The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-07-27
at arms the noble baron, our lamented
lord, placed there to defend them"
The naughty head raised defiantly.

| tenbaum forests, and 5wears that, SlnC'
the harvest has failed in Bavaria thi
summer, Bohemia shall bs his granary.
"And are there noble knights enough
in Bohemia to guard their lands 7" criet
Cunigunde. "Nay, good Rudolph, WI
| will summon our mon at arms and on
vassals on this very domain, and let tn
proud robbers head look from my cas-
tie wall on the field he has threatened
"Ah, honOred lady" said the peasant
"when stout Baron Carl was alive tina
was fair talk. He said do this, y
knaves, and had it been to storm hell 1t
self, there would not Lave been mai
among his vassals slow to run at hi
bidding. But our men have no leade
now, and they are wild set that neet
the strong arm and heavy blow. M
woman can do aught with them"
"Thou art insolent, churl, said th'
Countess, coloring to the very roots o
her hair, "hast thou come to tell mi
that Baron Carl's daughter is no longel
the mistress of this domain I"
"The saints forbid, honored lady,
but we have come to pray you to gran
II request our necessity. compels."
"Spoak then, and briefly" said thu
Countess, casting herself impatiently
back in her seat, for am weary o
thisp
"Give us q leader, lady, worthy t.
unfold once more the banner of oul
lord. Choose for husband one of thos'
gallant knights who
Cunigunde did not allow him t.
finish. .t.-,l >tf ht
Tnsolent varlet," she cried, spring
ing to her feet, her dark blue eyes flash
ing, and her whole form trembling will
rage, "dost thou dare propose this Il
me. With the body of my father still un
buried, whilst the tears of grief are still
in my eyes; dost thou dare ask me tt
change mourning into feastingi Th,
funeral rites to give place to the wed
ding traini Out Of my presence, un
grateful knaves, or l will have yor
scourged like houndsw
And utterly overcome by the mingled
tide of grief, anger and wounded pride
the lady bent her naughty head, ant
covering her face with her hands, gave
way to a burst of emotion. ~ =.
Rudolph stood dogged and hnnOved
and the dark looks of his companions
showed sullen resolution not unmixet
with shame, as their eyes fell on the
weeping Countess.
"You must listen to us lady," he said
after pause, "however painful it is fol
you to hear, or us to speak. Through
out your domains there is rebellion.
have only gained q little time to make
this proposal, and if you refuse, You
vassals vow to choose Baron Theodor
your worthy cousin, for their leader anC
liege lord"
Cunigunde took her hand from hel
eyes and locked up. There was no mis-
taking the lowering expression OH those
dark faces. Before another sunset tn,
castle and possessions of her ancestors
would pass from her rule, and her crafty
and ambitious cousin, who had Ions
watched and waited for this hour, would
be triumphant. She pondered, and al
last the Scornful lips compressed will
sudden determination. "Wiliyon swea,
on the part of your companions" sh,
said to Rudolph, "that if | accede Il
your request you will not seek BaroI
Theodor and will bow allegiance t
meP s ei s M &
"Too happy, my honored' Countess, ;
said Rudolph, bending on his knee, "tot
happy to be once more your faithfu
rassals.D u
"Swear on this cross, then," she said
taking from her neck rosary and pre-
senting it to him, =" that if choose 6
husband under certain restriction!
which / will presently explain, yor
will obey mo i'm all things and under all
circumstances.
81 swearw said Rudolph, kissing the
cross and passing it to his companions
who repeated after him, "we swear"
"Well then," said Cunigunde, ~ will
choose a husband with a reasonable
reservation, kind yassals. You know
my father lost his life by a dizziness
which seized him in looking down the
precipice, and he fell from the WALL
The next lord we choose must have nc
such weakness of nerves, for" she con.
tinued, with scornful laugh, ait will
not do to leave these fair domains again
at the mercy of Baron Theodor Vow
for vow, my people! l swear by the
Holy Virgin and every Saint in Heaven,
that / will only give my hand to the
knight whe will ride around my walls
"Holy Virgin" cried Rudolph; "the
wall is narrow; your warders tremble
on it, and the precipice goes down God
knows how many feet deep. Lady
lady, you have cheated us into q vow
unworthy of your noble fathers child
Cunigunde smiled haughtily. "You
have said your say, and mine. You
have sworn, and your vow is registered
in heaven. will marry when my cas-
tie walls are carried by bold rider"
In those days of superstition nothing
could be more binding than an oatL
taken as Cunigunde had administered
it. The simple minds of her vassals die
not reach the point of evading it or
Just grounds, They had sworn 6lindly
even to the Certain reservation" ant
nothing remained for them than t.
keep their oath, whether Duke Baror
and Count harried or utterly annihila
ted them.
With downcast eyes they took theil
where they acquainted the crowd will
the disastrous result of their mission
There were murmurings not loud bu
deep, and the castle wall was gazed a
as If it was the first time visible.
"By the blessed virgins of Cologne,
said Rudolph, gazing up, "none but 4
swallow could skim safely around tha
wall. can scarce walk it without feel
ing my knees knock together, and b,
who wouldride it must have his spur
buckled on by St. Michael, or satar
himself.n =. r III '-.s~ Fs-tst
"What are you talking Of so loudly, ,
said a young knight, who, during th,
confusion, had ridden unobserved, int
the court yard. "What are you doing
knaves, gazing up at the walls so earn
estly I"
"Ah, is that you, Count Albert" saii
Edric, approaching him, .'these goot
people are in q sore straint between MI
lady, the Duke Volko and Baron Konigl
who are harrying our borders
He told them the occurrences of tn,
morning, Count Albert listening Will
the absent look of man who's,
thoughts were wandering far away
until he came TO the vow Of the Count
ess Cnnigunde. .--- ~
To be Continued.
Mr.. w. W. Forbes has been appointed
Register in Bankruptcy in the 4th Vir
Uinia niStrinf ua y-aa q tnarnI,ar nr e. .