Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-07
A Legend of the Rhine.

thought worthy of a place in my note
book. | gave it my own interpreta-
tiOn and present it to the reader, hop
ing it may meet with approval in its
perusal.
During the Thirty Years War"
which convulsed Germany, on a fine
summers afternoon a foot traveller
came to the little hostelry of the TRAY
eller's Rest which stood by the road
side on the rivers bank. His garb
proclaimed him soldier. High black
boots were drawn half way up his
thighs, in which loose pair of breech-
es lost themselves, and a rusty breast
plate covered his buff leathern jerkin.
a broad leafed low crowned hat, from
which single black feather depend
ed, was pulled low upon his forehead.
He was armed with sword and pistols.
There was something in his martial
bearing and firm tread that seemed to
denote the officer. Scat least thought
the little sunny haired maid of the
hostery who came forth to serve him: 4:
for she said at once:
What can | serve you with, noble
Captain 2
"A fagon of Rhenish and of your
best vintage, mind, and bit of some
thing to eat, in the first place, ans
wered the soldier, good-naturedly
chucking the girl under the chin, like
one accustomed to that familiarity !;
and then a bed for the night.
The first | can supply you with;
bat the second, am sorry to say |
cannot"
1t was a mans voice that spoke.
They had been joined by the land
lord of the hostelry-a short, pussy,
little man with fat face and a red.
nose.
And wherefore not?' asked the
soldier. carelessly throwing himself
on the wooden bench under the tree
that shadOwed the hostelry with its
branches, whilst the girl went into the
house to procure the refreshments he
had bespOken.
Because every room is engaged,
and have not a spare bed left. The
young Baron Ravensburg, his sister
and their attendants, will arrive here
this evening. Their courier was here
this morning to bespeak the rooms.
That's unfortunate But am not
so particular-I am a soldier as you
see-so give me bundle of straw in
one of the Outhouses, and that will
content me.
Impossibler cried the host with
alacrity which rather surprised the
soldier; even as it is shall be obliged
to make some of the Baron's servants
sleep in the open air. My house is
but small, as you perceive, and the
Baron's retinue is large. Ten miles
further on there is an excellent inn.
You are used to marching, said the
host with an attempt at righteousness,
and the distance will be nothing to
you.
Excuse me, answered the soldier,
tapping the heel of his boot with his
- heavy steel scabbard, and all the
> while subjected to scrutiny of which
he was unconscious. i am not a foot
: soldier; and in my long marches |
have been accustomed to use four legs
instead oftwO. [ did not come all the
: way here on foot
, Where rs your horse 2 asked the
| landlord quickly, and with some anxi
:. ETY., the soldier thought.
Some two miles from here, he ans
t wered carelessly.
Two miles from herer echoed the
landlord quickly; there is no house
there. Why did you leave him 2
Simply because he could carry mt
no farther, and | had not been in tn,
! habit of carrying him. He was dead.
Dead p
;; Yes. 1t happened very strangely
" These are troublesome times, | know
Z but | thought the war had not invaded
u this quiet province, at least | wa
Il told so, and therefore | rode alon
y fearless of danger. When [ came t.
: that little glen with rocks and weed
! e cresting it upon either side, | though
II "a natural idea for a soldier-tha
u it was capital place for an ambusl
and so it proved; for | had scarcel
entered it when two carbines wer
S fired from the thicket, My hors
ID neighed with pain, reared up, and the
h fell to the earth carrying me alon
st with him. | knew that he was badl
of hurt, for | have had horses shot undo
OF me before so [ quickly snatched N
OF pistols from my holsters, .extricate
= my feet from the stirrups, and wer
is quietly down with him. Fortunate
ul he fell stone dead, and did not kic
bs | lay motionless on his body, and wal
It's ed further Developments
ne Two men with carbines in the
lis hands emerged from the thicket al
by came rapidly towards me. Wh'
he they were within ten feet of me
by arose, and called upon them to 81
he render, as | was anxious to learn t
Oh cause of this umprovoked attack, the
elf being nothing in my appearance,
cd thought, to suggest the idea of boo1
lis But the rascals, who evidently thoue
: me dead, were so terrified that th
is; beat a hasty retreat towards t.
let woods, so | was obliged to senC
ind couple Of bullets after them to st
he them; and being an Indifferent 60
led shot they did stop, and unless so
bed good christian gives them burial, tt
tly, are likely to stop there for some tin
to you shot them both /? stammel
de the landlord; and his teeth chatter
and he grew very pale, all but tie
of his nose, which, with contrast "
nos the rest of his. face, looked red