American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-23
"A IEGExD OF COLOGNE.

A IEGEHD OF COLOGNE. 2
We can not but regret that the name
Of the man in whose brain the plan of
the splendid and gigantic cathedral was
formed and transmitted to posterity is
lost. We look almost with awe at the.
mighty church, and think reverently Of
the creator, although his name is sunk
In oblivion. Doubly touching IS it,
however, to find that his own country
men have tried to envelope him in a
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 circle, and what it says
of him now proceed to relate.
For many years had the architect of
the cathedral moved gloomily and med
itatively among his fellow-citizens, now
shut up with his books and parchments,
and again alone under the high shady
dome Of oaks and beeches. To create
asplendid work was his desire; but till
now he had always searched vainly for
the plan. All his thought and reflec-
ton left him still dissatisfied. Impa-
TENT and feverish, he once
threw himself on his couch,
and. like teasing Kobolds, the different
plans which he had already sketched
buzzed and danced before his agitated
mind, and nodded derisiyely &C him.
One plan, on the contrary, remained
covered with an impenstrable veil, and,
when the master tried to lift it, the
parchment escaped him, and out of the
raised end an old and oft-rejected plan
looked at him as If it were tittering.
Grooming and trembling with mad i'm
patience, the master pursued the yelled
picture, which constantly eluded his
grasp, and led him up to a rock, in
whose shadow lay darkness and mys-
terry. Here the veil suddenly fell; with
= Wild cry Of joy, the master reached
after the picture, but it lowered an
instant in the air, then disappeared,
and he fall in q swoon upon the ground
Tortured BY unnttsrable anguish, and
bathed In . cold sweat, the dreamer
awakened from his stupor. His heart
beat regularly, his mind was clear, and
he fat certain that the splendid idea,
altar which he had sought for years,
had BEEN yisibly present to him.
40" he cried, Bitterly, when in the
solitude o. nus own room, ''rf this pic
tore would appear to me but once more!
Only once more, that might grasp it
IN an rs details"
Suddenly ne heard 2 cracking in the
oarkess corner OF ms ROOM A gray
smoke rose and gradually assumed a
definite form. Terrified and with an
unde6ned prcsentimento Of evil, the mas
tn tried 70 spring from his bed, but .
GENTLE yet irresistible pressure held him
back, and before him stood Satan, in
whose features malicious Joy and secret
triumph were wonderfully united.
"Wi1 you be satisfied, if show you
this picture once more?" he said, grin
ming, to the man, whose establishment
was even greater than his terror. =.
: Infamed by his intense desire to pos
sess it, he cried wildly: "Bring it to
me, and I win give you all you wish!' -
"Oh, wantnothingl Nothing at all !
A mere trifie! Sign this little parchment,
and You shall see II. ~ - -iG ~ -
The master shuddered, for the writ
ing which the devil held toward. him
glowed like fire. He hesitated; jus,
then, however, Satan drew forth an
other parchment, covered with gray
veil, md, no longer master of himself,
with sudden resolution he seized the
fatal roll -
Pale and scarcely breathing, he read
It. suddenly however. he threw il
from hum, and cried: Hor1blei away
from me! You demandtwo souls, mine
and that OF the hrst person who enters
the church! Ia! take mine, but never
VIII draw another into eternal ruin.'
Then, FAREWELL master, you will
never hnd the plan
The devil hid the yelled parchment
m his breast, but Lifted the veil little,
80 that the agitated man could see part
OF the plan. Attracted by the lines, and
remembering the utter futility OF all his