The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-06-13

the sake of the great cause we all hold !
common"
spoken like mani" exclaimed Reinhol'
as he grasped his rivals hand "ieu sha
be one OF u.s."
Each af the others then warmly shook tn
hand of their redhaired fellow student, as
pledge of faith and friendship.
The consultation was continued. After
while one of the young men tore piece O
paper in six slips, on one of which he wrot
few words He folded them all up, ant
placed them in hat. Then each OF the STU
dents, with trembling hand and beating heart
took slip therefrom. Not word was spok
en- after this, but all left the room and TIT
house, and quickly separated. Each took
different route.
We will follow Reinhold. Stopping be
meath lantern he took from his pocket TIT
paper he had drawn. lie hesitated momen
before opening it, as if fearing to discover it!
contents. But suddenly he took nerve, un
folded the slip and glanced upon IT, nc
shuddered, and reeled like man seized Will
a vertigo. The paper proved to DC the one
which had been written upon 1t bore the
words thine is the duty; may thine oath
thy patriot heart, and thy strong arm, support
thee"
81 must, shall do it," whispered Rcinhold
lspasm odically, "for have sworn lt''
With dizzy brain he strobe away, and went
to his lodgings. He sought his couch but
his EYES were not closed IN steep that night
The next day was wet and cloudy Wet,
too, were the eyes, and cloudy the hearts, OF
the Door habtants Of Halle. And how dark
and pale looked the faces of the impulsivc
German students into that of the iron hearted
| Napoleon, as he rode into the town at the
head of the victorious columns
But the palest and darkest student of them
all was not amongst the crowd in the narrow,
crooked streets; he watched at a small win.
dow in the second story of the Green Jaeger
Inn.
clark The bells of the church of Sanct
MoriH announce the near approach of the
hated tyrant-on his ride to death. And thou,
thou art the redecmer of Germany's liberty
and honor He must pass here, here below
the deed cannot fail. The deed Great
Heaven Observation-Disclosures from Gov
ert-" and the youth shrank in horror from
the thought.
Then picture rose before his minds eye. |
1t was peaceful! rectory, in green, pictur-
esquc valley; and in the garden, under a
applc-trce, sat the good cid pas
tor with his two children at his teet-hiS no
Bile son Reinhod, and his sweet ward Bertha.
He read to them from the Holy Book. Near
by sat the rector's wife, with hands folded
revcrentially.
Thou shall not kill, saith the Lord"
Renhold quakcd and shivercd with con
licting emotions. But suddenly he was
lroused by the Increasing Gin, caused by the
ramping of horses and the moving OF masses
Above all this uproar were heard the cries of
Vice EE'mpeItu!' and among them some
sola'ed voices with a German accent could
&c distinguished.
No It,, = 4 i. |
D the Students paiiid face; his eye hurled
clrible lightnings at the despicable ours who
ad been bought to eXult over their country's
ali.
eyes, God, 1t is thy WILL l feel it now-and
~ avenger is ready! See, here comes the !
nperial the precious, the accursed game!"
Like statue of bronze sat Napoleon on
is snow-white steed. Not lineament in
lat sallOw face with the mighty eyes gave l
1idence of life. Only when the "VfuepEm-
'reur" with German accent struck upon a
is ear, a slight, contemplate smile twitched c
bout his tightly drawn lips. A brilliant 7
ute of officers followed the emperor, by I
hose side rode the victor of Halle-Gcneral 10
ernadotte. s
"But two minutes more-and my Germany q
free!" a
But what meant this cOmmotiOn in the D
ovid? A young man, with hair and beard D
fiery red, and wearing the students cos t,
me, had forced his way through the throng ft
id reached the side of Bernadotte. He gave ri
m paper, accompanied by brief wills a,
r. The general rapidly scanned the paper, D,
ID the imperial cortege halted. T
Judas Iscariot with the tyrant! That b,
cans treacheryr' breathed the startled stu al
mt in the lonely room. as
Now Belnadotte whispered to the emperor. st
1t muscle OF that bronzed face moved er
/ the small, steel-fibred hand lightly pressed
on the rein, the horse turned, and Napole W
rode calmly into cross street The col tn
IN followed, and loud, mysterious Qucs it
ming ran through the crowd. of
With suppressed cry, the lone student fir
ak on his knees beside the window. His ed
n fell Gathering to the floor. Inn
Thou will not accept the sacrifice, my CO
,d-the hour of freedom has not yet struck re
,ngeancc is thinc-into thy hands | consign cl
" Great tears ran down his quivcring Il
ceks He thought of the quiet rectory in m
Q placid vale, of the gray haired rector and ID
mild-eyed wife, of the pure, lovely girl, so 10
lc, and from his lips issued a prayer of Sc
anksgivIng: ~ thank thee, q my God, ry
ut thou ddst not accept the bloody sacrifice
that am not u curse-ladened murderer" ev
e stairs-the door was thrown open-four to
ldents, with pale, disturbed faces, rushed ~
to the chamber 10
'Wc are betrayed, Renholdl Red Judas to
s discovered all TO the tyrant-curSc them IL
tn! Away at onCe-the hounds are already Is
our track" III
"But whittier, Bernhard? Whittier can we al
y" IN
"Wherc our country needs US most-in the dc
nks of our defenders" p'
"Well said! We will haste to Prince Eu- or
me, who still has a brave though small com W
and. We will enroll under Prussia's banner al
ID then-as God wills" pl
Then quickly they passed down the stair ca
~ in the rear of the house, and climbed
cr the garden wall Gliding through dark to
ID narrow alleys and by-ways, they finally 81
ached the River Sale. Here they were
waited by trusty confederate with skill, r
hich quickly conveyed them 10 tire other bl
INK, where a second confederate had horses I'll
readiness. In twinkling they were in Al
~ saddle and than were all like the wind on tr