Litchfield enquirer., 1880-04-29

kor thirteen years old When he reached the
 great wood near Trameysl, he dismounted,
 and began (for he was boy stilD to pick and eat bilberries. "Back Adam who was like a dog with Eppelein, waited by and grazed contentedly.
 I Presently Eppelein heard voices, and creep lsing through the brushwood, he saw large
 band of riders headed by his fathers chiefest enemy. He listened, and found that they
 were lying in wait for his father, intending to Kill Arnold, and then to seize the castle
 Noiselessly did Eppelein return to his noble horse. He led "Black Adam" over the sand, in order that the horses hoofs might make no noise; then he remounted, and rode swiftly back. On his road he met Arnold, mounted upon the chestnut, and told him all
 Now when lsldorus saw father ana son ride into the courtyard, the good mans heart swelled with joy, for he thought that Eppelein had been caught, and was brought home for condign punishment. However, it was anoth- CT matter that had brought the pair Lone, though Isidorus did not yet know it, ''Gott- Vergressner Gauch !" he cried out to Eppeein "Now you shall learn what it is to maltreat a holy man You shall be locked up for days {; you shall be-" ''Sience!" cried Arnold who had to think of more serious matters and it was boot and saddle in the castle yard, where ! all the riders were soon mounting, under arms, while the castle prepared for de- fence, ..s... ~ -
 Eppelein suggested that Knecht should be sent out, disguised as a peasant, should let himself be caught by the enemy and should then tell them that Arnold was away from 1 Irameysl, and would not come home for many days.
 This was done. Arnold's foes were over joyed. They postponed their attack until evening, and detained the sullen peasant to lead them in the dark to the castle-whch he unwillingly, did. 1 Things did not, however, fill out quite as they had expected Just as they reached Trameysl, Arnold, Eppelein, and all the riders fell upon them from beeind, and defeated the foe with such slaughter that only five remain ed alive.
 This was Eppelein's first knightly deed of arms, but he did we'll and worshipfully, him. self unhorsing and wounding two Lanzknechts
 When the fight was over, said Arnold, as he wiped his sword on the mane of of "Riack | Adam'-and he said it proudly, too-"That boy will never be monk!"
 Some ten years rolled On, and Eppelein de- veloped rapidly. He could keep his own coun- sel, and carry out his own will He was fear ed and liked by the soldiers and the tenants | All said, 1.-The lad has as much character as courage, and will come to be pussant knight; but monK-neVer!" One day his | father Arnold died: and shortly after, Frau Apollonia prepared to follow her husband
 'Es fehlte ihr i'm Magen und un Kopfe"-she suffered in the head and in the stomach and the simple leechcraft of Isiderus could not avail. He mixed, and administered to tbe good lady, all the draughts that he knew of ; put even this treatment did not help; and Apollonia died.
 l So Eppelein became lord, and this was his | first act of mastery:
 He sent for Isidorus, and said: ''You have caused me many abitterhour. Youset enmity between my parents and me- and more than alp'-here Eppelein's anger rose high-'you would have made monk of me All is end l ed between us. 1 am now master here and you shall not remain another hour in my halls Col"
 Now you may think that this was not pleas ant for Isidorus who, as priest and pretege of the lady of SO many castles, had for long years borne sway and influence, had had au | easy life with free run of cellar and buttery and who saw himself turRed out by the young lord and relegated to meagre fare and to some sort of work So he pleaded, and offer e'l to pray for Eppclcin, who, however, re- mained inexorable. Then lsdorus who was of heavenly temper, gave way to it, and emitted an impromptu examination service, | of evil and malignant denunciatons. This, also, did not help and the discomfited priest lett fhe halls # the young Knight of Gail | ingcu.
 Eppelein's position was thls :--H He was 1 yonng, strong, proud, brave, eager for adven. tllrc, desirot@s of glory He had hearty l hatred of priests and Jews ne loathed hypoc- rlsy; he had knlghtly scOrn of traders, of ! usurers, ot money-chapgers; and he held ill ! contempt Burgermeisters and Town Councils. l Hence he determined to live by the saddle and the sword, l. c., to become Raubritter, l or robber knight Such d man had not much of career open to him in Eppelein's land aud 1 time. Of the sea he could know nothing In the distracted anarchie condition of Germany there were no political causes that could pres ent field for his energy and enterprise. He | beiieved-Or believed that he believed-that his pursuit was not unworthy of a knight fired by love of glory, and he embraced it with serious joy. There was, in Eppelens onmptex nature, strong love of romance, of daring for it's own sake; and he loved the right-as he understood the right.
 The new band soon made itself felt and known. No highway in Francona could be travelled in safety, nor did it help that the traders engaged escorts of mercenaries. 1t soon appeared that the free Imperial city of Nurnberg was the object of Eppelein's pecu- liar detestation. It was full of priests. Jews | traders, usurers, town councillors people that most he hated-and the city was very rich. What woe he wrought to Nurnberg what scoffs and mocks he put upon it, we shall soon see. Above all his contemporaries of the sword, Eppelein soon made himself distinc- tive name in the land. His daring, skill. gen. erosi:y, romance, became the theme of general talk and popular rumor. Hated by the classes hat ha hotoA lDe tI,o common people, Never did he any harm or wrong to poor or simple folk :; indeed, he often did good to them.
 Now. of Eppelein's many exploits can only relate very few. First, will tell you of a pleasant adventure. ''Es ist 20 wissen, :" as the quaint old chronicles say, that there was then in Nurnberg very wealthy burgher TetZel by name, who had one fair daughter that he loved passing well. Agnes was proud of her beauty and her wealth, scorned all her suitors and declared that she would only marry a nobleman. Thereupon Eppelein wrote to the Rath, offering through them to Agnes his ''ritterlich hochsteigene Hand" He added that if Agnes should marry any Nurnberser he should levy fine of 5000 gold gulden upon the city, and would, moreover, have kiss from the bride. Nurnberg answered angrily, but feared to let Agnes marry any one: When her father had wished her to marry, Agnes would not but when he wished her not to marry, the wilful beauty decided to marry, and proceeded to fix her affections strongly upon one UlFich Mendel, proper young fel- low, though scarcely quite attaining to Agnes's original standard of nobility However, from dread of Eppelein, the marriage of Agnes and Ulrich was postponed. Suddenly the news ! came to Nnrnberg that Eppelein was sick unto death. He sent to the city for Dr. Rehm, the great DlVSician to whom FDDelein nrOmiscd large fee and a safe conduct. The Rath gladly sent the Doctor to Trameysl, but inti- mated to Rehm before he started, that he need not go out of his way to cure Eppelein Dr. Rehm found his patient very weak and ] very red in the face, This latter symptom, however, Eppelein had brought about by talk ing mighty draught of strong wine The 1 Doctor felt the sick mans pulse. shook his head, and said: You have the hnrniug fever,