The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-25

By this act the stranger formally en-
gagged to erect, within the space of one
night, bridge strong enough to last
for five hundred years and the magis-
trate, on his part, conceded as payment
for the said bridge, the full right and
title of the stranger to the first indi-
vidual whom chance OF necessity should
compel to cross the Reuss over the
strangers marvellous viaduct.
By daybreak the following morning
the bridge was completed. Shortly
afterward the portly form of the bailli
appeared on the road from Goschenen :;
he came to assure himself that his
strange visitor had kept his promise
"Good morning." said the stranger
You see | am man of my word"
'And l alsc," returned the baillI.
How ! my dear Curtius," exclaimed
the stranger, in tone of establishment;
els it possible that you are going to
devote yourself for the safety of your
people "
"Not exactly said the baiIli, 1ryly,
depositing at his feet sack which he
had hitherto borne over his shoulders,
the cords of which he began leisurely
to unite. "Not exactly, my friend
not exactly"
"Why, what's all this ~ said the
stranger, enaeavoring, from the other
side of the river, to discern the bailli's
strange movements.
Hurroosh!" shouted the bailli, all
at once
And dog, dragging a kettle at his
tail, dashed, stricken, from the
sack, and, crossing the bridge, rushed
bowling past the strangers feet.
Hulloa, there!' cried the bailli,
laughing "Don't you see your pay
ment for the bridge running away from
you; why don't you pursue it, mon
seipneu1?'
The devil, for IL IS no use any long
er hiding the fact from otlr readers. it
was the devil, the devil, then, we say,
was furious; he had reconed on human
being, and was obliged to content him
self with dog. Meanwhile, as he was
in good company, he put the best face
he could upon the matter, pretended
to think the whole affair an excellent
joke, g a righte merrie conceit,n and
laughed heartily as long as the bailli
was present. But, no sooner had the
uldSlSlIate tuEUGu MS Dack, when he
set to work, tooth and nail, in order to
demohsh this specimen of his handi-
craft; but, alas he had constructed
the bridge SO conscientiously that he
| only turned his nails and broke his
teeth without being able to displace a
| fragment
All at once he perceived what he took
to be the advance of large concourse
of people. He climbed upon a rock
and distinctly perceived the clergy of
Goschenen, cross at head, and banners
waving IN the breeze, coming in body
to bless the devils bride. Our friend
was now convinced that he had no long
er any business there. He descended
sorrowfully from his perch. and meet
ing poor COW on his way, as the only
object he could vent his spleen on, he
seized it by the tail, and giving it a
turn or two around his head, pitched
it into the river.
As to the baillI of Goschenen. he
never heard any more OF his Internal
| architect. Only the first time that he
had occasion to open his purse, he
burned his fingers severely, the golden
lngot having returned to the original
state it had been III when drawn from
| the mint
The bridge as the stranger had prom
Used, lasted five hundred years. A new
bridge has now stolen its name, but the
remains of the old one still exist beside