Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-29
The German Heroine-An Exciting
Story.

close OF November, a slight snow, min
gled with slest, was whirled about by
the wind, and pierced through every
crevlee OF a little roadside Inn situated |
betU cen Hornberg and Rottwell, on the !
hontlers OF the duchy of Baden.
Two travellers, driven by the bad |
weather to the shelter of this hostelry,
were forgetting their hunger and wea-
rlness IN the comforts of a hearty repast |
OF smoked beef. The kissing and roar
| ing of a large stove contrasted agreeabiy |
/ IN th> travellers ears with the loud moan
I ing ot Inc north wind without, and dis
| posed them still more to the enjoym.nts
Of tae-good things within.
| Tag lnn-keeper and his wife hat for
( their only domestic, young girl of Ba-
1 den, whom they had brought up from
/ childhood krettel, for such was her
! name was host in herself; housekeep-
/ er ard maid to mistress, cook. in the
! kitchen, vaiet-de chambre to the stray
visitants n the one guest rooln, and
| groom in the stables-the hardy, ac-
tive, and good hunored German girl
/ fulfilled all the duties usually shared by
q large establishment Of servants.
Ten o'clock stflcZ, ana the travellers
! having finished their supper, drew near
e. to the group which had collected
around the Stoye-Father Hoffkirch, the
minister, thei. host, and some neighbors
/ who entered by chance The conBersa-
Ittion turned. on the fearful and murderous
events Of which the ncighboriug forest
/ had been the scene, anG' each one had
his own story to tell, sQrpassing the.rest
in horror Father Hofflvirch was among
the foremost in terrifying nis audience
by t4e recital Of different al, entures, all
more or less tragical The worthy father
had just finished horrible story of rob-
berchJ de- gre in lis way. The scene
. | OF the legend was httl more than guns
shot irp,a the inN Goor it was tradi-
TOR, alfortunately; bat an ancient gib-
-, "iiich st1sarernained on the identical
+ ooo,nT Te1;tS ,sis3s:T3a Ia T,r. .sss
question. This place was in truth, made
formidable throughout the province as
being, it is said, the, rendezvous OF
troop Of banditti, who held there every
night their mysterious meeting s.. I'll
the guests were still under the infiuence
of the terror which the story Of rather
Hoffkirch had caused, when one Of the
travellers before mentioned, offered to bet
two ducats that no one dared to set OF
at tnat moment to the fatal spot, and
trace with charcoal a cross on the glo1et.
The very idea of such q proposition En-
creased the fear Of the company. A
| long silence was their only reply. Sud
/ denly the young Krettel who was quiet
ly suinning in the corner, rose UP and
: accepted the bet, asking her master $
consent at the same time He and his
= good wife at first refused, alleging the
loneliness Of the place, in case OF dan
L ger; but the fearless 6amsel persisted
e. and was at last suffered TO depart
= Krettel only requested that the inr
!, door should he left open until her rttuFn
e and taking piece Of charcoal, to prove
:, on the 7noEcow that she had really Ffsitet
o. the spos, she rapidly walked towards th'
S gibbet. When close beside it, she star
ted, fancying she heard anoise; haN sT
: er. after u moment of hesitation, she step
y ped icrvard, ready to take to flight a
the lie ast danger. The noise was renew
e ed K-rettel listened intentiy, and ia
n sxyttad of horses foet struck upon he
ear. Her terror prevented her at frs
II from seeing how near it was to her /; bU
! the next moment she perceiTed that tn
= object of her fear was fastened
OF the giobet itself. She took courage, dal
ted forward, and traced the cross. 4
e, the same instant the repor50f pist
ID show ed her that she had been noticed
I'd Bv q movement swift as thought, she ul
sr loosed the horse, leapt on the saddle, al
lg fled ike lightaing. She was pursued
ed but redouOling her speed, sac reach'
he the barn-yard, called out to them to clio
lis the gate, and tainted away. When t
brass girl recovered, she told her stor
he and was warmly congratulated on b
courage and presence Of mind: All
mired the horse, which was Of striki
a. beauty. A small leathern valise was
7as tacheA TO the saddle but Father Ho
in kirch woulG net suffer it to be open'
'ne except in the presence of the burgom;
his ter.
On the morrow, which was Sundi
ry" the inn-k keeper his wife and his CUES
all set off to tEesneighbeving town, VII
they intended, after service, to- acqu'
ef- the burgomaster with their last eTenir
1ne adventure. krettel, lett sole guard
of the house, was advised not to ad
lilo, any one until Aer masters return. MI
a cirl would have tremblsd at being