The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-08
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION

sunday he went to visit her, and though
lhe air OF the country even improved he
beauty.
One day as WillaJald approached tn
mouse Ellen came to meet him, weeping
She sobbed bitterly us he drew near. mn,
exclaimcd:
"Ah, Willabald, what misfortune.
You Know 1t thcn?" cried ne, will
faltering voice.
quickly and eagerly.
money" answered the youth, in a tone O
anguish. could find it nowhere thi,
morning. Some one has stolen it. Yo,
see all your prudence and foresight have
gone for nothing.
"AlasF replied Ellen, "then misfor
times never cenc single. Yesterday morn.
ing rich gentleman came to. our cottage.
ne asked for a drink of water and, when
l handed 1t to him, looked at me earnestly.
ana asked If l would 60 with him and be
MS wife. l answered him mo = but he re-
turned early this morning and demanded
me OF my grandmother. His name is
werner; he is a rich merchant from Ulm.
Even now he is sitting in the room Wonder
with my grandmother drinking wine and
telling her of his houses and lands: while
his servant, who stands by the chimney.
confirms everything he says But be COM
1orted, dear Willabald. Let grandmother
say what she will, will die rather than be
faithless to you"
Here Dame Martha came out of the
mouse, and commanded Ellen to 20 in d.
rectly The poor girl was forced to obev.
ana the old woman said to Willabald:
loung man, | am come to say to YOU
! ol>1 II
more to my cottage. A rich man is a sui
tor to my Ellen, and 1t is nv duty TO do
what Is good for her. say nothing of nv
lnt1rm age. / could chcerfully hear hard
snip; but | wish to see her surrounded by
comfort and riches. put it to YOURSELF
what you offer the girl3 Would yo, have
her bind herself to proverty and toll now,
wnen she may place herself in case and
"Well, well, Dame Ma-'ha," cried Will
labald, half choking with emotion. ct
say nothing OF your conduct. If you choose
70 break an honest fellows heart, and your
own word also It's all the same to melS
:. "But, Willabald," persisted the dame,
listen to mel"
But the impetuous youth was already
several PAGES off. She called after him. but
the sound of her voice did not serve to
check the mad speed at which he rushed |
on. Despair drove him and he Stacked not |
ms pace till he found himself in the open
neids, night gathering around him. 1t was
darker night, however, in his own breast.
ne threw himself on the ground, and cursed
llllseii ana his destiny, for no tears would
come to his relief. When he thought of
T., Ei'en ana her wrctehedncss, his heart was
like to break.
Some hours must have passed unmarked
omeSar alter q whmaeng e gfhs aSS55u fSS5 it. 6f
some time without being able to discover
the road, he found that he was in. a church
yard. The tall spire of the church was vi
sible in relief against the drifting clouds.
"Therc is the house where the people 60
to pray" murm,lrcd the youth BITTERLY
"Have not also prayed, have not toiled,
have not also denied myself2 Have I not
strivcn to keep my, soul from the taint of
sin. And what Is my reward2 Ellen is
lost to me. Prayers will not give her back,
else I would pray-aye, to the fiend HIM
self, and promise to be his, 80 she would be
minel"
Scarcely had the distracted youth uttered |
these wild words when a sound of shrill !
laughter near by startled him, and, looking
around, he saw a figure which he had no
difficult in recognizing by the fiery eyes and
Zamiel look as the flend he had called upon
g am here" cried the stranger, in hoarse
tones, cat your service and ready to your
bidding, asking only small service In re-
turn" -....a 81
"What is that?" Willabald mustered
courage to say, though he trembled all over.
"You are, as happen to know" said
the fiend, an excellent smith. have a
piece Of work for you. Follow me: will
take you to spot where lies buried one of
my subjects. You must make me all iron
railing around his grave, and in reward l
will give you your bride. IN.
elf you have nothing more to ask am
content" replied the young man.
"That is all, said the fiend; but 1t Is
harder task than you imagine. You have
but one hour to work. At twelve you
must begin, -and the railing must be COM
pleted by the time the clock strikes one. -
If it Is done, you are free; If not, you be-
long to me forever"
| Willabald paused an instant, but flood
of wild thoughts came rushing upon his
brain, and the passionate desire to snatch
Ellen from his rival overcome all his pru-
dence. He pledged himself to the unhal-
lowed contract, and he followed the fiend
to new-made grave.
"To your work, my lad, he cried, and
vanished .r gHH}ls.isa8
| At the same instant Wilabald saw fire
spring out of the ground beside him, and
caught glimpse of several bars of iron and
the tools of his trade. The clock on the
church tower struck twelve, and, starting,
he betook himself to work. So diligently
did he apply himself that the work grew
rapidly under his hand, the railing was al
Ill H. Il IL -, tnd
wanting to finish it, when the dull sound OF
the clock was heard stricking one, and
Willabald fell to the ground insensible.>
When his senses returned 1t was worning,
the sun was shining brightly and he
| thought all that had passed wild dream
But sight Of the railing nearly finished
around the grave, and a rusty bar Of iror
, lying on the ground, convinced linn Of tht
| reality. There was, however, no trace Of
the fire, and the tools had disappeared. 4
!, Full Of shame and repentance, Willabalt