The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-10-24

man OedeWed MatlIda>s face with his
tears, and rent the air with cries Of
mourning.
Matilda was buried, and joy succeed.
ed to sorrow. The castle saw another
bridal.day; but the new bride was
proud and imperious, unlike the gentle
Matilda. The house was soen peopled
with new family, and the elder daugh.
ters of Matilda were sent to convent,
/ while little Matilda was committed to a
nurse in q remote chamber, far away
from the proud mistress of the castle.
Extravaganza brought Lady Wacker.
man into trouble. She searched
through the drawers for jewelry. and
found Lady Matilda's box which con.
tanned the musk.applc, with jewels and
diamonds Of immense value. She was
puzzled with the musk-apple, but at
last, thinking it worthless, she threw it
out of the window. Little Matilda was
in the garden. She made it play.
thing for some days, till, being at the
fountain with the nurse, she cast it by
accident into the water. Immediately
the nymph appeared, caresscd Matilda,
and told her to take care of the musk.
apple, for it could grant her three
wishes.
When Matilda returned home she
sewed tho musk-apple carefully in her
dress. She often visited the fountain,
and managing to send away her nurse
had meetings with her godmother by
throwing stone into the water. Ma.
tilda grew UP fair and beautiful, and,
like her mother, viStuous and gentle,
The nymph seemed to double her afTec-
ton for her. One day she told Matilda
that before the reapers handled the
scythe her fathers castle would be laid
waste and desolate. The sign was to
be when the servants went out to draw
water and returned With. empty pals.
Matilda was again exhorted to take care
OF the musk-apple. She was taught its
mysterious properties, and instructed
in the meaning Of some mystic words.
The omen was seen at tho time of the
wheat.harycst. The servants returned
with empty pitchers, and the nymph in
white sat by the spring with mournful
gestures. None but Matilda knew the
cause and she was forbidden to reveal
it. Wackerman i plumbers could not
satisfy his wiie's extravagance. When
necessities came hard upon them there
was still left for robbery on the Augs.
burg road the wagons Of Jacob Fugger.
But, tired of enduring their deprida-
lions, the Swabian mobiles determined
to destroy the castle of Wackerman.
Matilda, by the help Of the words she
had learned, was unhurt through the
armed men. She exchanged her dress
with peasant, and, joining caravan,
came to Augsburg, where she sought
employment as servant.
At Augsburg lived Count Conrad, a
German Knight Of the Cross, into whose
house Matilda was received as a ser.
want. The Count was a very handsome
youth, and Matilda having once seen
him, could not Danish his image from
her mind. She was ignorant of the
power that was setting up a dominion
in her breast. She sat in the smoky
kitchen, yet sho fancled herself walking
in the woods with Conrad. She saw
gardens and flowers in which she was
taking delight, and everywhere was
Conrad. It was long before it occurred
to her that the musk.apple could pro.
cure the fulfillment of three wishes.
On the birth of prince in Augsburg
there was great city banquet. Ma
tilda having arranged her kitchen,
washed her face, and taking out the
musk.apple. wished for a magnificent
dress. 1t Immediately appeared. She
then, by spell, caused sleep to fall
upon the eyes of all the servants. This
too, was granted, and Matilda was soon
in the dining-room, with all the dignity
Of goddess. All eyes were charmed
with the sight Of her, but chiefly the
Knight Conrad. He danced with her,
and the same power which had set up
his throne in Matilda's heart took
possession Of Conrad's. Who was
she! The question no one could an.
swer, and Conrad made his servants
lie in wait to discover her dwelling.
The waiting was in vain. Matilda's
charm, might behind me, day before
me, so that nobody can sec me-" was
effectual. The knight IVES impatient
for the evening that he might see her
again: She appeared in richer robes
than before, and Conrad drank deeper
the Intoxicating cup. Under pretense
Of seeking rcfreshment, he led her to a
side apartment, and revealed his hopes
and fears. Matilda was satisfied, but
he was knight of Malta, and under
pledge Of celibacy. 1t happened, how.
ever, that since that pledge was made,
his elder brother had died, and by law
he was free. He agreed to marry Nh.
tilda at once, and gave ring as token
Of fidelity. A great banquet was or.
dered. The housekeeper caused fowls
innumerable to be slain, and Matilda
had to lose her sleep for whole night
preparing in the kitchen for the feast.
The banquet was ready, the guests
came, but no bride appeared. Conrad
was taken i'll, and in secret sorrow spent
his days. Matilda had but one more
wish from the musk.apple, and she
knew not how to use it. Her heart was
heavy. She sat in corner and wept.
Conrad became worse. He was dying.
Matilda prepared broth of different
herbs and precious spices, and in it she
put the ring which Conrad
had given her at the banquet.
The knight discovered the ring, de.
youred the soup, and was suddenly re.
stored. He demanded who made the
broth, and was told that it was made by
servant in the kitchen, called the lit.
tie gypsy. Matilda was brought, but
the knight could not for long time be
persuaded~that she was the dancer to
whom he had-given the ring. 'Can
you,'' he said, '''change this form again,
and become as beautiful asyou were at
the festival of the citizens If you can
not, I will have you scourged as de-:
ceiver." "Ah," said Matilda, lis it on.