The Portland daily press., 1868-10-17
selected story.
Castle Of Greifenstein.
A GERMAN LEGEND.

TN, tho im,es of the travel, his subjects
from the neighbofhood came 10 PelltIoh ID
yors and redress some various grievances, TOT
tbey knew the good will OF their sovereign,
and thought his power aiihosC pounuiess.
Among the petitioners was an old herds
man. whose name was Wolfgang. To the
gracious inquiry of the Duke respecting his
wants he was answered that the whole couu-
try was tormented with condor that took
off the greatest part OF the focks and even
manned oxen at the plow. The bird bad
nest somew here, and young onts, and when
these were grown, children. perhaps men and
women, would not be safe from their rapacl
~. Take compassion upon us, gracious
lord" prayed the herdsman, command your
soldiers to Stay the condor and destroy us
nest"
Where has the bird its eyrie?" asked the
Duke.
81 know not" answered the herdsman,
but, methinks, it is beneath the Rahlen-
berg"
- The Duke gave immediate orders that the
bird of prey should be hunted and killed with
its young. The whole country was in mo-
ton T.; the knights were eager to fulfill their
lords demand and gain renown by the slaugh-
ter or so destructive zoe to the herismen.-
But the condor seemed to DEFY them. Sheep
disappeared daily, as If by magic. Only at
intervals could the bird he seen, soaring up
on OuLSpTGdu WHY'S III SO vast d uCiSub Uudv
no arrow could reacn it. Tue peasants mourn
ed aud the batiied warriors murmured at
their want OF success. Mean bie Schaifhold,
the sou Oh " oltgang,a youth OF as plrin, spir-
it bu little 10 liked, a. nis father of,en COM
piaiaed, to the nerd mans labor, lad been
,uioujly watching the knights, apparently
Charmed with tDer Ora apparel and armor
and following al distance Lose who were,
nearest the Duke,and tnoaSh in garb humble
,l.yN.,, l,..f inllf how tnl
the noble and graceful form and the majestic
beauty of his countenance. Nature had gifted
him with matchless perfection of person; his
mien was not that of a peasant but Of a free
born noble--tor which, indeed, he was noted
throughout the country,
As the Duke with his train entered the
Castle where he was lodged young Schaff-
hold passed mournfully along the mountain
side under the shadow ofprojecting rocks. He
had not gone far when his steps were arrest
ed. At few PAGES distant, a young and
beautiful woman richly dressed, lay sleeping
upon the ground, her fair cheek rested on
her hand, her soft brown hair, unclasped, iol-
lowed 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 move his eyes; sud
denly, however, he started forward, as he saw
a viper of the most poisonous kind, glide
swiftly over the moss toward the head of the
sleeping girl. Schaff hold sprang forward IN
time to strike the reptile dead with his staff
The noise awoke the young girl, when seeing
the snake, she started up with a cry OF hor-
ror. The next instant, comprehending the
danger from which she had escaped, she turn
ed with look of gratitude to him who had
saved her. At the same instant voice call
ed from the thicket, "Princess Rubetaw
81 am here" answered the young girl, and
Schaffhold at once knew her rank. She was
the eldest daughter of the Duke
With heavy heart he turned away and
was out OF sight when the attendants came to
the spot The Princess walked on to the cas-
tie. and 10 sooner was it known what had be-
fallen her than the youns pages and attend
ants fastened to her. But no traces OF the
youth who had rendered her this singular
service could be discovered. That day before
sunset the peasantry we're assembling in hOl-
liday attire, decorated with ribbons and flow
ers, to appear before the Duke and his family.
All the herdsmen except Schatfho were
there, and the eyes OF the Princess sought
only him. When she found him not she sigh
ed and tears filled her beautiful eyes.
