The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20
The Prize of the Alspach.
BY MRS. l.. S. GOODWIN.

Never was more glorious sunshine thar
the rising orb poured on the top of tn
mountains; which. streaming down it
face like holy oil, tioated the surface of TIN
dark, rapid river running at its base. AL
though still early, yet ihe vernal meadow
sloping down from the white hamlet pre-
J sented the appearance of universal holiday
, Silver-hared sires and DANES, and littl,
j children with tossing curls, but more nu
' merous than these, young men and maid
\ ems, came gaily down the brown pathway
I edged with daisies, gathering at the same
q psiut on the bank of the eddying stream
q Heres opposite the perpendicular noun.
"a tain side the river was spanned bva single
4 plank, which had been trodden by many
feet; and raising ones eyes, one readily
saw what had made it place of special
resort. All the face of the freestone cliff
was carved with names, where each com
petitor had sought to place his own above
all others. What was at first the merest
rivalry came in time to be often test OF
heroism, and the arbiter of many a grave
dispute among the simple villagers, till
higher and higher, far above the ability OF
the unassisted eve to decipher. were traced
the names of the daringand brave, thence
forward to be the pride of friends and the
envy Of Ali besides.
The trial which was to come off on that
brightest of mornings. involved no less
the question Of who should claim for his
bride the lovely Idelette yrulIer-the most
beautiful maiden, said every stranger who
lrasse that wav-the purest and best. add
ed those who knew her, to be found in all
the Prussion kingdom. Tt had happened
1 a few weeks before that young Russian
Inobleman, wearing the insignia of rank,
came to the vilHge, saw Tdelotte vruller.
and being smittnn with her extraordinary
beauty, desired to marry her. The stran-
ger called his name Count Leweinskv, and
claimed to be the grand nephew of the
Emperor himself
! The father of Tdelette was completely
dazzfcd by the prospect of so brilliant a
match for mis- only and dolized child: he,.
gentle mother was silent and thoughtful,
for she understood her daughter better
Then il came to light that the maiden had
rivon her heart ia a vorth of the village.
humble hut good, one who had lately re-
turned from the required three years SER
vice to his country, with improved looks
and manners, and a general intelligence
and knowledge Of books which gave hence
forth a position the highest among the
people of his native town.
| Herman, the humble lover. was almost
AS much surprised and delighted to find
! n ~ hcf
offer she had received, seconded even by
her fathers wish, which in everything be-
sides had been law to her, the girl OF his
love had been true 10 her plighted faith
No batteries. no skiilfully drawn picture
| of the admiration her beauty would create
and the luxury which should surround
her i'm her uncle's court, had been able to
shake for an instant her determination to
abide by her womanhood. and not to give
her hand where she could not her heart
| Three days Herman had hidden himself
IN desparing mood: but when once more
| he ventured to meet the blue ewes of Ide-
lette: and read in them her warm, unwa-
vering devotion, he forgot the high rank of
his still persistent rival or feeling himself
his equal, he boldly challenged Leweinski
| to try which could write his name highest
on the Alspach mountains, and so decide
| their claim. Through love or pride the
proposition was accepted.
| Great was the excitement ripon it's be-
coming known that to this settlement Of
! the difficulty all parties had agreed; and
the third day froTr that was the day ap-
! pointed for the trial. Many among Ide-
lette's fair companions, both of those who
wished for the success of Herman, and
! those who favored the cause of the noble
stranger, shook their tresses, laughing and
said they would "never risk being dis
posed of in that manner" The generation
about to pass off the STAGE. in whom the
superstitious element was stronger, es-
teemed il. however. a kind of giving over
| the jurisdiction to heaven, and were inn
pressed accordingly. .....
| Once already the name of Herman was
carved high M on tho face of the Alspach,
where he had placed il five wears before
An uncle had died leaving to Herman a
little freehold: hut lust then another neph-
ew, twice Hernan's age, who had led a
wandering, vagrant life, re-appearedi in the
village, asserting his claim to the property;
and so bold and unscrupulous were the
measures he adopted, that the modest,
peace-loving Herman was ready to resign
his rights TO save controversy, when the
villagers, whose unanimous sympathiss
were with the boy, proposed resort to the
Alspach, which had settled satisfactorily so
many difficulties. 1t was done according
lly. and when the younger claimant, hav-
ing set his name at point which none
hitherto had reached, had descended in
safety amid the prolonged cheers Of the
multitude, his cousin in turn assembled the
cliff. Higher and higher he struggled, till
finally he stood half his length above his
antagonist. Breathlesslyg gazed the throna
while from many a lip escaped a murmul
of regret. But the wrong was never ac
complished, for ere he had marred the face
Of the mountain by single stroke, grea
eagle fearing for her nest swooped dowr
from the eyrie above and striking him ir
the right eve with her talon, destroyed it.
sight forever, thus obliging him to desis
from his unjust attempt. and leaving Her
man to his rightful inheritance--a result
which called forth the universal applause
and more and more confirmed the behold
ers in the belief that some invisible god
dess of justice had her dwelling place in
the Alspach
But now another contest. for create
prize, was Herman's. Higher assembled th'
sun of MAY: hepoople gathered toa crowd
i'm tho midst stood Coupt Jawaipski will