The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-07-29

at is cruel vow. fairest," he said one
day, "that have taken, never to press
to my bosom or kiss the lips of q wo-
man, save she who becomes my wife p
".But, Ernst" she whispered, "will l
not be that to theei have sent TO the
Holy Father for dispensation from my
cruel VOW, and then my beloved, will
Cunigunde proudly avow her love be-
fore menw
"Nay, not so," he replied, "the ordeal
thou hast imposed on thy lovers must
not shrink from. Surely, fair CouDtef :,
thou canst not wish that the Irout,
Barons should taunt thy lord and hus
baud with winning thee at less Tie
than the mouldering bones that bls.
at the bottom of yonder precipicei !
that mortal man may dare, Ernst of L =
lau may venture! And sooth, fair Gu =
ingunde, thou art worthy of the moi
perilous ride that lortal man can tlke.' >
The Countess shrunk back in the Wild
est agony. She had never dreamed that
Ernst, sure of her love, would risk a
life so precious to her, and on her
knees, with tears pouring like rainfrom
her proud eyes, she pleaded with him,
but in vaih'
"May my spurs be hacked from my
heels" he cried, "may knight and trou-
badour cry shame on the recreant name
of Ernst of Erlan, when he dares enjoy
what he has not had the courage to win.
Rise, Countess, and fear not, for l will
return unharmed. Summon thy tire
woman, lay the bridal wreath on those
bright locks of thine, for when tneel
in the chapel to give thanks fol my
safety, thou must kneel beside me as
my bride"
Cuuigunde gazed at the stately form
towering far above the usual height OF
man; she looked at the bright dancing
eyes, the general air of power in every
glance and movement, and felt, she
not why, that he knew of some help be-
yond mortal skill. even if it be Sat
ans" she muttered to herself, "be it so,
for would give my hopes of Heaven
for his safety" Holding her hand
tightly pressed against her heart to
still its beating, she safe in the bridal
garb her lover had commanded, with
her eyes fixed on the door whence he
had issued. The maidens gathered to-
gether, frightened by the CHASTITY face
and motionlcss attitude she preserved.
The wild eyes alone by their unquiet
glances seemed to betoken life, and
grew wider as cry of triumph and ex-
ultation arose in the courtyard.
"Safe, safe, gracious lady," cried her
maidens, as the lofty figure of Baron
Ernst appeared at the threshold. Gun
igunde made one step forward, like q
queen who prepares to reward victor,
but the woman conquered, and she fell
at the feet of her lover.
s'Oh, my beloved, my Ernst, my gal
liant knight" she cried, clasping his
knees, saved, for my unutterable
lOvew
He cast her hands aside, and strobe
into the middle of the room. "Tigress,"
he cried, blood-stained woman, do you
not know me? Do you not trace yet in
my face the traits of my noble brother,
Count Albert, and the two other hreth-
rem driven to death, and then mocked by
you, she devil! |, the last scion of the
ruined house, trained myself to avenge
it. and through your wounded pride and
love have done it,"
"Fair Cunigunde," he continued with
mocking laugh, as he watched her
stony stare, cit pains me much that i
cannot give you the parting salute so
fair bride deserves, but it would be a
shame to venture into tho presence OF
my wife, my pure eyed Emengarde,
with my lips sullied by the touch of
yours Call your vassals, fair lady,
choose your husband from them; but on
the faith of a knight, the meanest
horse-boy in your castle will condescend
if he becomes your lord"
And with another insulting laugh he
strobe out of the room, and in few
minutes the clatter of horses hoefs
down the rocky way told that he was
out of reach of the despair of the Coun-
tess or her revenge. But vengeance
seemed beyond the comprehension of
wild-eyed woman whe knelt in silence
in the very spot where those crushing
words had fallen on her ear. As the
gallop of the horse was heard, her rigid
muscles relaxed, and she sprung to her
feet with loud cry, and was out of the
room before her frightened attendants
knew what she meant. They followed
her to the castle walls, but only reache
them in time to see the long whit
bridal veil floating in the air as the NJ
fortunate Countess precipitated herse'
over the precipice where so many
her victims had met an untimely enc
There is no place in Bohemia more
Stunned by the country people than
the ruinous "Kynast" as il is called.
There, in Silly summer evenings, whis-
perings are heard beneath the precipice,
and on stormy nights the very words of
the ghost chorus sings in the air
Die Brant ist gekommen den krnnz herab,
Was Iiebchen bist du so dusteI ?
And the peasants shrek and tremble
with terror when they tell the story of
the fatal vow of Countess Cuningunde.