues Of the province"
when it xkRhave been reconouered
sire. !" replied Bcrthold, with laugh 8.
merry saa hopeaal that the emperor eeuid
but join in his glee.
Who is thatT asked the princes.
Agnes, hooking after Berthold as he lef
the camp.
"A nobleman in disguise" repli ID the
young Graf of Nordheim, who, however
only guessed as much from the ease with
which, the stronger obtained admission
and the manner Of his departure.
HE has fsser person than any man
at ceurt. said the princess-''except your
self" She added. .milingly, seeing the
Crafts countcnance fall; and thencefor-
ward she watched only for the coming Of
the Xahringer.
In due time he appeared. without at
tendants, but with several horses la!en
with ore which he had led, for security,
through forest paths known only to him
self. Trusty hands soon placed the pre-
cious freight in safety. Then. clad in
garments furnished BY the emperor from
his own not ovcraowiug wardrobe. Bcr-
taold was publicly received with all the
ceremony which the camp permitted. was
confirmed in his new rank, and formally
octroahcd to the princess. Soon after the
strangely assorted pair were united in
marriage by the royal chaplain.
Furnished with arms, Berthold soon
learned to use them; and. in spite of his
inexperience. his genius was quickly felt
by the forlorn band. His sagacity, cool
usss aud celebrity were equally lauIed
Liberal pay rapidly filled his ranks with
good troops; successes. slight at first, but
daily becoming more important. added I"
their numbers; while bribcs and promi-
scs effected them still more. In less than
= year. the emperor hsd retrieved his
losses, and sat upon his throne more Sc
curely than ever. Aud now, in the best
ar,nor Of the period which flashed daz-
zingly above. q suit of crimson silk. his
horse covered with nodding plumes and
and housings, sprinklcd with gold stars.
Berthold passed over the same ground
where. nine years before, he had watched
another gorgeous procession, rs . simple
peasant, happy in bis new suit of cllamois
leather. and strong iu the heavy knife,
bcltcd at his side. ut his right hand,
her hair in golden net, her neck aud
arms covered with choice pearls, and her
white dress edged with rubies aud ener-
aids, rode the maiden who had opened to
bis untutorsd fancy u new world of be-
wildering beauty. Then she was 50
much above him that he scarcely dared to
contemplate her lovcliness. Now. u be-
loved and loving wifi, she. ever an |
anon, looked iuto his face with glance
OF mcrriment or weariness as she was
amused or bored by the details of the pro-
gress.
He felt awcd at the change. It was 50
entire, 80 wonderful could it last? Then
a strange, drcaUy mood crcpt over him.
He felt rs it under magic spell. He
half believed himself the sport Of a ma.
liguant spirit, who played with bis help
lcssncss, and almost dreaded hideous
signal At which the whole pageant shouk:.
vanish. Only the warm touch of little
hand. which sent a thrill of joy to his in.
most heart, half whispered word from
lips whose accents were priceless. could
assure him that the events Of the past
months were genuine facts and Lot the
material of bascless vision.
Good fortune continued to attend him.
From him spraug q powerful house CON-
spicuous in the annals Of Germany. He
built the Castle of Zahringen and the city
Of Freiburg. and erected and endowed
the n,onastcries Of st. Ruprecht and 81.
Peter. Yet, busy aud brilliant as was
The close Of his career, the old chronicler
hints that it was less happy than the
care free glceful life which be led beside
his coal mounds in the Dark Forest.