The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-18
LIFE In DEATH.
a Legend of the Rhine.

Legend of the Rhine.
The legend / am about to relate
dates back to the period when the Gas.
tie of Scharfenstein was in the possess.
ion Of Baron Anton Eselwicke. His
wife the lady Shredder, had been for a
long time III declining health. The
Baron and his lady mad been long mar.
rled, and their union had been as hap
Ply as is possible in this world. The
latter was still young; she had been
beautiful; and during her malady hel
husband had remained day and night
by her bedside. During the latter pc
Rod of her illness her sufferings were
less acute, but her fainting fits became
more frequent and longer Upon re
covering from one of those she begged
her husband to bring her the gold
chain and locket enclosing his hair,
which he had given her before thei,
marriage. This she hung around hel
neck, and soiaced her weary and pain
iul hours by contemplating it, and, by
force of the association of the ideas II
excited, living again in times gone by.
One evening she beckoned the Baron
Anton, who was sitting in her chamber,
to her side, and said
Reach me your hand. dear hus.
band. / am growing much worse;
teel that [ am sinking, and death ap,
pears to be lowering about my couch.
Ii this be nothing more than womanly
tmldlty, bear with it, dearest, for my
sake, and give me courage by STAYING
with me throughout this weary night OF
pain and suffering"
Be comforted, my love- replied
the Lord Of Scharfenstein fsthis
weakness IS common enough. Cheer
up. you.will be better in the morning
III the meantime, ] will not stir from
you. You will talk in different man,
ner when, after p refreshing slumber. |
shall show yon the glorious sunlight
stealing over the distant hills. | see
even now your eyes are closing. Com
pose yourself, therefore, and strive to
sleep"
The chamber was hushed, and the
patient lay still and seemed in SO pro.
found repose that her breathing was
scarcely perceptibie. The curtains were
drawn round the bed of the invalid.
and Baron Eselwicke, happy, and full
of favorable omens in the idea that his
wife had, at length, aremission of pain,
took book, and fixed rs much atten.
ton on Ii as he possibly could com
mand, and the hours wore slowly away.
Everything within and without continu-
ed III deep stiffness, broken only to
wards morning by the pleasant sounds
OF awakening nature, which might be
heard III the silent sick-chamber of
Scharfenstein the mathis of the featb-
cred songsters, the wheeling hum OF
myriads of bees in the garden below,
and the leaves Of the vines dallvino
with the morning breeze These, to-
gether with the strong, white line which
lntersected the shutters, admonished
the Baron and the nurse of the time
their patient had slept. The light was.
therefore, admitted into the room, and
then both the watchers cast troubled
looks toward the motionles3 and wan
figure on the bed.
"She has not stirred" murmured
the Baron, in voice little above a
whisper, ''she is in the same position.
and cannot have moved hairs breadth
since we saw her last night.
The nurse heaved a deep sigh and
wrung her hands.
How now! exclaimed her master
What means this look of blank des-
pair ~
"Alas, my lord ~ calculated the old
nurse, - L fear the worst Nv mis-
death"
The Baron made no answer. but at
once FASTENED to send one of his re-
tanners for physician. The arrival of
the latter confirmed the fears expressed
by the nurse. A feather was placed on
the lips of the inanimate lady. The
Baron bent, with keen eyes, over it. but
failed to detect the slightest motion in
the feather. This, in the days of which
we are writing, was deemed sufficient
proof of death in all cases.
" Heaven he merciful!" said the
Baron. . The gentle spirit has passed
away. Vain and delusive hope Last
night Twas felicitating myself upon the
change that has taken place, which has
proved but precursor to dissolution.
She must have stirred during the
night, " observed the nurse, Though
her movement was so gentle as to be
scarcely perceptible. Poor lady. her
hands are firmly clasped round the
locket"
The Baron Eselwicke was utterly
Frustrated with grief when this touch
ing instance of his lady's love was made
known ato him. He brooded over it
lay and night. He saw, in her action,
he wish she had not the strength to
litter IN words; and determining If
should not be violated, he gave direc-
lons she should be placed ia her coffin
disturbing the locket in her
lands. T"
1t will be readily imagined that so
circumstance could not es-
ape comment; and as, in these cases.
10 partic ulsrs are ever omitted. the
alue of the trinket, which was set
nth brllliants, found a place in
he story. The husband of the Inflated
ady determined upon paying the great
st respect to the remains of his below
d wife He cansed her body to be
onveyed TO Cologne, where it was to
e inferred with great pomp.
The principal church of the town is
he Cathedral of ST. Peter, which is one
the finest monuments of German
rchltecture. The interior is divided
~