Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-06-04
THE CASTLE OF aRIEFEN-
STEIN.
4 GERMAN LEGEND.

ftHll|A#' 4- s-Nf Itf
II was a happy time for the peas
antry Of Neuberg when their bray,
Duke, Henry !, J6urneyed through
his dominions. He was on his way
: accompanied by his cohsort He'd
wig and their children, with nu
mefous retinue Of followers, to Wis
it his burg Of Bellrborg, built bJ
/ his renowned father, Duke Boleslaus
: While he stopped q day or two tC
,, rest from the fatigdes of the travel
his subjects from the neighborhood
came to petition favors and redress
| from grievances, for they knew the
good will Of their Sovereign, and
thought his power almost bound
less. f7aaa"'a i
Among the petitioners was an
old herdsman, whose name was
/. Wolfgang. To the gracious inqui-
I ry of the Duke respecting his wants,
he was answered that the whole
country was tormented with a con
dor that took off the greatest part
of the flocks, and even MANNED OK
en- at the plow. The bird had a
nest somewhere, and young ones /;
and when these were grown, chill
dren, and perhaps men and women,
would not be safe from their rapac.
lily. "Take compassion upon us,
gracious lord,' prayed the herds
man command your soldiers to
slay the condor and destroy its
Inest.p ta Ht
"Where has the bird its eyrie ?"
asked the Duke.
"Iknownot," answered the herds
man, "but methinks tis beneath the
Rahlenberg." W.
The Duke gave immediate orders
that the bird of prey should be
hunted and killed with its yeung.
The whole country was in motion;
the knights were eager to fulfill
their lords command and gain re-
nown by the slaughter Of SO de
structive a foe to the herdsmen.-
But the condor seemed to defy
them, Sheep disappeared daily as
if by magic. Only at intervals
could the bird be seen, soaring up
on outspread wings at so vast a
height that no arrow could reach
it. The peasants incurred, and the
bafiled warriors murmured at their
want of success. Meanwhile,
Schaffho the son ofWolfgang, a
youth of aspiring spirit, but little
inclined, as his father often com
planned, to the herdsman's labor,
had been curiously Watching the
knights, apparently charmed with
their brave apparel and armor, and
following at a distance those who
were nearest the Duke; and though |
in humble garb, many a high born |
cavalier might have envied the no
BILE and graceful form and the ma
jestic beauty OF his countenance. -
Nature had gifted him with match
less person; his mien was not that
of a peasant but of a trce-born no.
ble-for which indeed, he was noted |
throughout the country. H aa
AS the Duke with his train enter
ed the castle where he was lodged,
young Schaffhold passed mournful-
ly along the mountain side under
theshadow ofprojectin rocks He
had not gone far when his steps
were arrested. At a few PAGES dis
tant young and beautiful woman,
richly dressed lay sleeping upon
the ground. Her fair cheek rested
upon herhand, her soft brown hair,
unclasped, followed the waving line
of her figure. So exquisite was
this image Of beauty that the young
herdsman stood gazing at her sew
eral minutes, unable to remove his I
eyes suddenly, however, he started
Porward-he saw viper Of the
poisonous kind glide swiftly over
5he moss toward the head of the
sleeping girl. Schaffhold sprang
in time to strike thereptile
lead with his staff. The noise
lwoke the young girl, when, seeing /
he snake SHE started up with a cry
If horror The next Instant, com {
pretending the danger from which i
The had escaped, she turned with a
ook Of gratitude to him who had /
saved her. AT the same instant a
yoice called from the thicket, "Prin- /
,ess Rubeta ?" /
II am here" answered the young Q
yirl, and Schaffhold at once knew t
ier rank. She was the eldest daugh. t
er of the Duke. t
With a heavy heart he turned e
way, and was out Of sight when the c
came to the esspot. The i
Princess walked on to the castle, V
nd no sooner was it known what a
lad befallen her than the pages and h
hastened to her. But d
10 traces of the youth who had rem c
Iered her this signal service could
,e discovered. That day before u
unset the peasantry were assem- f
lied, in holiday attire, decorated a
With ribbons and flowers, to appear 0
,efore the Duke and his family h
NJ the herdsmen except Schatf hold 0
we're there, and the eyes ofthe Prin- b
ess sought only him. When she t
ound him not she sighed, and tears v
lied her beautiful eyes. il
Schaff hold wandered in the c
goods the rest Of the evening, and f
home late alright to think a
nd dream of Rubeta. With the Il
morning a resolution came. "She p
annot be nine" he said, mounful- il