The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-21
| LEGEND OF

"A LEGEND OF COLOGNE.
I'VE a not but regret that the name
the man in whose brain the plan of
fsplendid and gigantic cathedral was
fmed and transmitted to posterity is
1t. We looS almost with awe at the
Eighty church, and think reverently of
b creator, although his name is sunk
Esoblivion. DoubIy touching is it,
Mever, to find that his own country
eh have tried to envelope him in n
NJ of mystery, and to prove that the
bs Of his name was but his just fate.
bble has drawn the nameless master
70 its magic circle, and what it says
him | now proceed to relate.
For many years had the architect of
eeatHedral moved gloomily and med
ptlSely among his feliow-citizens, now
bat up with his books and parchments,
ID again alone under the high shady
srhe Of oaks and beeches. To create
Splendid work vas his desire but till
Nv he had always searched vainly for
10 plan. All his thought and retlec-
On left him still dissatisfied. Impa-
ent and fevcrish, he once
rev himself on his couch,
I'd, like teasing Kpbolds, the different
bans which he hal already skctchcd
uzZed and danced before his agitated
ind, and nodded derisively ut him.
ne plan, on the contrary, remained
Yycrcd with an impenetrable veil, and,
hen the master tried to lift it, the
hrchment escaped him, and ont of the
tiscd end an old and oft-rejected plan
loked at him as if it were tittering.
roaning and trembling with mad I'M
htiencc, the master pursued the yelled
%Fcture, which constantly eludci his
fasp, and led him up to a rock, in
those shadow lay darkness and mys-
ply. Here the vel! suddenly fell; with
wild cry of JOY, the master reached
tter the picture, but it lowered an
hstant in the air, then disappeared,
pd he fell in swoon upon the ground.
tortured by unuttcrable anguish, and
hthed in Il cold sweat, the dreamer
Weakened from his stupor. His heart
fat regularly, his mind was clear, and
e felt certain that the splendid idea,
fter which he had sought for years,
Ead been visibly present to him.
ESQ.," he cried, bitterly, when in the
hitude of his own room, "if this pic
ne would appear to me but once more!
lnly once more, that | might grasp it
b all its details"
Suddenly he heard n cracking in the
larkest corner of his room. A gray
hoke rose and gradually assumed IL
tetinite form. Terrified and with an
kdefHed prcsentiment of evil, the mas
Pf tried to spring from his bed, but a
kehtle, yet irresistible pressure held hin,
kxtk, and before him stood Satan, in
those features malicious joy and secret
hhnmph were wonderfully united.
Ia viii you be satisfied, if | show you
Ihis picture onc moreP" he said, grin.
ing, to the man, whose establishment
Fas even greater than his terror.
}nilamed by his intense desire to pos
sss it, he cried wildly: "Bring it tc
Pse, and will give you all you wish!'
"Oh, l want nothing! Nothing at all
Amere trife! Sign this little parchment
Nd you shall see it,"
The master shuddered, for the writ
which the devil held toward hin
fwed like fire. He kesitated; JUS
n, however, Satan drew forth an
bkber parchment, covered with a gra,
~, and, no longer master of himself
18th sudden resolution he seized tn,
tal roll.
Pale and scarcely breathing, he rea,
Suddenly, however, he threw i
pom him, and cried: "Horrible [! ava,
rom me! You demand two souls, min
Ind that of the first person who enter
khe.church! Ha! take mine, but neve
Rill l draw another into eternal ruin.
"Then, farewell, master, you wi
hever find the plan"
The devil hid the yelled parchment
i'm his breast, but lifted the veil a little
SO that the agitated man could sec pa,
lof the plan. Attracted by the lines, an
remembering the utter futility Of all hi
pwn endeavors for SO many years, h
Igazed with burning eyes upon the pit
lure, which Satan slowly and CAREFUL
Did in his breast.
Overcome by desire and his ambition
pc seized the paper he had cast ava,
F'Hold! do not take it away. l wi
lgive you my soul, and several yea
~earlier ever than you demand"
"No! no! sign or farewell" Wit
artful cunning the devil turned as IL
go, but the master stopped him. Il
came back, and received the signed D,
per in exchange for the plan.
Years passed away, and the cathedr,
approached the state in which the fir
service was to be held in 1t. It is tru
the building was far from completion
and there was only q small part