Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-01
sELECTED STORY.
KATnLITz OF KK0NARTEN.

by VIM. MASON TURNER, NJ.
"But, my dear child, It's time indeed that
you we're looking about you for mate. Tho
lordly Kronarten aud its broad acres, must
not be left so long without master and
methinks-"
Nay, nay, my worthy aunt" returned
the other half smiling, ''thlnk not that L
DO not give this matter consideration. |
am we'll aware that [ am twenty-one, and
that Krorarten needs lord But-but,
aunt"
Il know what you would say, Kathlitz
You arc undecided whom to accept-you
cannot chose between Conrad and Uhlric."
"Psiaw 7! aunt-so far as inclination is
concerned, it is not difficult to determine. AS
for Conrad Schimmclman, detest him, and"
s.Thcn why not end this state of indeci-
sion, and accept Uhlric /? Methinks he is a
noble"
ssHe is all that woman could wish, aunt
but, but, aunt, you forget the dying in
junction Of my poor father, the baron. You
forget the pledge made by him that day to
Count Schimmelman-bu he never forgot
it while he lived, nor has that boasting,
black proved son Of his ever forgotten it, !"
The elder lady's brow was overcast with
gloom, and frown gathered unbidded on
her quiet pale face.
II had indeed forgotten, Kathlitz. A
very different phase does that put on mat
tors. must confess. That pledge was made
alas that your poor father allowed him
self to be thus deceived. But, that pledge
must be redeemed, for an Ecksten never
vet broke his word, for good Or for evil"
There was pause.
The wind whistled shrilly around the
many abrupt corners Of Kronarten Castle,
and died away in the chasms OF the tall
mountain, on which the ancient structure
was pcrched.
Kathlitz Eckstcin was the last Of long
and noble race. Her ancestors had even
| been Of blood-royal, and from their ranks
had gone forth many a noble knight and
gallant soldier But, one by one, they had
all passed away generations had decayed:
until at last the mighty house Of Eckstein was
recognised only in one living representa-
tive, the fair and beautiful Kathlltz. Mad
am Eckbourg, who resided in Kronarten
Castle, was not in reality the aunt of Kron-
arten's heiress But ever since her lamen-
ted husband had fallan, years and years be-
fore. by the side of Baron Eskstein. in the
heat Of some fierce Rhine battle, the widow
had taken up her residence in the spacious
castle, and was known by the fair Kathlitz
by no other name than aunt. Madam Eek
bourg had attended the dying baron in his
last Illness, and of verify she knew that the
word of an Eckstein was inviolate, She
we'll remembered now the word of the baron,
pledged in an unlucky hour to Count Schim-
mclman, that when the red checked boy Of
the one, and the fair skinned girl of the
other, had grown to years Of man and wo-
man, that they should in marriage conmln-
gle the blood Ct the two noble houses. Be-
tween Couut Schimmeman and the baron OF
Eckstein very great friendship had exis-
ted; for, in camp and in field, they had
braved danger side by side, and had won
their golden spurs together, The baron was
long since gathered to his fathers, and the
count had followed shortly afterwards. The
fair Kathlitz of Kronarten, left under the
charge of her whom she called aunt-the
Madam Eckbourg-had succeeded to her ia
theirs castle and magifcent estate, and Con-
rad Schimlnelman, her affianced husband,
was the reigning representative count OF his
house But between the maiden and the
Young man there existed no bond stronger
than that made on the dying couch of Baron
Eckstein that bond was not cementod by
affection, certainly on the part Of the girl.
For Conrad Sehimmelman's name stood not
high in the neighborhood, and with it were
connected many tales of dark-handed cruelty
and harshness and some even limited that
covert murder had stained the fingers of Con-
rad of Schimmelman, For the fair Kath-
litz, however, the young man entertained an
ardent, if not an honest passion, and he neg
lected no opportunity to force his presence
upon her, for he too we'll knew Of the death
bed pledge.
And sometimes, too, he presumed on this
knowledge; once, indeed, he had gone so far
as to threaten an appeal to the law to en-
force his claim But of this he heartily re-
pented, for the fire that flashed from the
eyes of the baron's pround daughter, burn
ed into the craven soul Of Schimmelman's
UNIV orthy heir She answered him, however,
not a word, until installing her quiet con-
tempt for subjcction and acquiescence, the
man had dared again to urge her to hasten
the nuptials which would link together the
two wealthy estates and families. Then she
turned on him, and bitter, scornful words
ashed the young count terribly. A fierce
alteration had ensued-c elimination and re-
elimination followed Conrad Schimmel-
man was coward, else he had not quarrell-
with a woman, and tainted that woman with
loving another man. Then it was at the
name of Uhlric Staaher, that the brilliant
orbs of Kronarten's heirress cleaned with
forked lightnings. With an imperious ges-
ture, she waved the young man away, and
with knitted brow and frowning face,
she turned and walked with naughty tread
from his presence. But this circumstance
had happened far away in the past. Time
had melowed it-young Conrad had again
and again expressed his repentance, and
Kathlitz remembered, oh so bitterly, the
last in junction Of her dying father.
Uhlric Stauber, a gallant, whole souled'
quiet and dignifed young man, was the SON
Of a neighboring gentleman, who lived hard
by Kronartcn. That gentleman owned large
landed property, but he possessed no title,