The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-06-23

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his castle, where he related his adj
venture. His beautiful daughter
swooned when he whispered some.
thing in her ear. He told her that
he believed the demon to be Rudolph,
the lost Count of Lowstadt.
BY and by the old Counts cattle
began to disappear, and the print OF
q naked foot was discovered near tho
pens. The wood-demon had been
there; he had taken the cattle to his
forest haunts to crafty bis insatiate
NAV. Reason also left Parthenope
when the conviction that the wood
demon was Rudolph fastened itself
upon her mind. Sickness seized
her frame, and for months she lin
gered between life and the portals of
the Rolstadt vaults.
Her father watched increasingly Mt
her couch, and the news from the
war, which was drawing to glorious
termin ltion for Germany, became
uninteresting to him. He thought
alone Of Parthenope. If she should
be taken away from him, who would
perpetuate the name of Rolstadt?
At last, as il in answer to the faith
er's prayers, change for the better
fitted across Parthenopesface. From
that moment she dated her recovery,
and when the news OF peace came to
the old castle, she was perfectly re-
stored to her wonted health, but not
to her wonted peace of mind. She
brooded continually over the wood
demon, whom she steadfastly be-
lieved was her lost lover.
With the return of peace Count
Bardolph turned his attention again
to the subject of his daughters mar
riage. She must be welded before
he died; the race Of Rolstadt should
not perish with her.
Still the terrible inhabitant lived
and preyed upon the cattle Of Rol-
stadt. Every night fine steer dis
appeared, for no one of the Count
retainers were bold enough to face
the demoniac thief.
1.-The demon must die," said Bar
dolph, one day. Soon / will be cat
tleless, and then my lands will be
worthless. How can rid them OF
the pest? Ha! | have it, he sudden
ly cried, starting to his feet. 81 will
issue proclamation, which shall be
worded. thus:
"Bardolph, Count OF Rolstadt. to
the brave knights of Germany, greet
ingl BE it known that the forest oil
Rolstadt is inhabited by fcrocious
wood demon, whose existence causes
much concern Mt this castle, and
whose destruction is desired. There
fore, /, Bardolph, Count of Rol;tadt,
do offer the hand of my Parthenope,
the child of my heart, to the brave
knight of the Empire, who. clad in
the war-worn armor, bearing haYberd
marks, shall, with his own hands.
strike TO earth said demon. And !
do now appoint my castle as the rem
devious OF the Knights of Germany
ON the 25th day of April, twelve hun.
dred aud eleven"
eyes, will issue proclamation,
and it shall go forth tomorrow.
He called his scribe into his pres
ence, and bade him transfer the proc.
lamation, which was done. Then he
affixed his name. and sealed it with
the great seal of Rolstndt.
What, fatherl' cried Parthenope
when the Count informed her of hi,
action; ''Do you offer my hand te
| the slayer of Rudolph? No, / Icannot
! believe you so cruel.
Peace, daughter, peace" the
Countanswered. Think of Rudolph.
condition. Will he not be better of
sleeping calmly in his grave? Ant
he shall sleep among the Rolstadts
Yes, Parthenope. promise you h'
shall"
Yes, she knew that Rudolph would
be better off among the dead, and a
last, she acceded to her fathers wish
es.
The following day the proclamation
left the castle, and on the 25th da,
of April all the gallant knights o
Germany focked to RoIstadt.
Oh! it was dazzling sight to be
thold the noble band which drew reil
before the grand old pile of masonry
known as "Rolstadt's Pride"
Fifty knights composed the train
fifty conquerors on bloody fields.
There was Theobald, who, by grea
personal bravery, had gained for hi
Emperor the bloodiest battle of th,
war. And Tolodolph, who turne,
| these defeats into splendid victories
John, the lion of Wurtemburg, ant
last, but not least, the mysteriou
warrior.
Proudly he rode among his brothe
knights on snowy charger, gain,
around him from beneath the stee
bars of his helmet He was clad il
magnificent armor, and upon his hel
met sat dove of silver, clutchin
two long silken streamers.
4 With Parthenope leaning on hi
arm, Count Bardolph surveyed th
4 group of veterons. All unclaspe
their helmets that he might see thei
faces, save the unknown.
l And comely, but war-begrime,
countenances were they which me
the gaze of father and daughter
The knights were in the Spring-tim
/ of life-any of them worthy to be th
husband of Rolstadt.
It was in vain that the old Coun
pleaded with the mailed knight t
unclasp his helmet and give him
glimpse of his face.
.eWhat assurance have that yo
, are of courtly descent 2" said Bal
dolph, trying to look between th
} steel bars