Smyrna times., 1880-03-24
How a Young Girl Saved a Town,

M AI' IA S"ioV' d pretty name 10 DeSln with.
She lived IN WFinsburg, one Of the QUAINT
Ola German cities that we visit when we
cross the ocean. 1t lies in beautiful little
valley gnt by green hills and tlan ~ ed by
rich meadows through which the wiAding
Neeker flows
Ermensarde had lover. She had had
one for year, tall, handsome, generous
fellow, who was a retainer in the service of
Count Welt As for Errnen.arde she wa. a
simple lace makers daughter, and knew not
much about couIts or battles, but sha had a
good head and COED heart, and what could
one want more?
There was war in the LAND where Ernen.
garde lived. There were great many wars
Ia those days, but this one was blnodjer
imam some OF the others, and several fierce
battles wSre fought. la one of these Count
Welt was defeated by his great rival. Count
Conrad OF FrancOnia. When you get to be
older you will read about this battle.
perhaps, for it was very famous one. But
| cannot stop to say more about it now.
because | want to toll you about what
Ermengarde did.
Count Welt fled back TO Weinsberr and
shut himself up in its streng fortress. but
two or three days afterwards large army
Of long haired, fierce mu.tached France.
mans came marching over the hills and sat
down before the walls There was some
fighting, and tine murderous war cries
=" Strike for the Wells - Strike for the
WalbllRgers! = afterwards so famous, made
the poor women and the little children
tremble with fear
1t was in the levely Summer time. and
the broad meadows around WelnsJurc were
lttt 4
array soon made rough work with the
emerald verdure. All the green grass was
eaten up by the herses and the growing
crops were destroyed for soldiers must
have something to eat as we'll as other
people, and generally they want a httle
more. In u short time it looked like a
desert around beautiful Weinsburg.
But this was not the worst. When the
feed began to grow short for their horses,
the Francoaians began to get angry and
fierce. TIey had not expected so long a
defense, and Count Conrad determined to
bring the siege to close.
In these days when men lost their TEN.
Pers they were very cruel. and many wicked
deeds were dose. But Count Conrad was
chivalrous, So lie told the Wvinsburshers
that he would spare The wGmen, but every
| V.
Oh, then there WAS sore distress i'm Veins.
burg. Count Wef brave as lie was, knew
that he could not dotond the city much
longer, and if an assault was made Conrad
would keep his word and if they surren.
dered things would he no better. That
Right saw more weeping in Weinsburc than
there had been for many a year
While things were III this Aorry plight
artia
him among the men alarms in the Counts
castle. She said to hitn:
can save the city. Herman"
You he exclaimed increduOusly, drop
! ping his Eattle ak in astenjshment How
Count Conrad is gallant knight" said
! the maiden.
Aye, aud a cruel one" said the youne
soldier. " He slew every man at Gesberg.
But he will not refuse woman" per
sisted Ermengarde.
| lie slew the women, too, at Prague.
i will ask him, nevertheless, that We
have leave to save our dearest Jewels"
How will that help our case q asked
! Herman.
Are you not nay dearest Jewel? 2" ask el
the wise maiden, with look in her eye,
that said even more than words did
| dus
my knees ask of him this boon. lie will
not refuse me. When that is granted ",
will let him have the town. But | mus
have a pass out of the city, and TIA,
countess and her ladies must 20 with me
Can | see Count Wslf?"
She was led to the count who stared a.
her as she told her errand, for Ermengard,
was fair as she was wise, and her bright hal
| E., b.f q, ] 1
while her eyes shOne like stars.
Count Welt listened very carefully anc
then he summoned his countess She cam,
and stood beside ErmOngardo, and vol
could not have told which was the fairsr
though one was dressed in silk and gold
and the other in a woelsey gown.
In the end they concluded to follow
Erinengardes counsel. The sun hung low
in the golden air above the Neeker wher
the gates Of WPiasbUrg swung open to Civ,
sgress to a lovely train. Clad ia white. tn,
badge Of mourning in those days, with the
lsRS fair tresses floating to the breeze
Ermsngarde and her companions approach
ed the tent Of the FrancOnian csuRt.
Conrad saw them coming and sent :
herald to demand their errand.
"They come to plead with thee for thei
lives" said the messenger.
" war not with women," replied tn,
count. my soldiers have orders not t.
harm the head of maid, child or matron.
=" But we are rich, we have many Jewels,
cried the supplcating throng.
Save all that you can carry away. NJ
woman locks as we'll without her Jewels
You have my knightly word that you will
not be molested."
strange sight greeted the eyes o
Conrad and his fierce Franconiaas whom tn,
sun rose the next morning above the darE
eastern woods. Coming from the gates o
the city in long rows they behsld maid anc
matron staggering under load, not o
triRkets and jewels, but Of their husbands
and dearest relatives. Each woman bore .
man on her shoulders.
There must have been something conica
in the spectacle. In one of the histories o
that time there is a very curious picture o.
the scene which rather strengthens this
impression. Some of the figures are really
ludicrous. Ermsngarde and her lover
seem to get along very we'll, for she wa,
stout and strong, and Herman was moi
heavy. But the poor countess has rather a
difficult task of it. She was small and
slight, ard the count was very large and
stately. The picture of his long legs dang
ling on the ground behind the struggling
lady is too comical.
Count Conrad laughed heartily at first
and no wonder, if the sight was half a.
funny as the picture in the old book, and
his soldiers laughed with him, all but ono
savage baron who urged the knight te
slaughter them all.
Nay my knightly word must be kept
said Conrad. mo knight ever goes back
on what he has spoken. They have earned
their jewels"
And as he looked tears came into the
fierce warriors eyes. lie threw down his
sword and battle ak, and rushed to en-
brace the Count Welt and his noble lady
The ssrio-comic scene terminated in the
romantic spirit of the age
When the sun set that night its last rays