The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-18
THE PROUD LADY Of The CASTLE
IHnrper's Weekly ]

That had been OWNED by her ancestors. and,
30 far as beauty went, she was worthy OF her
lineage. but of a proud and naughty temper.
No proud was she that among nil the mobiles
Of Brlsgan che could find none whom she
thought worthy 10 call her lord. and year
after year passed on. finding her still unwed-
died. and every year some unfortunate lover or
other turned from the castle gates with looks
OF scorn and words Of ridleule.
Among those whom she should. after her
fashion. first attach 10 her by every art. after
ward repelted with bitter d~erision. was q
Young man Of noble family but slender for
tune. who had long been In her service as
page or squire, az tho fashion of those days
demanded.
After wears of patient waiting and hope,
Che youth ventured to declare himself, and
was received by ttslady with a storm Of sar-
essms that literally overwhelmed him Stnng
10 the heart by h,r lRId spet chee. and by the
sense OF his own folly and pres nmptton. which
suddenly poured III ulon him like u Hood, he
left his mistIsaa's ptus0uce only TO write u
word OF farewell to his mother, whose son he
was, and whom he tcudeIly loved. then threw
himself into the Rhine,
A few days afterwards o woman. mnddened
with rage and sot row. u widow whose only
son had died II suicides death. sought the
Lady Adelheid In her castle on the hill, ac-
cused her Of being the murieresR Of her boy.
and hea ped upon heI head the hittareat curses
that her outraged mother-heait could devise
or her woman's tongue utter.
"Unloved you etAll 1--we" Abe cried. "and
unregretted die. Even In the grave you shall
find no peace, even there my revenge shall
follow you, and send YOU forth 10 wander a
restless, miserable ghnSt--testless forever !"
"Ahl' cried Lady Adelhtid. with white face
and scared IS yes, all her haughtfnees flown.
edo not utter such terrible words Have you
no mefcyY'
The wletchcd mother smiled g1imly. Yes.
1 have mercy" she said. Thus shall your
spirit wander through these very halls until
you find a lover a. true, As honest, "a pure
hearted as my poor lost son, willing to woo
the phantom for his bride Then only you
shall rest in peace
Under this curse, says the legend, the
Lady of Windeck lived nni died. She was
the last of her race, and not many years after
her death the castle. uninhahited and desert
ed. fell into ruins. TIA new owners had. in
deed, made many attempts to iDhabit 1t, but
had been absolutely driven out of the place
by the unearthly sounds which disturbed tho
stillness of night, and which scarcely al
lowed a living soul II the building 50 much
as to close m eyefrotn midnightto cock-crow,
Doors would open and shut m ysteTiously,
footsteps resoInd through tho silent CORR
doris, lights, illulnined by no visible hand,
suddenly burn In the windows, while over
eveiy mirror Tn the house the shadowy form
OF n woman, clothed In white, with long black
hair hanging below her shoulders. would be
seen-wouid pass-disappearing IN one place
only to appear theneXt moment In another.
It happened, however. that one day n young
hunter OF noble family, q stranger guest In
one OF the neighhOfing CASTLES, was led, IN the
excitement of the chase, up to tho very gate
OF the deserted man ion. The deer which he
was pursuing rushed Ivy him Into tho very
ruins, as though II were taking sanctuary,
The young man. by name Kurt Won Stein. had
heard some curious legends as connected
with "a ruined castle OH the height, and, posi-
bly, half from curiosity and bali because no
was not and tfrrd witt = Has ~ specially poor
sport, he dismounted ana led his horse, tired
like himself, through the ramble and
brushes that had overgrowii the ruined gate
way, into the grass-grown courtyard.
"a curious place. To he sure said the
Young man, seating himself for Il moment g
rest on n fallen mass or htickwork oyerlaid
with soft moss, ana letting his horse mean
time Craze at his will FROM the rank growth
OF the courtyard. "a very curious place,
Looks as If no one had been here for q hun
dred years. | wonder whether this can be the
haunted castle my uncle was speaking about
only the other night II so,' he added, II
wish to goodness the Spiritually would have
the hospitality to welcome me to her domains
and offer me a dliHk of something this hot
day" And as he took of his hunting cap to
air his heated brow, his thought reverted
lovingly to a certain glass tankard In his
uncle's house, which, when filled with yellow
Strasburg beer, was about as pleasant n
sight to Kurt Won Stein rs the world could
offer.
After awhile the idea occurred 70 the young
man that as chance had brought him to the
castle he might as we'll pay his respects tc
the owner Of II. whether she were q phantom
or not.
A turret stair. broken and worn, was close
mt hand to the spot he had chosen for q rest.
ing place. Twilight WAS beginning to fall as
he reached the castle; now suddenly dark.
ness seemed to have come, and az he MOUNTED
the winding turrct stairs he noticed thai
lights were already showing through many
of the windows of what appeared to be q LEST
ruinous part Of the building than that BY
which he had entered.
THAT Is all right said Kurt to himself, 81
was wise to try my fortune here. A supper
or even a bed. would not come amiss to me
for | scarcely know how shall find my way
back to my unole's house Tonight. Blu u,
any rate ! shall get some directions, and per
haps. Il the people are not over hospltable. a
guide home"
So saying, he made his way mp tho stair.
case and Knocked at Il door which was at the
top of 1t. The door opened notselessly. RS
though by an unseen hand, and admitted hin
into q long corridor, lighted and adorned with
white marble statues. From this he passed
into a suite Of rooms hung with tapestry anc
strewn with freshly laid PUSHES, with u few
carved settees and chests for furniture. Still
he met no one.
Next came he into a great hail. on the walls
OF which hung q number Of antique portraits
while In the centre Of the apartment was /
tablespread as II for supper.
This Is very curious said Kurt to him,
self. Where can the family tie gone to
However, one comfort iR, We've got some
thing to eat. ! think I'll wait here and give
them o chance Of inviting me"
So saying he sat quietly down at one end o
the table, which was laid for two persons
Scarcely had be done SO when the door of tn,
room opened noiselessly, and q lady, younl
and beautiful, but with a somewhat sad ant
pale face, entered.
Kurt rose. and at once began ia make anol
ogies for his unwarrantable intrusion. The
lady waived q white hand toward him, anc
babe him be seated.
aSay no more,' she said, In a sweet, sac
voice, u expected you"
There was evidently some mistake here
to toq msan a good supper sup sI i IL was m'1 not un Ssfifps
to fall into 1t. He at once took a seat a,
the table, and the lady took hers opposite
him.
She wa certainly very beautiful, be thought
as he looked again at her over the trimming