Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-02-11
/, WOMAN'S LOVE:
A HISTORICAL SKETCH.

/ &<-'A ~ tliC VI tuC Cd5ttC.
Suddenly the door was opened, and
armed men rushed rudely into the apart
ment, where Love sat guarding Inno-
cence.
Your husband, madam, and your
brother-where have you hid them ?"
asked the chief of the band of soldiers,
in menacing tones, as he rudely clutched
the shrinking woman by the arm.
Her woman's instinct ut once OWNED
| that those she loved were in danger, and
she answered, in trembling tones:
"Indeed, sir, I know not. Ihave not
seen them" "
wife and sister OF the murderers,
tell the truth !" he replied savagely.
Our queen-Agnes, of Hungary, the
daughter of our murdered Emperor
Albert-has sent MS, with the sword of
vengeance, to hunt, to the ends of the
earth, for the men who have taken her
fathers life. On them and their chill
dren shall fall the punishment.
"Merciful Heaven gasped out Ger
trude, as the dreadful news broke upon
her, "has the Emperor been killed? Oh,
sirs my husband and my brother had
no hand in the cruel deed !" .-
"Prate not with the woman, said one
of the soldiers. ''Do our queens bid
ding. There is the child. .---.
In an instant, the mother, wild with
teeror, few to the sleeping babe. 1t
awoke, and stretched out its arms to
her. She attempted to take it, but
sword cleaned between her and the
infant. t .
"Noi no !" she screamed, in thrilling
tones of agony and fear; "take not my
child from mel Kill me, if you will,
but oh by the love you bear your own
little ones, save this innocent babe
Kill me, but spare my child -
Intent on their bloody purpose, the
soldiers needed not the cries of agony
which went up from the mothers heart,
as, plunging their swords into the child,
they tramped out of the room with heavy
steps, and mounting their horses, gal
loped away from the castle.
There are moments in life so full of
agony that it seems as if human nature
must sink and expire under the fright
full ordeal. Such moments had come to
Gertrude Won Der Wartz, as stunned by
the horrid deed, she stood, speechless,
by the poor little victim of woman's
revenge.
All that night, sad and silent, she sat
beside her dying babe; and when morn
ing broke over the earth, low walls went
up from the room where mourned the
childless woman. |fFI
To reach her husband was now the one
wish of Gertrude. The tie that bound
her to the secluded castle was broken
her child was dead. But she was n
prisoner in her house; for guard had
been placed around the castle to pre-
vent the escape of her husband and
brother, in case they should be secreted
there. rT ... ...
Eluding the vigilence of the soldiers,
however, she escaped. The news of her
husbands arrest and Imprisonment had
reached her, and urged on by the most
devoted love, she made her way to the
royal chateau. Throwing herself, in an
agony of grief, at the feet of the widowed
Empress Elizabeth and her daughter
Agnes, she exclaimed:
'Spare him oh, spare my husband
He is innocent of the crime of which he
is accused My only child has been
slaughtered by you soldiers; let one
victim suffice; spare me-oh, spare me
my husband Y
The frantic prayer fell on stony hearts. |
Silent and stern sat the queen and her |
daughter. There was no pity in their
breasts-no tenderness in their words. /
Repulsed and driven from the royal
residence, Gertrude hovered around the /
prison that contained her husband. As |
Death drew near, Love grew stronger, |
and supported her fainting spirit in the
dark valley of the shadow of woe through |
which it was passing.
Though strong her love and unwearied |
her efforts to save her husband, she |
could not avert the fearful doom that |
awaited him and it was with a heart |
of agony that she heard the dreadful /
sentence-7o be broken on the 1Uhcet /
The fatal day arrived, and the young |
and handsome Baron de Wartz, was |
removed from his prison, and stretched
on the scaffold to have his limbs broken /
on the wheel.
Silently the sympatizing crowd stood
around to visit the dreadful spectacle. |
"Stand back - said voice, 'and let
her pass" fTE
The crowd made way, as Gertrude
attired in mourning but still
beautiful-slowly advanced, and throw
ing herself at the feet of the executioner,
cried out, in piteous tones
"Have mercy on me and let me stay
with my husband to support him through
his dreadful trial I"
Her prayer was answered, and ascend
ing the scaffold, she placed herself be-
side the victim, who turned his eyes
upon her with looks of love and graft
tude that haunted her ever after" Il
Silent, almost crushed by agony, ready
to shrek out as the blows descended on
her husband, she yet stood resolute and
firm, while the crowd looked on in tears.
When the executioner had finished his
dreadful task, the multitude dispersed,
leaving Gertrude alone with the dying
man. .--...a.r.-r f-.-ss. ..s-..I
The night came on, covering the earth
with darkness, and the devoted wife
crept under the wheel on which her
husband was extended.
Through all that long night there she
sat, soothing him, and assuring him OF
her belief in his innocence.
Thus passed three days and nights,
and, on the third night, the sufferer
said family
"Leave me my darling, and take some
rest" . st
She kissed him tenderly, and, wiping
the drops of agony from his brow re-
piled:
"Love needs no rest Away from
you there is no rest for me 7"
That night was one of intense agony
to the martyr. Great drops of anguish
started from every pore.
- AS the fourth morning dawned, the
victim expired, looking the gratitude
and love that he had not the strength
to speak.
The wife's mission of love had ended;
and, kissing the pale face upturned to
hers, with feeble steps she wended her