South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-01
VOLUME I.
PETER BLOCH.
A EARTz LEGEND.

| IGtcl lOOkeO 2SAhICe al hdiTlUd-dl u6
round, blooming, honest face, her shor
plump figure, and bare feet, and for tn
first time N his Life thought her-coarsC
And for the first time in his life, also, b
turned Up his nose at the beer, and tn
cheese, and the sSUerkraut, and though
them coarse. So Katrina, with her dinner
basket on her arm, went away sorrowfu
leaving Peter sitting idly on log, apart
from the ether workmen, smoking a shor
black pipe and gazing out sullenly upol
the gloomy forest, the smoking charcoal
kilns, and the Little cottage, with its cab
bsge-garden and pig-sty, to which he wa
soon to bring home Katrina. Very poo
and dispicable it now all appeared TO him
And yet only yesterday how proud he haC
been o. that cottagel And how he haC
cultivated those osbbages, and fed thost
pigs, Until they were as round and fat as
Katrina, nearly-wh.ch was saying grea
deal for item.
The truth was, Peter Bloch was dying
of envy and discomfort Only an houl
ago ne had seen pass along the forest road
! the young Count Won SchwaltZschofens
burgh, with brillisnt train of attendants,
on his way to take possession of the castle
of the late Count, his uncle, and to marry
the late Counts daughter, the present fair
and peerless Lady Hildegarde Adelberga
Rosalinde1-whow with an equally impos-
ing train had ridden forth to meet him,
and with the bailiH and the chatelaine
either size, ha6 delivered to him the keys
Of the castle.
All this had Peter Bloch seen; and from
that very momect envy and covetousness
had poisoned the well-springs of his
heart. Why should nature have made
his lot in l:fe SO different from that
of this young man? he asked him
self Why should Ls be charcoal burner,
and the other g nobIeman? Why should
he live in hut, and the Count in a castle? I?
And the Lady aildegarde Adelberga Rosa
linden was so fsir-slim and white, like a
hly-whilst Katrina much more resem-
bled red cabbage, thought Peter, with a
sneer. And she hsd brought him beer
and saueskraT1t, whilst up at the castle
there was to be this very day grand feast,
with richest visads and rarest wines
the latter stolen from the Baron Stickin-
seide, in that kni sht's absence; and also an
OK roasted whole A fine fat OK Peter
knew it to be, since it was only to day that
il had been taken from his poor neighbor,
Hans Hapner, who had depended upon its
sale for winter clothing for his large family
of little ones.
"AchF' sighed Peter Bloch; "I would
that l were the Count Won Schwaltz
schofensburgh. Then might 1 be happy"
He he! ha IA! ho hOp Uttered voice
close beside hin. And hot breath, as
OF charcoal-kiin, passed over Peter
Bloch's cheek.
Returned round and saw, leaning against
a neighboring fr-tTee, an extremely tall
and thin individual, clad in a tight-fitting
suit of black, with a remarkably high
hat on dis head, red cloak over
his shoulders, and oddly-shaped shoes, half
hidden By enormous red rosettes. The
eyes of this parsonage were black as Goals,
and twinEled with merriment, as he
laughed with a mouth stretched from ear
to ear.
Peter stared, and the stranger, having
exhausted himself with laugh
ter, bowed apologetically, and seated him
self on the log by his side.
Excuse me, faein Herr" he said. "but
you-i5s aS!Lyou were wishing to be
the noble Count Won Schwaltzschoffens
burgh?"
What is that to you?" said Peter, sui
lelly.
"Only that it msy be in my power to
help you to your WISH" answered the
susvely. And he put his hand
to his mouth, with a slight cough, as if
to repress an involuntary delighted "he
Peter looked incredulous.
"You do not believe me?" said the
strange man, his little eyes twinkling ma
Iiciously.
Mem" said Peter, doggedly.
"Try nep said the man in black. "See |
here. write your name at the bottom of
this parchment, and if you do not imme-
11stely become Whist you wish, then shall
you throw me into your charcoal furnace |
aRd burn me to cinder."
"You sgree 70 that?" quoth Peter.
"As am an honorable soul who fears |
the fire." was the reply. "He, he! ha, ha!
hO no! bo"
So great was his merriment that it was |
some moments ere he could recover him. |
self sufficiently to unroll the parchment |
and present to Peter sharp pointed iron |
gen.
%There is no inkr' said Peter.
The nan in black seized the pen,
and without word plunged the shsrn
point, with sudden quick motion, into
Peter Bl0ch's shin, left exposed |
BY the rolleGup leathern breeches. |
tOh, oh' screeched the charcoal
burner, hopping sround on one foot and
-ubbing the wounded limb, which burnt |
Is if scared by hot iron.
1t is nothing" responded the man in
black, with a grin. "Here, take the pen
before the blood dries, and write your
came"
Peter obeyei; not from any faith in the
strangers promise, but simply from curl
1sity. He could not write, so was about |
70 make the usual ross-mark when the |
stranger, with startled yell, arrested his
hand.
Not thatl" he shrieked, glaring upon
he affrighted Peter, and trembling all
Dver. mot that, but do as you see me
10 )" and he made apeculiar flourish of his
ong finger Upon the parchment, which
Peter initiated as well as he could, with
he iron pen dripping with his own blood
Ee he he! ha Ia hG! 10 10 ho hOr"
in hollow dying echoes through |
he forest, and the man in black was gone;
whilst the chsrcoal-burner suddenly felt |
himself flung TO the earth with shock
which at once deprived him of his senses.
When Peter presently began to recover,
ne debated whether he were not in dream.
A great many people were pressing around
him with exclamations of alarm and con-
,ern- De heard their remarks vaguely.
"Eis neck is broken"
g No, it is his back. Don't you see he
s paralyzed ?"
AOf truth it is his highness's skull
hat is fractured. What is to be
lone ?"
Take him to the Castle" said one