The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-11-14

"0h, you sober young mani Quick
step this way. Here is a chair and her
a goblet filed with splendid old Bur
gundy. Drink my health in bumperl'
rJoannes of Suabia eyed his uncle fol
a few moments with curious expression
of countenance; then he said, with
forced smile:
al viii gladly drink your health
your Majesty, If you viii bestow q favor
"A great favor-upon me-"
Certainly, my noble nephew
laughed Albert.
The young Duke quaffed The goblet
in his uncle's honor, Then he seated
himself by Albert's side.
"Itold you, nephew" said Albert,
before Joannes was able to speak, {" that
/ would boston, a great favor upon you.
Here / will take this May wreath from
my anointed head, and place it upon
yours; and this afternoon l will take
you over 10 Rheinfelden, where my no.
bic consort Elizabeth is, and introduce
You TO her. Is not that great favor,
my noble nephew"
"No, your Majesty, / care not for
your May wreath, nor for an introduce
ton to her Majesty, but the only favor
ask of you is to restore to me my
Swiss territories which you unjustly
withhold from me-" said Joannes,
gloomily.
d" HeavensI" laughed Albert; don't
talk politics to me here Come, come,
nephew, have some more wine, and then
Get ready for the trip to Rheinfelden. ="
For moment Joannes of Suabia fix
ed his eyes with the expression of vi
per upon his uncle. Then he arose
from the table, bowed to Albert deeply,
and hurried out of the dining-hall He
rejoined his friends in the other room.
81 hope you bring US favorable
news, said Won Wart.
g No." cried Joannes of Suabia, livid
with rage, the worst possible news do
| bring. What do you think? NY in
famous uncle made fun of me when |
told him what | wanted. Then he ask
ed me to get ready to accompany him
TO Rheinfelden TO see his wife. Yes,"
he added, in terrible tone of voice Z" /
will accompany him, but only to kill
him."
"Oh, no." cried Won Wart deprecat-
ingly.
"Yes, yes," cried the other knights,
rafting their heavy swords.
"Right, right, my friends!" cried
Joannes of Swabia. "You shall ac-
company me. But mind you, when we
get near the river bank 1 shall ride
ahead with my uncle alone. Then you
come up from behind and hack his
shoulders. But must run my sword
through his wicked heart"
Where will all this endP" sighed
the Thoughtful Won Wart,
An hour later Albert of Austria was
brutality murdered, as the plotters had
agreed. Won Palm, Won Eschenbach
and Won Tegernfeld attacked him from
behind, and inflicted grievous wounds
upon him.
"Joannes, nephew, help mel help
met" cried Albert, despairingly.
"Yes, will help you'll" roared joan
mes, and he buried his sword in his
uncle's heart.
Albert of Austria sank from his horse
He was dying. His assassins fled in
dismay. Only now did they realize the
heinous character of the crime they had
committed.
An old beggar woman had witnessed
the terrible scene from behind a neigh
boring tree. She hurried up to the dy-
ing man and put his head into her lap.
Thus died the eldest son of the EN-
peror Rudolph of Hapsburg.
A few minutes later the escort of Al
bert arrived, and active steps were
taken for the pursuit of the murderers.
But the latter made good their escape.
Albert's consort, Elizabeth, naturally
cruel woman, revenged her husbands
death in the most shocking manner.
She had all the servants and peasants
of the four knights arrested and brutally
put TO death. At length Won Wart was
caught Elizabeth had him broken on
the wheel and then exposed on the
at Winterthur. Won Warts
young wife gave her wretched husband
the most touching proofs of marital
love and fidelity.
Horrible to say, the unfortunate
knight survived three days and three
nights.
She was with him during all those
agonizing hours. She drove away the
birds of prey that came to feast upon
his quivering flesh; she constantly
moistened his parched lips.
Noble German poets have immortal
lied the name of this good, heroic de-
voted wife, Gertrude Won Wart.