The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-30
THE RIVAL WARRIORS.
4 1reENp OF THE RHINE.

Graf Heinrich looked on he had watched
his daughters face, and he read all thn'
was written in the innocent eyes when
now turned to his. He rose, and placing
her hand IN that of Walter, said Me-
."I ratify, before MI present, my daugh-
ter's choice. and proclaim Ritter y !. Mer.
kenstein her affianced husband. sss'Ssa :,
Beside himself, first with apprehension
and then with ioy, Walter had entirely for
,,o,ton to deliver Saladin's casket, and 1T
ras on,v when Graf Heinrich began to COM
rI;yo ont him on the sucsess Of his arms in
r. bnlv cause, for which he had go bravely
fought and suffered, that he recalled the
dnty he had neglected He begged Hulda's
forgiveness for the oversight, and laying the
precious casket before her, he related the
details of his captivity, and the singular
manner-in which it had been brought to an
end.
az Hulda opened the seal, and raising the
lid of the pcrfumed box, perceived letter :;
but she scarcely read the words it contained
when she sank, trembling, exclaiming:
"Walter, cannot be your bride; another
lives who has stronger claims upon me than
even YOU / Yes" she continued, I" the most
undeniable claims for he has not only
fulfilled the stipulated conditions IN the
most perfect way, but has sent me the GIT
most desired, as sacrifice which none can
anpreciate so well rs yourself. Read, dear
father. the words which Adolph addresses
to me-" . .,
Heinrich took the letter and read.as fol-
lows: "The most welcome gift woman
can receive is the hand of him she loves l
send your lover to you herewith, and that
hand will present you, in this box, with q
lift as usefulin itself as the bearer Will
be agreeable to you.' In it you will find
the seed of O plant as yet unknown in Eu-
rome but If you succeed in rearing II,
vopr fatherland will owe to you an article
RI commerce as valuable for it's rich dye as
for the medicinal properties that belong TO
Il. Won will cultivate it in the gardens OF
the Castle of Liebach, which, with all its
domains, make over to Walter V. Mer-
kenstein, that he may have possessions to Of
fer you equal to your own. He will lind
YOUR dear name carved on every tree within
nv territory, and there will the ransomed
slave of Saladin learn to understand the
heart of the friend who exchanged his own
liberty for his"
All: present were deeply moved as the
uhheard-of generosity of Adolph was thus
revealed, and Walter, overcome by con-
hicting emotions, exclaimed: "Hulda Is
right. Her hand does not belong me.
should ut this hour be grooming IN alien
bonds but for the magnanimous friendship
of the noblest of men. Base, indeed, should
I be, and unworthy of such O friend, II
did not recognize it to be my paramount
duty to return to Syria, and, by resumlng
my chains, restore to him that liberty ne 30
readily sacrificed to me-"
Graf Heinrich embraced the youth with
tears, and approved Of his resolution. He
placed in his hands purse of two hundred
golden forms, with which to pay the ram
som of Adolph, to whom Hulda sent writ
ten message in these significant words:
"Your gifts combine all the required
conditions-my hand awaits YOU"
Walter was gone. The walls of Rauhen-
stein repeated no echoes but those Of HUI
da's soft sigh, and the old knight unused
sadly on his daughters fate. Hulda's
cheek grew paler day by day, and her eyes
looked anxiously from her turret window,
as if her thoughts were travelling in the
direction of those who were risking their
lives for her.
Graf Heinrich's concern augmented the
sadness Of his child, and he felt that some
step must be taken, though he knew not
what. 1t was amid these conflicting
thoughts that Hulda herself one day ad-
verted to the subject which preGccupied
both. ..' -....
"Father," she said, I" know you have
understood my sorrow since Walter left us,
and have every hope that you will ap-
prove of the VOW have made, and consent
to the request ! am about to lay before
YOU" x
"Speak on, my child" said Heinrich, " l
have no doubt your wish is reasonable"
alt is, then, father DEAR" resumed
Hulda, "that you will allow me to retire for
a time from this life of care and luxury.
Two noble Lords have for my sake aban-
doned their native land and the home OF
their ancestors, and are mourning hardships,
of which we know nothing, in foreign
climes. The one signs in inhdel chains
the other, forsaking the love Of mother and
sister, pursues his way over unknown lands,
willing to assume q new captivity; and |,
the cause of all, am living idly in the home
of my childhood, summed by fathers love,
served by attached domestics. This can
not be; I must withdraw, and labor and
pray for myself and for them. On the road
to Wiener Noustadt stands q stone cross,
beside which pilgrims halt to repose and
pray there let me await in pilgrim garh
the return of the absent knights; there LEI
me devote my time to some useful work
and spin for the poor, till Heaven, touched
by my humiliation, shall send them safely
back" a. "'
Then old Graf, somewhat reluctantly
yielded to his daughters wishes. He bought
a small cottage near the old Gothic monu'
ment, and repaired thither with her. Daily
now did Hulda resort to the spot, working
with her fingers, distaff in hand, while she
| nnr,rea forth her innncant nraYerS till she