The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-05-17
IORTY-FITE MIN UTES.
A TALE FOUNDED on FACTS.

| "A lTlcuU vi Iulle WIZ hdut IaNSic
through Germany about ten Years ago
related to me the following strange bu
true story, which I now lay before til
readers of the Golden Era:
While I was riding in the mail coacl
which runs from Dresden to the Bava
rian frontier, l became acquainted wit
an Englishman by the name of Barol
Dale, who was travelling through Eufop
for the pleasures Of sightseeing. H
was well acquainted with the manner
and customs Of the inhabitants Of diff
ferent countries, and az he had been il
San Francisco, he often spoke to m
about the prospects of California for
had told him that l had resided in tha
city since 1S49.
Only one thing was remarkable in hi
fluent conversation-he never mentioned
the habits, dresses, etc, of the womel
who inhabit the different countrie:
through which he had travelled. Ever,
time l mentioned the word "ladies" u
"wives' he broke off and fell into q deel
and gloomy silence.
1t was late one summers s evening whel
the coach stopped at the Red Lions Inn
the principal hotel at Bruckenau,a small
but picturesque city of Bavaria.
During supper the Englishman spok'
about the beautiful scenery surrounding
the town, and offered to conduct me OF
the following afternoon to an old Roman
tower that stands upon a high hill neal
by the river that divides the city into TIVE
equal halves.
/ thankfully accepted his invitation
Had / known what an awful scene had
to pass through, would never have ac
companied him.
Well, to make my story short, the
Baron and / ascended the hill. Neal
the tower we found a waiter of the Rel
Lions Inn, who had q basket in his
hand.
Lunch very we'll; you may co.
said the Englishman, taking the basket
The waiter was about to leave, when
the Baron cried out:
"Stop; here is your trinkgeld (fee
Have you put my telescope in the bas
ket p
The waiter said "yes," and with smi.
ling face left US. The Baron, who was
very rich, had given him louis.
"Come, mine Herr, let us enter; the
sun is too hot close to these ancient
walls," said the Baron in excellent Ger
man.
I followed him into a large hall, in
which / found traces of Roman scul.
ture and part of massive floor.
"What bad taste p cried as MY eyes
became more accustomed to the semi
darkness. I saw wide modern stair
case, with broad steps and highly pol
ished rails, leading up to the second story
Of the tower
"That's what the citizens of Brucke-
nau said; and they added that Baron
Dale was an eccentric fool !" replied the
Eng.ishman in sarcastic tone.
"Did you
He interrupted my question. eyes, I
caused it to be built This tower be
longs to me; 1 bought it of the city cor
poration for mere trife. There was a
spiral staircase in the place of this one,
and it was too much like ascending the
wheel of a tread mill; so I had it torn
down. Please take this telescope and
ascend to the top of the tower. Your
ascent of over two hundred steps will be
amply repaid by the beautiful prospect
that opens before your gaze as soon as
you reach the battlements p'
After pause he CONTINUED:
"Do not wait for me- On your re
turn you will find splendid lunch spread
out at the foot of these stairs" h
The words "splendid lunch sounded
very strange, and I looked into his face,
which had assumed a gloomy if not
fiendish expression, while his eyes glared
as if he hated the very sight of me.
AS soon as he perceived that l was
observing him very close the expression
Of his features changed, and in cheer
full tone he concluded:
Sand while we are eating our lunch l
will tell you tale about German wo-
man. You know you have asked me
about ladies before"
! bowed and then FASTENED up stairs.
Truly grand panorama of mountains,
woods and valleys spread out before my
enraptured gaze Far below me was the
ancient town of Bruckenau, with its walls
and terraces, its churches and public
buildings, while surrounding it was a
double belt of tall poplar and bushy
chestnut trees, tina: looked like a green
frame in contrast with the tall gabled
houses and dinghy looking churches
Beyond the town were patches of wood
land, from the depths of which I heard
the bells of cattle, while nearer and
clearer came to my ears the song of a
shepherd, "Now let US thank the Lord y
The vesper bells of a neighboring con-
vent seemed to join with the song, and
lnvoluntarily / Joined in the simple but
song of the poor shepherd
Lover and lower sank the sun. The
top reflected its red beams, and
masses of clouds above them became
edged with bright golden hues, which
deepened into purple, then leaden gray
became predominant, and the veil of in
crsaslng darkness began to envclop the
valley.
This was warning to me to hasten
down. There were three sections of the
stairway. When | reached the top of
the last section l saw a light At the
same time voice cried out, "Stop, or
you are q dead man!'
/ looked down. About fifty feet be-
low me stood the Baron, with a candle in
one hand and double barreled pistol in
the other.
"Why, my dear sir, you are crazy!
Please put up your pistol, / do not like
such practical jokes!" cried /, with a
forced laugh.
practical joke! Ha! ha! ha! It's
not practical joke, but stern reality
I've got you in a trap. sir! !" answered he,
fastening the candle to the railing.
lquick!y passed my hand into my coat
pocket. A cry of terror escaped my
lips-my bowie knife and revolver were
gone.
The Englishman perceived my mo-
tions,