The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-05-01
NUMBER 25.
EHLENBURG-A LEGAND

On a high rock, overlooking tn
Rhine, that river of legends, stood the
halt castle the half fortress OF Ehlen
burg, which with its high and gloom,
battlements, seemed to pierce the yer,
clouds. Its dungeon and keep wer'
said to be, the strongest in Germany
aud, indeed. it was so, for it could b'
only accessible at one point, which wa:
narrow path, where but one mar
could walk at time The owner anC
governor of this castellated fortress was
Sir j John Nerrinich, naughty over.
bearing man, subject at times to fits ol
the most violent passion, which at time
led him to commit crime OF the most
hOrrid nature, which formed the legend
connected with the old ruins that now
stands gazing gloomily, as 1t were, up
on the passing steamboats, bearing par
tiesiOf tourists upon the Rhine.
Sir John was a widower, his wife hav-
ing died of a. broken heart, after
giving birth toa daughter. three years
after her marriage. The daughter, the
Lady Isadore, though treated very
severely by her father, grew up with all
the beauty which enhances the fair sex
within mans eye. She had a lover;
what young girl of seventeen has not
He was Captain Of the Guards belong
ing to the castle; young man of low
birth, though gifted with fine educa-
ton and some personal beauty. which
together with his skill and prowess in
the time of war, had won for him the
| name OF 'sThe Falchivn." He was in
deed worthy of the maiden's admira-
ton. Marcel Van Sehrotter, for such
was his 1ame-with his laurels fresh on
his brow-was invited to Court, and.
while there, saw and became enam0red
ofthe Lady Isadore, who was then with
her father attending Court for the first
time. Sir John, pleased with Marcel,
offered him the captaincy in his guards,
which was then vacant, and he, to be
near the lady ofhis heart, accepted the
office. and was soon installed within
| the castle walls.
The Lady lsadore, after hearing her
father speak Of his feats ofarms, be-
came interested in him, and having by
accident met him several times while
| taking her morning walk upon the
! parapet, the interest ripened into love
| ard they silently betrothed themselves
to each other and were happy. So
| things stood when, one evening, Sir
John invited Marcel to take supper
with him. The meal was spread within
the lett wing of the castle, in loft y
hall, the walls of which were decorated
with ancient suits of arms, while the
| panels were all hung with we'll dress
ed head aud horns lofa sturdy deer. -
| At one end OF the hail, set deep within
| the wall, was spacious fireplace, well
! filed with oaken logs, Which, as the
/ nights were chilly, Sir John had or
dercd the servants TO light, and IL now
threw cheerful light upon the table
and It's -IrEoul d'nGs.
| Al a hoandtully spread board were
seated Sir John, Marcel and the Lady
isadore; the supper was over and the
wine circulated around. Ladies were
not so charry of its use in those days.
And the old knight, made merry by the
copious draughts of Rhemish he hat
used to wash down his food, cracked
his jokes, sang and laughed as only an
old man and soldier can laugh. Al
last perceiving that the fire, which ere
now was burning cheerfully had nearly
disappeared, and asked Martel to rouse
it up; he, being willing to oblige, arose
but finding nothing wherewith to rake
the ashes, drew his sword, and with il
coaxed the fire to blaze.
At that moment he heard his name
called in tones OF thunder by Sir John;
forgetting, that he had been called, and
leaving his sword still in the fire, he
advanced towards Sir John. There he
stood, clutching his daughter tightly
by the arm, his face distorted with pas.
sion. - 4..-...f 10
"Sirrah |" he cried, as Marcel ap
preached "dost thou love my daugh
ter?"
Marcel did not reply. but looked al
Lady lsadore. She, alas poor gir
having never seen him in merry mooC
before-while Marcel was engaged ar
ranging the fire.-she told her father o.
their loving, and asked him to give hi
conse 1T to their marriage. The result
was as above.
"Sirrah," shouted the enraged lord
scans thou not speak? Answer me;
dest thou love my daughter ?'
The young man, boldly confronting
him, replied.
"sir, love your .daughter-we are
betrothcd." ''s9
Ill the fury that ever entered into
the soul Of man was combined within
Sir Johns soul. He felt at his belt foi
the dagger he generally wore he had
laid it aside when about sitting down
to supper. he looked around for some
weapon with which to kill Marcel. his
gaze rested on Marcel's sword, which
rested in the fire, the blade of which
was nearly red hue; in another mo-
ment it was in his hands; in his blind
fury he Thought nothing of its heat,
but rushing upon Marcel was about to
plunge it in his body, when 1sadore
threw herself before her lover and re-
ceivcd the fiery blade in her own pure
baeast. Sir John gazed but for one
moment on the scene, and then, with
tho blood gushing from his mouth and
nostrels. fell to the floor. .,## ..f.a
When the retainers entered about
an hour afterwards, they found father
and daughter dead and Marcel a gibber-
inc maniac. The servants removed
him to safe asylum where he shortly
after died. The bodies of the father
and daughter were buried among
their ancestors, and masses were said
for the repose of their souls; but yet
thew did not rest. for often at night
they are seen, the daughter pursuing
the father and making the m ,st hideous
lamentations. Such is the legend of
Ehlenburg, You go there now you
will find remaining ofthat once lofty
pile but old grey ruins.
| --.-s--
CURE FOR EARACHE. r..