The mountain Democrat., 1865-09-09


accommodate me with . bed, | shall take
up my quarters to night upon this bench,
for | feel it my duty to warn this young
Baron, for know something of hin fami.
Ey, Of the danger that threatens him.
The landlord gazed curiously at his un.
ceremonious guest. There was no mis-.
taking the man. Courage and determin.
alton were highly stamped upon his 6Nsly
cut EeAtNres.
You are an Oficsri' be said, inqui-
ringly.
Yes
'Captainf ?
Exactly
'DiSbanded?'
NO.
The quiet smile that accompanied this
answer bewildered the landlord. In fact.
the Captain was an enigma that the good
host Of the Travellers Rest found il i'm.
possible to solve
The appearance Of the maid of the hos.
telry with flask Of wine and the refresh.
ments the Captain ordered, INTERRUPTED
the conversation.
The host whispered TO the girl and then
hurried away.
What did he say to you p asked the
Captain abruptly, fixing his keen eyes
upon the girls face.
TO wait upon you while he went up to
the monastery answered the girl, unhes.
itatingly.
The monastery rejoined the Captain,
leisurely inspecting the contents OF the
flask Of RheniSh. which seemed to be
much to his satisfaction. That old ruin
Hpon the hill yondeS Is it then occu-
pied y
'Oh, yes; about year ago a party of
wandering monks, whose monastery | ad
been ruined by the soldiers of the league,
occupied it; and they have remained ever
since. They call themselves the Black
brotherhood Of St. Bruno And very
pious and self-denying men they are. too.
They keep wrapped up in an odor of sanc-
tity all the time. They never hold any
communication with the world without
no stranger is ever admitted beneath their
walls and whenever one of the brother
hood comes out, he always has bis black
cowI drawn closely over his face Though
| have been here as long as they have, |
never yet saw one with his face uncov-
cred
4 thought you said your uncle was go
ing therei' remarked the Captain, care
.les>ly slipping his wine.
oh! he only goes to the porter's wick
ct; he never goes in. He supplies The
monks with food
And how many bottles Of this capital
wine a month";
4 am SURE don'tEnow how many, but
| know that we have more empty TASKS
4, the end Of the week than the number
Of travellers could possibly have drank
Il thought SO. The close neighborhood
Of these good monks accounts for the ex-
cc'lence Of the wine. st. Bruno, your
very good~ health. Do many travellers
pass this way. sweetheart?'
Not many; and what seems to me very
singular, continued the girl, brnding to-
ward the Captain and speaking in low,
cautious whisper, none that pass this way
ever return.'
Indeed! What kind Of road ia it
between this hostelry and the next stop.
ping placer
Very lonely and desolate.'
Infested by ROBBERS, ~
4 believe so, though my uncle always
assures travellers there is no danger
who is your uncle-th landlord p
Yes; am his niece, Bonita, if you
please, sir.
Whether I please or not, is more than
| can say, but you please me, my pretty
Bonita
lie caught her quickly around the waist
drew her upon his knee and imprinted
kiss upon her Cherry lips. The girl
freed herself from his embrace and re-
treated in confusion, but she did not seem
very angry at the liberty the soldier had
taken. 1t was something to be hand
some captain even in those days.
The sound of approaching wheels now
attracted their attention, and light trav-
cling carriage, drawn by two horses and
driven by poStillion, and accompanied
by four outriders, drove up to the hos,
telry.
The attendant opened the carriage door
and young man, in the handsome uni.
form of Pappenhem's Dragons, jumped
out and assisted an elegantly attlred young
lady to alight from the carriage. They
were the Baron Ravensburg, Colonel in
the Imperial service, and his sister. the
Countess Adalia.
The landlord, who had returned from
the monastery, welcomed them, conduct
ed them into the hostelry, while two
rough looking hostlerS took charge of the
carriage. The outriders stabbed their own
animals.
The Captain had observed all that had
passed with very attentive eye; he had
expected much larger escort. The lady
was without q maid, and tie Baron had
but five attendants and yet the landlord
told him there were no accommodations.
There was something wrong.
The Baron came in from the hostelry,
followed bv Bonita, bearing fresh flask
of Rhrnlsh.
Good evening, Captain he said cour.
teousy, touching his plumcd beaver with
u STaCcIuI HCtIol "ulCh oeSPOhe lhe III
ished cavalier. perhaps you will do me
the favor to drink this flask Of Rhenish
with me-
with all my heart, answered the cap
tain cheerfully; mine is empty
The Baron seated himself on the bench
and Bonita placed the flask and cups be-
fore them.
Stay + cried the Captain, as she was
going how many monks are there in
yonder convent, my pretty Bonita! =
Twenty, think. Captain, she answer
ed.
Thank you; that will do
She went into the house. The Barron
regarded the Captain attentively. His
question about the monks seemed to sur
nrica him