Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-12-09
A LEGEND OF COLOGNE.

A LEGEND OF COLOGNE.
| We cannot but regret that the name
of the man in whose brain the plan ol
the splendid and gigantic cathedra
was formed and transmitted to poster
ity is lost. We look almost with awe
at the mighty church, and think rev.
erently Of the creator, although his
name is sunk in oblivion. Doubly
touching it is, however, to find thai
his own countrymen have tried to en-
velop him in veil of mystery, and to
prove that the loss of his name was
but his just fate. Fable has drawn
the nameless master into its magic Cir
Gle, and what it says of him I now
proceed to relate:
For many years had the architect
of the cathedral moved gloomily and
meditatively among bis fellow citizens,
now shut up With his books and parch-
ments, and again under the high
shady dome of oaks and beeches.
To create . splendid work was his de-
eire; but until now he had searched
vainly for the plan. All his thought
and reflection left him still dissatis-
fed. Impatient and feverish, be
once threw himself on his couch
and, like teasing Knobolds, the differ
ent plans which he had already
sketched buzzed and danced before
bis agitated mind and nodded derisive-
ly at him. One plan, on the contrary,
remained covered with an impenetra-
BILE veil, and, when the master tried
to lift it, the parchment escaped him,
and out of the raised end an old and
often-rejected plan looked at him as
if were tittering. Dreaming and
trembling with mad impatience. the
master pursued the yelled picture,
which constantly eluded his grasp,
and led him up to rock, in whose
shadow lay darkness and mystery.
Here the veil suddenly fell; with q
cry of Joy the master reached after
the picture, but it hovered an instant
in the cir. then disappeared, and he
fell in a swoon. upon the ground.
Tortured by unutterable anguish, and
bathed in q cold sweat, the dreamer
awaken from his stupor. His heart
beat regularly, his mind was clear,
and he felt certain that the splendid
idea after which he sought for years
had been visibly presented to him.
40, he cried L;tte-ly, ~-L.. Il. tha
solitude of his room, If this picture
would appear to me but once more!
only once more, that I might grasp il
in all its details!'
Suddenly he heard a cracking in
the darkest corner of the room. A
gray smoke rose and gradually assum-
ed definite form. Terrified with an
underlined presentiment of evil, the
master tried to spring from his bed,
but o gentle, yet irresistible pressure
held him back, and before him stood
Satan, in whose features malicious
Joy and secret triumph were wonder
fully united.
"Will you be satisfied, if I show
you this picture once~ he said, grin
ming, to the man, whose astonishmeDt
was even greater than the terror.
Infamed by his intense desire to
possess it, he cried wildly: Bring it
to me, and I will give you all you
wishp
"Oh, I want nothingl Nothing at
all! A mere tr;1ael Sign this little
parchmentand you will see it."
The master shuddered, for the
writing which the devil held toward
him glowed like FIRE. He hesitated
just then, however, Satan drew forth
another parchment, covered with q
grey veil, and, no longer master Of
himself, with sudden resolution he
seized the fatal roll.
Pale and scarcely breathing, he
read it. Suddenly, however, he
threw it from him, and cried: "Hor-
riblei away from mel You demand
two souls, mine and that Of the first
person who enters the churchi Hal
take mine, but never will I draw
another into eternal luin."
Then. farewell. master, you will
never find the plan"
The devil placed the parchment in his
breast, but lifted the veil q little, so the
agitated man could see part Of the
plan. Attracted BY the lines. and
remember the utter futility OF all his
own endeayors for 90 many years, be
gased with burning eyes upon the
picture, which Satan slowly and care
fplly hid in his breast. Overcome BY
desire and his ambition, he seized the
paper he had cast away. 'sHold! do
not take it away. I will give you my
soul, and several years earlier even
than you demand"
Mol no! sign or farewell" With
artful cunning the devil turned as If 70
60, but the master. stepped him. He
came back, and received the signed
paper in exchange for the plan.
Years passed away, and the cathe.
dral approached the stats in which
the first service was to b held in It.
1t is true, the building WAS far from
completion, and there was only q
small part in which the pious could
offer up their prayers, but still be wal
satis6ed that the splendor Of the whole
was already foreshadowed. The mas.
ter was greatly praised. The Arch
bishop brought him to his court. and
mobiles were proud to associate with
him. His name wssin svsry mouth,