The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-10
prosecute the powerful noble, lest,
haply their own misdeeds should be
brought to light.

UTOuSuL W IiSuts
Hermann had ever, until that faia
day, " orn a jewel-hilted dagger sus
. pended at his girdle, but from tha
period, it was missing from its accus
toned place.
"He had lost it while hunting in the
forest" he said, and none were found
to gainsay his words.
So the matter was allowed to die
away, and the world in its homage to
tie new Baron, speedily forgot the
tragic end of his predecessor.
Not SO, however, could Hermann
Won Cobec forget. During the night
/ following that fatal hunt, while yet
the corpse of the murdered man lay
undiscovered on the mountain, Helm
rich Won Robec stood at his brothers
bedside.
"Hermann Won Robec," he said, as
the guilty man gazed with cbattering
teeth on the apparition, "you have at
tanned your object; your ambition is
satisfied. For ten years shall you live
to enjoy the fruits of your crime, and
then my fate shall be yours and upon
each elder son of our house, l leave
my curse"
Tradition tells us that Hermann
Won Robec married, and as years
passed on, he almost forgot his mur-
dered brothers prophecy, in his un-
broken prosperity.
On the tenth anniversary OF Helm
rich's death, a cry was raised through
out the country.
The Baron Won Robec had been
found dead in his bed, a jewel-hilted
dagger plunged into his heart while,
written in blood-red letters on his
breast, appeared the terrible, myste-
rious words-HeiaricHs Vengeance.
Hcrmann's two sons grew up to
manhood, and the elder, while yet in
the spring-time Of life, was killed; no
one knew how or by whom, save that
he was found dead in public park in
Vienna, jewel-hilted dagger pro-
truding from a wound in his heart,
while upon his breast appeared those
awful words, so full of horror, SO
strange-Hetnrtch's Vengeance.
The years rolled on their ceaseless
course. The younger brother, now
the head of his house, married high
born lady, and as the curse rested not
on him, he died peaceful death.
leaving but one child, son.
Waldo Won Robec, ae boy and man,
was striking contrast to the long
line Of ancestors who had plundered
and oppressed those numerous peas
ants who now gladly hailed their new
baron.
Generous, gentle, noble in every
sense of the word, men looked on
him with revercntial pity and dread
yet hoping that the curse of his race
would surely not descend upon one
SC beloved, SO innocent of all offense
toward his fellow-men.
And, in truth, it seemed as though
this might be the case, as though
| Waldo's virtues had atoned for his
ancestors crimes.
Amid the gay scenes of Vienna, the
young Baron met and loved fair
maiden, and soon their betrothal was
| announced.
Following close upon this an
nouncement, there came a change
over Waldo's hitherto quiet life
change that was destined to be quick
and lasting.
as it true, Herr Baron,' asked a
tall, pale nobleman, foreigner-"Is
it true, Herr Baron, that you are be-
trothed to the Baroness Frcdcrica 2"
"1t is" replied Waldo, in some sur
prise.
His questiCner was almost unknown
to him, as indeed to all the court, as
he had but just arrived, yet his ample
credentials and letters, had already
obtained for him the free entire into
the highest circles of society.
''Then l must beg of you sir, to re-
nounce her !" exclaimed the stranger,
l have fixed upon her as my choice,
and l never change my plans.'
"Ha" cried Waldo, What mean
you!"
"Just what say" was the cool re-
ply. 81 want that lady myself, and
mean to hcve her! so | must request
you to give up your pretensions."
Never" exclaimed the young no.
bic, You are insolent.'
"Ah. well then, we had better fight
Let us see if the noble Baron Won
Robec is brave enough to fight for his
lady love-"
The stranger advanced, and struck
Waldo with the fiat of his sword.
That night the two met, without
attendants. When day dawned, the
corpse of the young baron was dis
covered, jewel-hilted Digger thrust
in his heart, and on his breast the
fearful words: Heinrichs IIenge-
ance. IT is Finished!
Finished well it might be, for the
family of Won Robec was now extinct
and their ancient possessions passed
to distant relative.
The old castle was never inhabited
after Waldo's death.
But it was said, that as each ami
versary Of those terrible acts of ven-
geancc came round, strange sights
might be seen strange sounds heard,
by those who possessed sufficient
courage to approach those stately
walls, in the gloom of the night.
When the ruthless flames finally
lcveled the old building to the ground
there was a general rejoicing among
the peasantry.
And what of the stranger who kill
ed Waldo. you inquire?
Of him but little can be said, he was
never moro seen by any of the gay
court, he disappeared, as he had come
in mysterious silence.
His snowy retinue, his horses, his
splendid outfit-all that belonged to
him, vanished as silently, and as mys-
teriously, as their master.
But it was whispered, with pale,
horror-struck faces-in the great city
that the latter had borne most
marvellous resemblance to an old
portrait of the murdered Baron Helm
rich and this fact, taken i'm conncc-
ton with the strange words on Wal
dos breast, caused the terrible tale
to be but seldom repeatep and even,
then, with shuddering horror.
Once in long while the name Of
Aaron Burr comes to the surface. 1t
was his dying wish that he might when
dead, lie at the feet of his father Aaron
Burr, and of his grandfather, Jonathan
Edwards. His wish was granted, and
place was made for him in the col
lege division of the burying- ground at
Princeton. For number of years his
grave was visited by hundreds of trav-
elers, yet there was nothing to mark
it. No one of all the friends of Burr,
,x,oc loft vvbo no rod to y,,orl- fbo evra xyo