Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-11-12

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Some time in the fifteenth century when
the monastry was in the height of its power
and fame. and when high-bOrn youths
came far and near to receive Instruction
from thelearned monks, there was staying
at the abbey for this purpose a young man
of good family called Hans won WeSSen-
burg.
There was at the same time encamped
in the forest, tribe of Rohcmians, whose
lawless ways were perhaps somewhat OF a
trial to the good monks their neishbors,
but who served, il would seem To relieve
The tedium of those hours; which young
Hans of Wessenburg did not spend in
siudy-hours when he possibly found the
society of the brOwn-stoled brethren slight
ly oppressive.
There happened 10 be among the gypsies
a maiden of unusual and peerless beauty,
the pride and delight of the tribe, crea-
ture with soft dark eyes. liStrous as though
the stars had looked into them, and softly
tinted damask cheeks, such rs Correggio
only could have put on canvas creature
that seemed to the young student very
..vision of delight, when. one day, book
| in hand, he was taking a solitary ramble
through the ravine, and suddenly looking up
he saw Elsa, seated on great rock in the
centre of the torrent, her dark hair flying
| in the breeze, and her shapely bare feet
dipped into the foam of the waterfall.
The young man was certainly inclined TO
believe that he had come across one of those
fair, unearthly beings which legend had
taught him haunted those scenes.
Still he did not turn and fly, as perhaps
he should, rs those seized with this inn
preston have done. Later on, however,
he discovers that the beautiful vision was
no deluding water-niXie, but true maiden
of flesh and blood, and he felt less inclined
to turn and fly than before.
The first meeting between the youth and
the gysy maiden by the romantic waterfall
was by no means the last. Both were
Young. Both were weaving their first ro-
nance; for doubtless in the gypsy's eyes,
the fair-baired. high-born youth appeared
no less charming than did she in his. Boil
loved. The young man had but ore de
sire in the world-to call the lovely spirit
IN the ravine his own. And before long q
solemn bctrothal, in the presence of th'
gypsy tribe, joined their hands and Hans
slipped on to the slender brown finger %
his future bride ring as an earnest Of In
his troth.
.'On that ring said an old sibyl Of thu
tribe, soon after, TO the girl, ''hangs you
fate. BE careful of it. If you loose it
your happiness is gone"
Elsa laughed softly. ''My happiness !
in him and not in the ring, y she said lightly
Yet she wore it night and day, and loot,
ed at it and loved it, and caressed it in Sc
cret as though it had been part of he
lover.
1t is like lock of his golden hair, sh
thinks, twisted about her finger, and sll
loves to play with it, child as she is, a
though il were.
And she is little wiful and wild in he
ways too-as indeed a gypsy maiden NIGH
well be.
One day she is in the ravine awaiting he
lover, and by way of passing the tim
: which seems long to her, she takes oil on
by one her bits of gypsy finery. her neck
lace of beads and armlets of silver, and lay
them on the big stone in the rivrlet whic
is her favarite seat. a little cross too, tina
J herlover has given her and taught her
prize, she lays amongst them.
''How pretty they are! how pretty the
must look on mel" she cries in innocer
. vanity, not knowing it was she who gave
| beauty to the trinkets far more than the
gave to her. 'But my ring is the best,
she says, ''ah, let me see how that sparkle
I amongst them-so tiny, but 50 precious. y
She lays it on the stone in the midst
5 her armets. andsgazes at it admiringly
But in another instant sound reaches b,