Schaff hold wandered in the woods the rest
of the evening, and returned home late at
pight to think and dream of ubeta. With
MOI ming, re oluton came. "She cannot be
mine," he said mourntully, but l may at
least win a name that she may not disdan to
hear" He quilted his fathers hut early, and
his steps involuntariy turned towards the
castle where the Dukes party lodged. There
was an unusual concourse of people before
the gates. A herald came forth mounted on
a white horse decorated with trappings, pre-
ceded by trumpeter and accompanied by
several knights. Schatfhold approached as
near as possible. The trumpet sounded, and
after 1t ceased, the herald made this procla-
NATION in loud voice: -..,.I
sour gracious Duke, Henry the Fist, sends
greeting to his lieges of the country of Ner-
berg, and having heard that the whole valley
is plagued with a condor OF an unusual and
extraordinary magnitude, by which the lives
and property of his subjects are endangered,
he dorh hereby promise TO the brave man
who shall kill this bird and destroy its nest,
the hand OF his daughter, the Princess Ru-
beta, in marriage"
Bewildenng and trembling with newborn
life. struggling with fear, the young herds
man listened to tlA words OF the herald
When he had ended the trumpet again
sounded.
The young Princess sat weeping in her
chamber. The Duchess, her mother, stood
regarding her almost sternly, and reproved
her for want of submission to the parental
will. ea....
"Ah! my mother" murmered Rubeta,
'must l then wed man whom cannot love,
if he chance TO slay the bird?"
"Tne Dukes honor is pledged, my child,
and the man who shall do this act n honor
OF thee and him, is not unworthy though he
should be the lowly born, of thy hand"
The Princess shook her head and contin-
ued to weep.
"Ahl" exclaimed the Duchess, scan it be
possible thai thou lowest already?"
The Princess covered ner blushing face
with her hanus. o.
".iis uame! demanded tie Duchess, "who
has dared to as ire unknown"
None! none!' exclaimed Rubeta, ne but
saved my lite.
"Ha! the yorag man who killed the snake
whilst thou vast sleeping,
"The same"
Why, it was but hind, peasant; out on
thee, forward girl"
The Princess lifted up her eyes. "Was not
Piostus. the founder of my fathers honored
race, herdsman too?"
The Duchess frowned, and ordered her
daughter to attend her to her apartment
1t is needless to say that the Dukes procla-
nation caused great excitement amongst the
pages and knights of the court Each was
eager to obtain the prize. The country was
secured by huntsmen in every dir ectoH, and
every Granny OF the rocks was scanned for
the eyrie Of the condor.
Thou, too, my son" said old Wolfoang.
"surely thou dost not dream to contend in
this pursuit which only may be accomplished
by knight" as he saw his son preparing for
the chase; "they will chastise thee as an up-
start"
Father, 1 fear them not, for the Dukes
proclamation said not whoever of noble blood
shall lay the condor. l know not if this was
meant or inadvertency, but upon this issue |
am resolved" rlfafrs a-tl----. ..- .
And Schaffhold went forth with his staff
and axe to hunt the bird OF prey. All the
morning he wandered in the forest. At noon.
wearied, bat determined not to yield to ia
tigue, he climbed the Hottest tree that he
could find, and which commanded view of
the country. The day bad hitherto been
beautiful, but Schaffhold deserted a dark SPOT
in the distant horizon, which betokened the
coming storm.
Suddenly dark speck so distant that if
seemed but mote dashIns over the strain
ing eye, caught his attention. His heart
bounded within his breast. The speck grew
larger; he clasped his hands in an ecs acv of
JOY. 1t was tho condori Soaring height i'm
measurable, it still drew Dearer. Schaffhold
ma himself in the foliage of the trees, and
Watcned the hight OF the majestic bird. OF
the condor, 1t Is said that it will remain for |
days upon the wing, and never bt unon tho |
earth, save Tor food. Rapidly If c,fno ~
floating calmly in mid-air; his ewes foIo, Ui
its fight, which was now directed towarJ
lofty and inaccessible rock on the summit Of |
which vas an aged tree, which doubtless con. |
tained the nest IT the condor.
Descending from mis- elevated situation, he |
crossed the valley and forced his passage
through the thick and interviewer bouphs
ana WOOD OF the forest Rrlt tho ctor,,, MIL,