The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-19

krom being burned over his head
The Mayor was so pleased byCaris friend
" ect, that he went 10 him and, shaking him
by the hand, declared that he would grant
him any favor he asked, iii were in his
power to do so.
Carl shook his head in a doubling manner
as the Mayor spoke.
"I have nothing TO ask for myself" he
said, ''but I would be gladif you wouldratify
your promise in behalf of another. My son
Ludewig has the talent to become q great
sculptor some day. He is manly, free from
vice and bears a good reputation generally.
: have long perceived that he loves sour
laughter, and ] think the maiden is not
sverse to him. viii you sanction their mar
siage ~
His request was highly displeasing TO the
aaughtymggistrate. lie made every possible
excuse for ~notconplying withCarl's request,
but promised to think over the matter and
give him ananswer. From time totime Carl
r~emindedhim tina. he was awaiting hisreply,
and Seefeld. annoyed at the fiddlers impu-
deuce and opportunities, trumped up some
charges against him ynnong which was prac.
iicingwitchcraft and threw him into prison,
The prisoner lay for weeks in q damp cell
and was denied even the presence of his son.
At length his trial took place, but the charges
agninst him were SO weak that he was &C.
quilted. The peoplevery well knew the mo-
tive the Mayor hadin the prosecutionof poor
Carl, and they warmly csPoused his cause
and declaredthat Ludwig was n ftmatch any
day for the Mayors daughter.
But although Carlwas once more atliberty
the time no had passed in the damp prison
had SO affected his health that lie began visi.
bly, to grow i'll. Day by day his spirits sank,
and bis frame grew more feeble. Ludewlg
attended him with unwuvering affection, and
constantly sought 10 cheer him. But though
the days of the poor Fiddler were numbered,
and he knew it, he steadily refused to have
the services Of the priest.
'Let them bury mo where they choose"
he replied, 'by the hedge or roadside. My
bones will rest Just ascasy in one place asan-
other. II mRkesno diTsrenceto n man after
he is gone. Tried to do thee n service, Lude-
wig, but that which l was unable to accom-
complish when living, l will do when dead.
Swear TO me that you will bury my violin
with me. Place it by my side where my
land can touch it,"
Ludewig stared Mt his father, and thought
he was going out of his mind.
'Do you promise me, boyy If you do not
obey my commands it willgo hard withthee."
Ludewigpromised that he would sacredlyful-
fill his request, and the old man becameeasy.
The dark hour came at last, and Carl passed
away from onrth. With tears and supplica-
tons Ludewigendeayored TO prevailupon the
priest TO allow his fathers body to be buried
In the churchyard; but alas it could not DO
done. He who had so long lived in rebellion
TO the Church could not be ontombed among
the faithful. ThGmost that could begranted
WINS to allow the body to be buried just ont
side the churchyard wall. Even this was
considered to be n great lenity, and was only
permittedout OF regard to e goodcharacter
of Ludwig.
It was in the last winter month when Carl
Stiebel died, and nothingunusual hndoecurred
until the spring was well advanced, anu the
buds and blossoms began to appear.
Lulewig and Alice only met each other at
rare intervals. She was so strictly guarded
thatshe could with dificuityescape the watch
that had been set upon her actions.
The month of May brought in delicious
weather and CONSERVATION to the village OF
Schwnlbach Mt tho same time. One night,
when the citizens were enjoying themselves
out Of doors. there came n rush Of people
from the vicinity Of the churchyard, scream
r.., t'mt H." 81 ilar hnd risen from the grave
and was seated upon hs tomb, playing with
his accustomed yigor. Those who were in.
credulous aStencd to the scene and were
horrihed at beholding Carl's skeleton seated
upon the churchwall playing n jig, while all
the dead of years past were up from their
graves dancing to his music. The moon was
shining brightly, and out of the church win
dows could be seen the grinning heads OF
0thet skeletons as they gazed on the frolic of
their companions. 1t was n horrid sight to
behold, and we'll might it curdle the blood of
the stoutest- hearted villager. Over the hill
ocks, over the tombstones, under the trees,
whirled the dead of centuries, their fleshless
limbs rattling on the night air, and their
white shrouds streamingon thebreeze. The
people few 10 the house of the priest with
the awful report of what they had beheld.
He was filed with terror, and enjoined them
to go home and pray while he did the same.
Prayers did not, however, seem to have
any effect. Night after night, when the
weather was fine, Carl Stiebel's ghost would
molnt the church wall, and soon every occu-
pant of the tomb would be mndly whirling
away in the dance. The priest, who had
never been near the scene, finally mustered
courage TO approach. Girding on his cas-
sock and arming himself with holy water, lie
went forward, his flock following in the rear.
With more courage than they supposed him
to possess, he sprnnginto the churcAyard and
was about to address the ghost of the fiddler,
who was, as usual, perched upon the wall.
when 10! lie dropped the holy water and
commemorate Join in the dancewith terrible
earnestnoss. lie was n short, corpulent man,
and such exercise soon exhausted him. 1t
was not long ere ho fell TO the earth almost
powerless. His parishioners, with q howl..o
fright, rushed for their homes and left their
pastor to his fate. The followingday he was
found at his house, more frightened than
even the members of his flock.
Soon it began to be spread abroad that
Car's ghost intended bringing mis- unearthly
revel to make merry in the heart of the vii
lage unless the proud Seofeld would give his
daughter to Ludewig ashis wife. Tho grave
yard revels were still kept up with undated
yigor, and the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of abandoning their homes and seeking other
spots to reside in. when at the instigation of
the priest, the Mayor signiiied his readiness
for Agnes to marry lulewig.
The ceremonywns performed MS quicklyas
circumstances wouldpermit but CarlSiebel's
ghost nevcrceasedits sport until the wedding
bells of Ludewig's marriage were heard in
Schwalbach. From that moment the bones
OF the fiddler lay quiet in their tomb.
A TRAMP MAXINs.