The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-01-04
Marie's Curse.


enioyed q great run of prosperity and this pros
perty was owing to the marvellous beauty of
it's Kellnerin, an orphan girl who had been
brought UP and adopted by the landlord and his
wife. All the gay cavaliers of the neghborhood
resorted there, and loved to have their wine
poured out by the fair Marie, to whose beauty,
however, was added discretion that kept her
adorers at respectful distance. 1t happened,
however, unfortunately for Marie's peace of
mind, that Hugo, son of the Count Helfenstein
of Weinsberg, who had been absent some years
at the court of Ansbach, came home, and having
occasion to go with his father on a visit to the
Teutonic Knights, who had house at Heilbronn,
put up at The Rose. Young Hugo came and
saw, and conquered. An elopement and a mar
riage secret, of course, under the circumstances,
was the consequence. Hugo conducted his
beautiful bride to Lowenstein, lonely hunting
castle in the woods which his father never visited,
and for some time was all to her which she
could wish lover and husband to be-
After time, however, he was obliged to alb
sent himself on business with his father to pay
a visit to the Margrave of Ansbach, where he
had served as a page. Marie however, was in
a measure consoed, as letters and messages for
a time were frequent; but when weeks grew in
TO months and letters dwindled to notes, and
became at the same time fewer, colder, and
farther between, and at last ceased altogether,
and that just at the time when she become
mother, the poor girl could bear the suspense no
longer, and soon as she was able she left the
castle secretly with her infant son, her anxiety
having been increased nearly to madness by
conversation which she had overheard under
the wall of the castle, in which occurred vague
expressions relative to great marriage festivi-
ty pending at Weinsberg.
When, after toilsome journey on footthrough
the woods, she approached the demesne of We
insberg, a rough forester accOsted her and asked
her business. She was rescued from his rude
ness by some lads from friendly mill, but
when he was going away with broken head he
called after her contemptuously, "Take my
blessing with you, noble countess gave it you
once before when personated the chaplain of
Lowensten, who married you to Count Hugo"
She would hardly yet believe her ears, but
fastened on her way to see her Hugo face to face,
and hear the truth, however bitter, from his own
lips So she came at last to the steep winding
track which led to the castle of Weinsberg, and
as she was stopping to take breath hundred
PAGES from the gate it opened, and she heard the
noise of an approaching cavalcade.
First, however, came a servant with a halberd,
who ordered her to get out of the way if she did
not wish to be trampled by the horses, as the
Herrschaft were coming. But she was rooted to
the spot, for there rode her Hugo, who, without
looking her way, was pointing out to a gay
young lady the landscape under the glories of
the setting sun, and comparing it in glowing
words with his love- which should last till death.
Hugo, Hugov exclaimed poor Marie; " hus-
band, father of my child p and threw herself in
his path.
AT these words Count Hugo started and turn
ed pale, as well he might, and the Lady Bertha
gazed with astonshment at the female apparl~
tion that barred her way Hugo, however, soon