Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-29
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND, foRNINe 90 1861


"When it shall have been recon
quered sire" replied Berthold, with a
laugh as merry and hopeful that the En-
peror could be Joined in his glee.
"Who is that 7" asked the Princess
Agnes, looking after Berthold as he left
the camp.
A noblemnn in Disguise replied
the young Graf of Nordheim, who, how
ever, only guessed as much from the
ease with which the stranger obtained
admission and the manner Of his depar-
ture
+" He has finer person than any man
at court" said the Princess" except
YOURSELF" she added smilingly. seeing
the Crafts cOuntcnance fall; and thence
-farr,~rd rhe watched 0uiy for- tho coming
of the Zahringer.
In due time he appeared, without at
tendants, but with several borses laden
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 overlooking wardrobe, Ber-
thold was publicly received with all the
ceremony which the camp permitted,
was confirmed in his new rank and for
mally betrothed to the Princess. Soon
after the strangely assorted pair we're
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 sagac;ty, cool
ness aud celebrity were equally lauded.
Liberal pay rapidly filed his ranks with
good troops; successes, slight at first,
but daily becoming more important, added
to their numbers; while brides aud pro-
misses effected them still more. In less
than year, the Emperor had retrieved
his losses, and sat upon his throne more
securely than ever And now, in The
best armor Of the period which flashed
dazziingly above suit of crimson silk,
his horse covered with nodding plumes
and housings, spriukled with gold stars,
Berthold passed over the same ground
where, nino years before, he had watched
another gorgeous procession, as a simple
peasant, happy in mis- new suit of channels
leather, aud strong in the heavy knife,
belted to his side. At his right hand,
her hair in golden net her neck and
arms covered with choice pearls, and her
white dress edged with rubies and enc
raids, rode the maiden who had opened
TO his untntorod fancy n rev world Of
bewildering beauty. Then she was SO
much above him that he scarcely dared
to contemplate her loveliness Now, a
beloved and loving wife, she, ever and
anon, looked into his face with glance
Of merriment or WEAKNESS as she was
amused or bored by the details or the
progress.
He felt awed at the change II was so
entire, so wonderful, could it last Then
strange dreamy mood crept over him.
lie felt as if under a magic spell He
half believed himself the sport of n ma.
lignant spirit, who played with his help
lessness, and almost dreaded hideous
signal at which the whole pageant should
vanish. Only the warm touch of little
hand, which sent 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 we're genuine facts and not the
material of baseless vision.
Good fortune continued to attend him.
From him spraug powerful house, con-
spcuous in the annals Of Germany He
built the Castle of Zahringen and the
city Of Freiburg, and erected and en-
lowed the monastcrios of st. Ruprechat,
and ST. Peter. Yet, busy and brilliant
as was the close of his career, the old
chronicler hints that it was less happy
than the cate-frce, gleeful life which he
led beside bis coal mounds in the Dark
Forest.