Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-03-02
VOL. x.

|
Young Herberger, unconscious of the sur
prise that awaited him, leisurely took his
way along the road. As he neared the
trysting-place he sighed, and furitively
glanced at the cross, before which he pau
sed for few brief seconds. A howl, such
as an animal OF prey might give when it is
about to pounce on its victim, was the first
notice the miserable lover received Of the
| dangerous proximity of the infuriated Ba-
ron, who, with hasty strides, approached
the young man.
'sThe Baron Won AltenfeldtT said FRANKIE
Herberger, removing at once his plumed
hat This meeting is, indeed, unexpect-
| ed and"
81 waste notwords upon knaves or fools!
| If thou art not q coward to boot, draw and
defend thyself. !"
s'My Lord Baron Won Altenfeldt, why
this excess of wrath?" exclaimed FRANKIE.
you do me wrong by making use of such
epithets."
"Prove thy wordsl I will hold no parley
with your' shouted Altenfeldt, waving
above his head his heavy sword, which
every moment seemed about to descend
upon his mortal foe.
81 repeat again you do me wrong, said
| the young man, calmly.
''Thou art craven, like the rest of the
| Herbergers!' cried the Count of Sonnen-
berg, with naughty curl of his lip.
A conflict with the father Of his beloved,
FRANKIE epdeavored to avoid, it being gabout
the last thing he would think Of entering
npon; but his wrathful adversary was not
| to be propitiated by fair words. He madly
attacked his daughters suitor, and the lat
ter was forced from sheer necessity to ward
off the blows the best he could that we're
so mercilessly showered upon him. Not
withstanding the violence Of the Baron's
attack, FRANKIE did not attempt to act on
the aggressive, but contented himself with
keeping his angry assailant at bay. At
length, however, by a vigorous effort the
Baron struck the weapon from the hand of
Herberger, whom he then caught by the
throat, that he might make sure of fulfill
ing his fell purpose. Poor Franke felt the
point of the Baron's sword again st his chest.
He closed his eyes, believing bis last hour
had come. Much to his astonishment he
found the hand on his throat relax its
grasp-heard a deep groan; and on the
next instant beheld the Baron Won Alien
feldt stretched at his feet, bathed in blood.
Before him stood the tall and slender
form of Gilbert.
ssWhat hast thou done?" murmured
FRANKIE, to whom the events of the last few
moments seemed more like the disjointed
fragments of some hideous nightmare than
a living reality.
Saved your lifer said Gilbert. "Had
I been a second later, you would have been
sacrificed"
s'Wretch!" ejaculated Herberger, ''Mon-
ster, you have slain your protector and
kinsmanr'
'.Is it thus you thank me for saving you
from the vengeance OF an infuriated mad
man?"
''Mother of Mercy, but this was borri-
bler' calculated FRANKIE, passing his hand
rapidly over his brow. $50 horrible that
it almost surpasses beliefr'
'FYour are right there, my friend" OBJ
served his companion. ''Say what thou
your door"
s.At mine?"
cay, even so. There are no witnesses
beside our two selves"
What demon was it that prompted you
to commit so heinous q crime?"
''None; I have stood your friend in the
hour of need. Why, thiuk you? For the
sake of my cousin Odella, Had you fallen
instead of your adversary, she would not
have long survived: For her sake have
made this sacrifice, and yet you do not
thank me-"
Herberger was stupefed with astonish-
ment. He had always held the speaker in
utter contempt, whom be regarded as a
paltry, shuffiing knave. The blow dealt by
Gilbert had been aimed with such deadly
intent that his weapon passed through the
heart of the ill-fated Baron Won Altenfeldt.
"Heaven be merciful to u.s." exclaimed
FRANKIE, shuddering. Infamous assassin!
C+ 81 nv and
man.
This is not the time for reproaehes, p"
answered Gilbert. stBe thankful that you
have escaped. If you stay here ali will be
lost. They will charge you with the muir
derr
'.But 7 am innocentr'
'tNo matter for that. His death will be
laid at your door. Away at once, while
there is yet timer
81 scorn to fly like criminal or an as
sassinr'
"Foolw CALCULATED the other. ''Your
obstinacv will mar ALL and bring your head
to the block. Do you not comprehend that
a storm will burst forth upon the body of
the Barpn being discovered? My kinsman
was in favor with the Emperor. An in
quiry will be at once set on foot which will
be fatal to you"
''buC am innocent, GG1Ier3LGu L TdDh6.
'sThat is of little import; appearances are
against you. Do not hesitate. For my
cousins sake, conjGre you to seek safety IN
fight"
Herberger was 10th to follow the advice
of his gully companion who, cunning and
crafty by nature, did not fail to make use of
every specious argument he was master of
! to serve his purpose, until, at length, he
succeeded in persuading FRANKIE to seek
safety in fight. The latter retured to
Weisbaden, and made his father acauaint-
| ed with the fatal issue of the conflict. As
/ the bitter feud between the houses of the
! Herbergers and Altenfeldts was but too well
known, and would, doubtless, be brought
! forward as proof of Franke's guilt, his
! father wisely determined upon sending him
away. Consequently the young man was
constrained to be at hide and seek for sew
eral weeks. This afforded ample oppor-
/ tunity for Gilbert to tell his own story He
boldly declared that the Baron had been
slain in unfair fight by the young Herber-
ger. This version of the tale gained uni
versal credence, The Emperor issued or
ders for the arrest of the fugitive, A reward
was offered to any one who might be instru,
mental in bringing him to justice. For
many months, however, FRANKIE succeeded
in eluding the vigilance of his enemies. At
length, however, his whereabout was dis
covered. He was arrested and put on his
trial, the chief witness against him being
the guilty Gilbrt, who positively swore that
he saw the sword of Herberger pass through
the body of the ill-iated Baron. In the days
Of which we are writing, justice was not
very impartial, and the scales she is sup
posed to carry were not at all times evenly
balanced Poor FRANKIE was found guilty
upon the charges upon which he had been
arraigned; and although there never was at
any time any pretense that the case was
murder or homicide, he was condemned to
death. While these events had been tax
/ ing place, poor Odella was subject to a
species of persecution which was odions,
and well nigh insupportable; her cousin
Gilbert pestered her with his attentions,
and declared that the Baron, her father,
had expressed a wish that he should be her
husband and protector. But, despite his
Vaccinations, the guilty We're not destined
to triumph or reap any benefit from his ini-
ouirV A short tine befOra the 9av an