Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-24
VOL. VI.
the adjacent country-of Schwarzwald


I lDidCh Il VI ESl.
Not so very far back in the history
of Germany, nearly all this wild, pie
turesque region was uninhabited.
save by headless horsemen, hob-gob-
lins. and legiOns of spirits, both good
and bad,' but at the present dav. the
Forest has lost much of its ancient
prestige. and the region is thicl,ly pop
ulated by spirits clothed in human
flesh and blood.
TIL renowned baths of Baden Baden
and Wildbad are embraced within its
limits, and it was during visit to the
latter place, that the following legend
came to my knowledge
In close proximity to the Hole Pass
! stood, in Olden times, castle belong
ing to the noble family of the Barons
d., Won RObec.
At the period of my visit, the extern
sive ruins yet bore testimony to the
4 grandeur and splendor, Tor which, in
its prime, the noble pile had been cele-
brated throughout the adjacent terrific
ry.
Vending my way amidst the fallen
stone, it became evident that a more
active agent than Time, had been at
work so efiectually, to reduce the once
stately pile to its present condition.
The ruins exhibit unmistakable ira
ces OF fire, at least, so it appeared to
I me, on a careful examination, and on
inquiring, l fouad that my snrmise
was correct.
The castle, although for many years
uninhabited had stood in a state of
comparative preservation, until some
/ fifty years prior to my visit, when,
one stormy night, the venerable build
ing was destroyed bya fire, kindled by
some unknown hand.
" But you say the castle was still fit
for a dwelling when the fire took placee
and yet had been unten;iuted for years
before, how was that? >" was my que
ry.
at is long story" said my friend.
land it is not every one among US ma
tives who would repeat it, for it is one
of horror, and the old superstitions of
the Forrest have not all died out yet
among the lower classes. None of
! them, even now. like to go near those
: old ruins after sundown."
] In respOse to my eager inquiries, my
( fried then related the following wild
! legend.
Several centuries ago, the valley now
! known as the HOLE Pass, together
with many miles Of the surrounding
country, was the property Of the no
! bic family Of Won RObec.
Father and son succeeded each other
in regular unbroken succession, each
new barron adding to the family terri
tory, either by purchase, or, the mode
of acquisition in those IaWless days,
more frequently by plunde- wrestled
from their weaker neighbOTs.
Seldom was the stately castle enliv-
ened hy the presence of its lords, save
when they occasionally incurred the
displeasure of their sovereign, and
were bamished for a time from his gay
courts.
SO the years passed on; the Won. Ro-
bees becoming more wealthy and pow
erful, while the peasants u-der their
iron rule grOaned more and more be-
meath the eXactiOns impOsed upon
them.
Ii was i'm vain that the oppressed
/ people applied TO their sovereign for
redress and protection; even he could
not afford to offend The powerful fami-
/ ly OF Won Robec and the appeal served
only to rouse still further the ireful
rigor Of their stern taSkInasters.
Such was the condition of affairs
when the ninth baron. Heinrich Won
/ Rohcc succeeded To his fathers wide
/ estates.
! The latter had been rs wild "a spend
/ thrift, rs unscrupulous plunderer as
+ any of his noble line, and Heinrich
followed closely in his younger brother
! was, if possible, still more profligate
than either.
Hermann, proud and naughty, chat
ed at his positionf subject "a he was,
/ to his more fortunate elder brothers
. rule, and dependent on his bounty for
the means of maintaining the state
I due to his rank, as cadet one of the
most noble house in all Germany.
/ Heinrich, so far from soothing
this chatting spirit. took especial delight
i'm fostering it still further, 10y making
Hermann feel his dependence on eve
~ possible occasion, not only in the
solitude of their hereditary home, but
amidst the crowded saloons of Vienna
and Paris.
In that lawless age when life was
held in such light esteem, it is not sur
prising that such conduct bore its own
fruit.
The Forests in the Hole Pass were
famous hunting grounds, and it was
the custom of the DarOns Won RObec
to call together grand hunt, from
time, gathering around them their
friends and neighbors for regular day
of sport.
On the occasion Of one of his flying
visits to his paternal domain, Baron
Heinrich summoned all the chiefs for
miles around, to accompany him and
his brother, on one of these great
hunts.
When the days sport was over, and
the gay cavalcade separated TO return
So their respective homes, Heinrich.
Baron Won Robec was missing.
After a long, wearisome search
through the dark forest his body was
found living stiff and cold on the noun
tain side, a small dagger-like wound
above his heart, alone indicating the
cause Of his death.
Suspicion was naturally directed to-
wards his brother, now become Baron
Won Robec, in the dead mans stead,
but nothint could be proved, and in
truth, none felt inclined TO prosecute
the powerful noble, lest, happily theiI
own misdeeds should be brought tO
light.
G Hermann had ever. until that fatal
2 day. worn a jewel-hilted dagger sUs-
pended at his girdle, but from that pc
: riod, it was missing from its accustom-
ed place.
"He had lost it while hunting in The
the forest,n 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
the new Baron, speedily forgot the
tragic fate of his predecessor.
) Not SO, however, could Hermann
. Won Robec forget. During the night
2 following that fatal hunt, while yet the
corpse of the murdered man iay undis-
covered on the mountain, Heinrich
: Won Robec stood at his brothers bed
side.
Hermann Won Robec,n he said. as
the guilty man gazed with chatterine
} teeth on the apparition, you have al
, tained your object; your ambition Is
satisfied. For ten years shall you live
10 enjoy the fruits of your crime, and