The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-14
The Legend Of the Crowned Skull


carved balcony that overhung the Rhine on
the western side of Sperlingstein Castle,
the Princess Amalie and her lover, the
young Baron Anseim, laid their heads to-
gether to talk over weighty and pro-
found matter.
This was no other than their approach
Ing marriage. The Princess had reached
her twentieth year, and her prospects pre-
scented no match more brilliant than one
with the gay young Baron, whose wealth,
purity of blood, popularity, and future
promise we're standing themes of CONVEX
sation throughout the whole Rhine coun-
try.
AS was BETTING one so beautiful and
beloved, the Princess Amalie had extraor-
binary attentions shown her on her birth
day. The ancient halls of the castle were
made gay with banners and armer and
lights and music, and noble guests. who
gave themselves up to the epidemic hilar-
ity Of the occasion. Every thing wore
holiday aspect, and even the servants and
retainers were allowed to have their fill of
feast;ng and merriment in honor of their
fair mistress. Never, in the whole Duke
, dom, had there been a more successful. or
magnificent high. tide. ..E
But after the great dinner, when the
festivities were at their maddest, merriest
height, the lovers, wearying of the noise
and glare within, stole out upon the vine.
empowered balcony, to chat over their
coming happiness in the cool, soft twi-
light. .........
The Princess Amalie had acceded to
the fashion of the day, at her fathers re-
hoI Nov oil
cumblous paraphernalia of her state robes
The,splendid crimson velve: and ermine
of her dress did not so we'll become her
gracious blonde beauty as the simple
style she ordinarily affected, nor was the
braided gold of her hair enhanced by the
coronet of jewels that sat regally upon her
fair forehead. Still, her father had willed
it, and the etiquette of the court demanded
it, as show ofrespect to the guests, so she
submitted.
But the coronet was heavy-they did
good, massive jewelry work in those days
and she wished to enjoy the pure even.
ing air that whispered unsteady among
the vlne-leaves and swayed the lindens
below. Baron Anseln, gayly assisted
her to remove the flashing mass of gold
and gems that oppressed her brow, and
laid it carefully upon the broad stone
balustrade that surrounded the balcony.
ut is good, Amalie," said the young
man, "that our ancient and noble houses
should be allied. We thus regain our
ancient strength and dignity. Our FORE
fathers, years and years ago, held bitter
teuds, which destroyed much of the
power of both families, but this happy
alliance restores al that their enmitv
cost them.''
She turned her eyes upon him with a
fond and lingering gaze.
"Peace and happiness always bring
more strength than strife and Sorrow
she said +'"@
"That is true; yet the old knights and
warriors battled manfully. See wonder,
where the sun has set, beyond the Thran-
enthal, leaving golden glory in the sky
to mark his path. All that broad coun-
try was once held by my sires, and was
wrested from them by yours in long
and unjust struggle. On the other hand,
my ancestors took the Rosenbereen. with
the castle belonging to the estate"
Say, there was doubtless much inius
tee on both sides, and many bleeding
hearts to atone for it,"
been the most vindictive, for thew pur-
sued us to the death every where that we
were found weak in numbers. and when
our castles were taken, they were pill
LACED and burned"
1.-THE fortunes of war;
Worse than that, think. All, ANA
lie, the blood has greatly changed since
those days Of robbery and outrage
"But cannot think that my sires were
brigands and robbers Are these tradi-
tons verifed?"
s'They have been handed down care
fully in my family, from father to son,
though the feud died out long ago.
''Av, but such olu-wives' stories grow
with telling. A mouse becomes an Gle.
plant in the repetitions of ten genera
TONS"
mo, Amalie. My ancestors would not
falsify."
"Nor would mine steal?" ,
"But the facts have been kept in re-
membrance by all of us!''
'But the facLs are untrue!" ,-
"Amalie! do not let US quarrel about
so small matter. What signifies it
If your great great- great grandfather's
great grandfather was unjust?''
"What signifies it, my dear Anslem,
If your neutrality-suspicious.
great-grandfather told untruths?" s',
my race has ever been noted for honor
and truthfulness'
"And mine for honesty and fairness. 81
mot according to the record of nv
am ily." r'
(Which has become an exaggerated fa-
blc."
Nonsense! Your ancestors must have
seized the property of others to have
grown rich. They were poor at first"
.. II do not believe it; I will never be-
lieve | am the descendant of pauper
'raceE '~.f Il 5- -Fr7
Such is the truth, however The first
Duke Of their present line had nothing
but his sword before he had captured nv
fore fathers fair lands and castles. Even
the Court jewels that are now worn 50
proudly by his descendants were made
from gems taken in warfare from nv
people" a.. ##
The blood was boiling through ANA
]ie's vnins and Grim sOninrr hor ohaoI1, j., /