Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-05-26
Seleft Story.
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES.
lAraLE FOUNDED on FACTS.

related to me the following strange but
true story, which l now lay before the
readers of the Golden Era:
While 1 was riding in the maIi-coach
which runs from Dresden to the bava-
rian frontier, / became acquainted Win
an Englishman by the name OF Baron
Dale, who was.trayeling through Europe
for the pleasures of Sightseeing. ne
was well acquainted with the manners
anJ cnstoms ofthe inhabitants of diff
ferent countries; and as he had been IN
San Francisco, he often spoke to me
about the prospects of California, for
had told him that l had resided in tlat
city since 1S49. c.z
Only one thing was remarkable in his
fluent conversation-hen never mention
ed the habits, dresses, etc., OF the Wo-
men who inhabit the different countries
through which he had travelled. Every
time / mentioned the word ladies" or
wives" he broke off and fell into deep
and gloomy silence.
1t was late one summers evening
when the coach stopped at the Red
Lions Inn, the principal notel OF
Rruckenau, a small but picturesque
city of Bavaria.
During supper the Englishnlan spoke
about the beautiful scenery surrounding
the town, and offered to conduct me on
the following afternoon to an old Roman
tower that stands upon a high hill near
by the river that divides the city into
two equal halves.
[ thankfully accepted his invitation:
Had | known what an awful scene hau
to pass through, would never have ac-
companied him.
"Well, to make my story short, the
Baron and l assembled the hill. Near
E fnr n
Lions Inn, who had "A basket in ms
hand. -,
"Lunch?--very well; you may CO."
said the Englishman, taking the bas-
ket.
The waiter was about to leave, when
the Baron cried out:
..Stop: here is your trinkgted (tee).
Have you put my telescope IN tbs oas'
ket?"
The waiter said "yes," and with
smiling face left us. The Baron, VINO
was very rich, had given him louis:
Come, mine Herr, let US enter; the
sun is too hot close to these ancient
walls pisaid the Baron in excellent Ger
man.
I followed him into large hail. IN
which I found traces of Roman scuIp-
ture and part of a massive floor.
a "What bad tastein cried as my eyes
becanie more accustomed to the semi
darkness. I saw wide modern stair
= case with broad steps and highly polish
ed rails, leading up to the second story
of the tower.
..fhat,s what the citizens of Bruck-
enru said, and they added :aat
Baron Dale was an eccentric iooi!' re-
piled the Englishman in sarcastic
tone.
He interrupted my question. "Yes, L
caused it to be built. This tower be-
longs to me; bought it of the corpora
tion for a mere trifle. There was
sniral staircase in the place of this one,
and it was too much like ascending the
wheel of a treadmill; so l had it torn
down. Please take this telescope and
ascend to the top of the tower. Your
ascent ofover two hundred steps Will
be amply repaid by the beautiful
prospect that opens before your gaze as
soon as you reach the battlenehts!
After pause he continued:
"Do NOT wait for me. On your re-
turn YOU will find splendid luncn
snread out at the foot of these stairs. .
The words splendid lunch" sounded
very strange. and looked into his face
which had assumed gloomy II mol
fienlish expression, while MS eyes
glared as if he hated the very sight o
As soon as ne perceived that was ob'
serving him very close the expression
of his features changed, and in cheef
ful tone he concluded:
'And while we are eatlng our luncL
will tell YOU a tale about German
woman. You know you have asked MT
about ladies before"
bowed and then hastened up stairs
Truly grand panorama OF mountains
woods and valleys spread out before my
enrantured gaze Far below me wal
the ancient town of Bruckenau, viii
its walls and terraces, its churches ant
nnblic buildings, while surrounded
was double belt OF tall popular ant
bushy chestnut trees, that looked ike
green frame in contrast with the tai
Sabled house and dipgy-locking church
es Beyond the town were patches
woodland, from the depths of which
heard the bells of cattle, while neare
and clearer came to my ears the song o
a shepherd. "Now let us thank th
Lord!''
The vesper bells of a neighboring con
vent seemed to join with the song, ant
inyoluntarily L Joined in the simple bu
impressive song of the poor shepherd.
Lower and lower sank the sun. Th
mountain tops reflected its red beams
and masses of clouds above them becam
edged with bright golden hues, whic
deepened into purple, then leaden gra
became predominant and the veil of in
creasing darkness began to enyelop tn
valley.
This was warning TO me to haste
down. There were three sections of th
stairway. When L reached the top {
the last section L saw light. At th
same time voice cried, stop, or yo
are dead MANI
I looked down. About fifty feet bt
low me stood the Baron, with a candl
i'm one hand and double-barrelle
pistol in the other.
sWhy, my dear sir, you are crazy
Please put up your pistol; DO not ilk
such practical jokes crieu L, WIN
forced laugh.
practical joke, ha! ha! ha! It's not
practical joke, but stern reality. Nv
pot YOU in trap, sir" answered he, fa
tening the candle to the railing.
I quickly passed my hand into NJ
coat pocket. A cry of terror escape m
lips-my bowie-knife and revolver wei
gone.
The Englishman perceived my M
tions.
II made sure of that" cried he, in
triumphant tone; 81 took your weapon
while you looked through my telescop
1t was my only means of preventir
YOU from killing yourself. We ha
to fy, fy-yes, fly, my mani"
What did he mean by the word "fly
knew that had to deal with ma
man and the best way to deceive su,
people was by humoring them. Sc
said, as calnaly as / was able:
baron, you promised to- relate to I
story"