The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-30

lou won let ME g0T Hclnrlcn says
they'll cook Dolly and me, and he says
she's tough it was very cruel of him. Oh,
father, don't let them have Dolly and me p
A great sob came in her fathers throat
he tried TO look as if the porridge had
chOked him, and cleared his voice; but
after all, the words would not come, so he
only held her very closely and kissed her
shining hair.
Meanwhile, Elspeth was restless; she
walked about the house with an air OF
strange excitement, pacing hurriedly up
and down the rooms AT length, fiingng
hood over her head, she cried:
Don't speak to me, or wait for me, but
put the child to bed and let those sleep who
can. / must speak word to the Town
Council before ever l close my eyes"
Poor soul !" sighed the husband thy
mothers bit sharp, little one, at times,
but she's true as steel knew it would go
hard with her; let her talk as she will,
she'll find the deeds done and the terms
accepted, and before the sunset tomorrow
every wife and child will be safe out OF
poor old Weinsberg. and Heaven help
those who are lett You'll have to begin
a new life tomorrow, my son." he said,
turning to Heinrich, who, astounded by
the sudden turn matters had taken, sat
quiet and Open-eyed by the fire, having
swallowed the last morsel Of supper.
"ThOu must care now for mother and
the little one, and work hard to earn them
piece of bread. It'll be lucky if poor
fathers head isn't stuck on his own pike
staff"
AT this awful prognostication Heinrich
began to cry, and as his sister Joined
chorus, the burgher found that he had
hardly improved matters, and so proposed
as more cheerful suggestion, that they
should all go to bed. This the children
did accordingly, crying Justify for the first
five minutes when they were laid down,
and, after the manner of children, forget
ting all their sorrows i'm SOundeSt sleep at
the end of the next ten.
Elspeth was back again before midnight; +;
shc found her husband wearied out and
lying asleep by the cold hearth.
Let him sleep, poor soul, she said /;
"he'll be more out of my way, and there
is plenty to be done between this and
cOckcrOw. What, thou thought | should
go, didst thou, with bag and baggage, and
a by your leave to the army out yonder,
and let these blOOdthirsty soldiers walk
over the threshold and fire good two
dozen arrows into my husband, and not
there to cover him and woman of my
figure is brave target and a shield not TO
be dcspised. Bless thee, dear heart p
and she stopped for a moment and in sud
den tenderness pressed her lips on the
tired forehead "please God, we'll march
out to morrow with all our treasures, and
who would be the man who dared turn us
back"
Slowly a glimmer of light came in the
east, which deepened and spread till the
morning sunshine streamed upon the
mans face He smiled, and shook himself,
and then awOke with a start, and look
of uttcrmost sorrow as memory returned,
and he realized that the moment of part
ing was very near.
There was sound of steps and sup
pressed voices in the street, which in
creased momently; soon there was a
crowd of eager women passing and repass-
ing the door, and whispered consultations
with Elspeth, who, with her strong, Wig
orous face and figure, stood like tower OF
strength amongst them ALL She lit the
fire and prepared the breakfast quietly for
the last time, tied on little Frida's hood
and her own, slung the bundle she had
DCCil plCpdilnS w Iti hdiSt, anu 'hCh
turning to her husband, said, in strange
firm voice:
81 am ready; let us GO"
Like a man i'm a dream, he followed her
silently; only as they crossed the thresh.
old, he took her hand and said:
1--WE have been very happy here, wife
Heaven keep and bless thee" and kissed
her cheek.
For moment her heart failed her, and
she turned and clung to him-for mo-
ment only, and then she set her teeth hard
and walked steadily forward The gate OF
the town was open; in the plain below
you could see the great Conrad's army
drawn up in proud array, their tents
glistening in the morning light In the
town the burghers crowded round the
walls and thronged the gates, as the sad
and silent procession of women and little
children advanced towards it.
When Elspeth reached the Warder',
tower, she stopped and placed the hand ol
the little daughter in Heinrich $, bidding
him to see 10 the child; then in a clear
loud voice, she cried
women of Wcinsberg have read the
edict; it is true and sure and the Ilohen
staufen has pledged his honor to keep faith
with us. The women shall depart in safety
and may carry with them the great
est of their treasures So be it, Conrad
and thus we women of Weinsberg answer
your proclamation :" then suddenly fling
ing her arms round her astonished hus
band, she raised him on her back, crying
to the neighbOr at his side,
"Lend hand, there, Jacob, and place
him firmly ond thou, husband, hold tas
and fear nothing. I'll carry thee to the
tent of Conrad himselfi"
And SO from the bcleagucred town, II
quaint but solemn procession, moved mer
and women, two and two. Many were the
slips, and hard the task to be accomplished
but with unfaltcring steps the brave Els
peth marched at their head, with her chill
dren beside her, and her husbands lone
legs dangling helplessly by her apron; on
she went, stern and silent, with her face
well set towards the plain only as she
passed the great lIohenstaufcn himself "a
nc stood before his tent, she paused to say
Pardon, good Conrad, that cannot make
thee fitting Obeisance, but my treasure |!
fairly heavy, and / have much adOto carry
him; SO | wish thee a good even, and many
thanks for thy courtesy"
"Potz tausend! Bonner and Blitz
Hammer and tongs. and three dozen tel
penny tintacks - cried Conrad, using th'
favorite cxpletives of his time, " that |, th'
great Hohenstaufen, should live to be out
witted by q woman
--
A Real Estate Incident.