The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-26
FALKENSTEIN.
A Legend Of German Life.


The old castle of Falkenstein, crown
ing the summit of an inaccessible rock,
like an eagles eyrie, and frowning on
the fair fields beneath, presented {:
mute emblem Of churlish spirit Of its
lord.
Soured by disappointment, and by
more than one bitter pang that had
entered his soul, he INDUCED in nissan
trophic retirement; and if any hardy
: wight dared to face the forbidden as
pect of the place, and climbed the mar
row, craggy footway that crept up the
rock, looking at a distance like a gi-
gantic wounded snake creeping to its
lair, till it entered opposite the barred
and nailed postern, he had no sooner
demanded admission, and felt fully
committed, when he wished himself
down again. Those who had been
bold enough to cross the iron-bound
threshold, returned with such awful
accounts of the terrible old Baron as
made their hearers tremble, till at last
no one, unless absolutely compelled by
business. ventured to intrude on his
privacy.
: But if the Lord of Falkenstein was
rude even to coarseness toward those
who were unfortunate enough to gain
access to his presence, this rugged
casket of a castle of his contained a
jewel of great price.
His only child, the charming Irmen-
garde, was all that poets have sung
and painters realized. Fair as the
fairest daughters of the Saxon, her
high forehead, dazzling complexion,
dark-blue eyes, and golden hair might
have been chosen as a model for q Ma
donna by Raphael himself, though it
is doubtful that even his pencil could
have portrayed the bewitching smile
that played around her ripe lips, or
to the spectator the seraphic
intelligence, married to purity and
goodness, that beamed in her lovely
face. The silver tones of her voice
produced upon her rough sire the
same effect that the music of the harp
did upon Saul the demon fled before
those sweet sounds and that heavenly
aspect, and the old man would press
her to his bosom with the fullness of
fondness that fathers only feel. He
seemed to live in constant dread of
losing her - and nothing so much
reused the violence of his angry tenn.
per as the slightest intimatiOn from
any cavalier, however noble, powerful,
rich, and good, that he should be
proud to form an alliance with the
house of Falkenstein.
Affairs connected with the neighbour
ing mines, which were his property,
brought the young and gallant Kuno
Won Sayn to the castle. He saw IT.
mengarde; their eyes NEITHER hearts
were penetrated. And Kune, though
the sire had treated him very much
as if though he had been no better
than dog, determined within his Sc
cret soul that she should be his; and
that he would, come what might, re-
turn and demand her hand.
He did return. He was admitted.
The Lord Of Falkenstein and his daugh-
ter were sitting in an oriel window
THAT looked upon the surprisingly
beautiful valley beneath, rich with
it's verdure, it's clustering orchards,
and it's shining river. Irmengarde rose
as he entered. The father kept his
seat, and appeared not to take the
slightest notice of him. He felt more
than embarressed; the blood flowed
back from his heart, and the surround
ing objects Whirled before his darken-
ing eyes.
Suddenly it rushed back to his face,
and he stammered out: ''No castle in
the world is so we'll situated as yours;
what pity that it is SO difficult of &C.
cess!'
"Who forged you to come hither -
-growled the'Baron.
s'Irmengarde.
''1rmengarde! Speak, girl; say he
speaks falsely
Irmengarde blushed till her face and
snowy neck was one glow of crimson;
the young knight-what will love not
endure ?-who had staggered as if he
had received a blow. without marking
the brutality that from any other man
lips would have been the barbinger of
death to one or both, recovered him.
self, and said: 81 come to demand your
daughters hand.''
The Lord of Falkenstein smiled-a
bad omen with him. And there stood
the two young lovers in the sunshine,
their pulses beating quick; and there
sat the grim old father in the shadow,
with his grizzled beard and hair all
disordered; and no one spoke word.
At length the Baron broke the ST.
lence that weighed upon the bosoms
Of Irmengarde and Kuno like lead.
"Knight," said he, ''thou shalt have
nv daughter, but on one condition.