The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-02

the animal were one, and her white robes
lay over his glossy sides as the winter snow
lies over the black crags Of the Brinkersthl"
"Pshawr " mutterel the old man. "To
think Of looking at a baby girl when one
might see brave soldiers with their spears,
and battle e-axes, and shining swords"
81 have seen soldiers and swords BEFORE"
returned Berthold, ''but never saw or
dreamed Of anything so beautiful as the
maiden. I lived whole life while she was
passing by"
"You speak like lover,' said the old man
with sneer.
Possibly" replied the youth. "Who
knows? may yet marry Princess"
Thcnceforth Berthold dreamed much, but
he wrought also. Through the whole dis
trict there was no arm so strong as his to
bring down the giant trees, no skill like his
to build their great funeral pyres, to cover
them with chips, and moss, and fine braise,
to arrange the apcrtures, and to fire the
heap, and none watched with equal fidelity
for each change in the smoke or vapor, re-
cording upon the exterior of the mound the
curious stories of its hidden processes. Sue
cess awaited him not the slow, small sue
cess reaching to better cabin and warm
er hearth-but such as gave his name and
fame in the early history annals. Digging
for earth to mix with the dust of former coal
ings, he perceived some white stones which
cleaned under the rays of the mid, day sun
striking hotly down the forest opening
His heart beat quickly. Were they-could
they be-yes, they were certainly silver =
Berthold told no one of his discovery. He
still laborcd at his trade, but less diligently,
for much of his time was spent in collecting
the ore and melting it into bars. These he
concealed for future use, and continued to
live as seantly and coarsely as before.
Eight busy years had thus gone by, when
the Emperor, flying before his rebellious
vassals, took refuge in the Kazerstuhl noun
tains IN the Brcisgan. The little army he
4 d =
led thither was constantly diminished by de-
seriian and death, while fortress after fort
ress fell into the hands of his enemies He
chafcd at his compelled inaction, and, finally,
offered his daughters hand to the man who
should effectualIy aid him. Berthold had
already left his nook in the forest, saying,
"The nobleman's calamity is the peasants
opportunity" and he soon heard of the proc
lamation. He Immediately repaired to the
Kazerstuhl, obtained an interview with the
Emperor, ard promised his whole fortune,
ifrequired, providing the Emperor would af-
ter learning his extraction, formally ratify
the terms proposed in his proclamation.
The Emperor hesitatcd, but utter ruin
was close upon him, and necessity conquer.
ed pride. 81 had not anticipated this poss-
ibility," he said "but bring me three hun
dred bars of silver, such as you have des-
cribed and your marriage with the Princess
shall be celebrated at once In order, also,
that you may from the first appear suitable
at court, here create you Duke of Zahring
and assign you the erevenues of the province.
"When it shall have been reconquered
Sire," replied Berthold, with laugh so mer.
ry and hopeful that the Emperor could but
join in his glee.
i "Who is that ?" asked the Princess Agnes
looking after Berthold as he left the camp
"a nobleman in Disguise" replied the
young Graf of Nordheim, who, however, only
guessed as much from the ease with which
the stranger obtained admission and the
manner of his departure.
i "He has a finer person than any man al
court" said the Princess "except yourself.
she added smilingly, seeing the Grafs coun
tenance fall and thenceforward she watch
ed only for the coming of Zahringer.
i In due time he appeared, without attend
ants, but with several horses laden with ore
which he had led, for security, through for
est paths known only to himself Trusty
hands soon placed the precious freight il
safety. Then, clad in garments furnished
by the Emperor from his own not overflow
ing wardrobe, Berthold was publicly received
with all the ceremony which the camp per
mitted, was confirmed in his new rank, ant
, formally betrothed to the Princess. Soor
after the strangely assorted pair were united
in marriage by the royal chaplain.
Furnished with arms. Berthold soon learn
5 ed to use them and, in spite Of his inexpe
) rience, his genius was quickly felt by tn
Iforlorn band. His sagacity, GOODNESS, ant
celebrity were equally lauded. Liberal pay
: rapidly filed his ranks with good troops
successes, slight at first, but diily becomin,
) more important, added to their numbers
while bribes and promises effected them still
more. In less than year the Emperor ha
a retrieved his losses, and sat upon his thron
, more securely than ever. And now, in tn
/, best armor of the period, which flashed daz
r zlingly above suit tof crimson silk, his hors
!, covered with nodding plumes and housing
: sprinkled with gold stars, Berthold passe,
over the same ground where nine years b.
! fore, he had watched another gorgeous pre-
y cession as q simple peasant, happy in h
new suit Of chamois leather, and strong i
g tie heavy knife belted at his side. At hi
IS right hand, her hair IN a golden net, h.
n neck and arms covered with choice pearl
s - 90