The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-10-16
CHARLEMAaNE's DAUGHTER.

close by the bank of the river. 1t has q
large forest in its rear, aAd large out
skirt of the Spessart-a fine champaign
before il on the opposite bank. High
above the pretty houses which compose
this little place stands the Red Tower,
an edifice weIl-knoVn 70 the lovers of ro-
nance.
The best house in the village is the
Auberge, over which, some years ago, a
host presided, whose eapacious size and
rotund figure involuntarily reminded one
OF the Great Tun Of Heidlesburg. The
Herr Won Cothen was genuine German
his meerschaum seldom left his lips,
except when the wine-cup, an hereditary
goblet of masEy silver. won ct q drink
ing bout by one of his ancestors, was
raised to them. The man seemed to live
but for smoking mot that he ever was
known TO be what is called disguised in
liquor"-he protested that such guam
tity of clay as himself required moisture,
and he took good care to moisten it.
It was my fortune to know him for the
space Of three months, and / can safely
say that, with one exception, / never
knew him venture on any deviation from
his trinity Of practices. the sforenamed
We had spent Q pleasant day in what
was the Spessart forest, and we're re-
turning home when tile Red Tower met
our view. We were weary and threw
ourselves on the mossy bank beneath the
shade of mighty tree, where, in a few
moments, both Of us fell asleep. I was
awakened by the voice Of my companion,
/ kept silence while the readoubted Herr
Won Cothen dilated loudly and: long on
the delights Of the feudal days, when the
lord had power of life and death within
his territorial limits over his vassals. He
spoke we'll for q German host, anJ the
novelty of his speaking was yet m are.
True, there was not very lucid order
in his conversation, but this could easily
be pardoned in one to whom language
had almost fallen into disuse. Won
Cothen lay on the ground at hstless
length, while telling tale somewhat to
the following effect:
Some centuries ago there was an EN-
peror Nero (no relative OF him of Rome)
who came, after the manner of the times.
to celebrate his Christmas holidays ct
frankfort. He was devotedly fond of
the chase, and held nearly an equal
affection for his daughter, o maiden over
whom some seventeen summers had
lightly hown. She was, indeed, if there
be truth in legendary report, very de-
ightful, beautiful and innocent creature.
But her physical charms were even
less than the rare purity Of her mind,
the soft and gentle character of her feel
lAgs. Born IN q cottage, she would have
ehsered the peasants lot; brought up
amid the magniticence OF an imperial
court, she won the envy Of one sex and
the earnest admiration Of the other.
Such beauty of person and goodness OF
heart could not remain unknown; and,
being an only child, many Of the princes
Of the empire put in their claim for her
hand. But the lady's heart was pre-
engaged, and she paid little attention to
the compliments of her many royal
wooers.
Clorinda, thus she was called, had set
her affections on one far beneath her
in rank. Like
The kings daughter OF Hongarie,
Who loved squire OF low degree.
The daughter Of the Emperor Nero
had given her hearts first love to a
young man, one Of her fathers hunts
men.
It is impossible TO say how the secret
was discovered, but certain it was that
the princess was placed in close confne-
ment. and her lover would have been
summarily and severely dealt with, but
he had taken fight, and pursuit was use
less, no one knowing IN what direction
he had fed. To do the young man JUS
tice, he had anticipated the discovery of
q secret dear to him as his life, and takan
steps accordingly. Deep IN the hidden
haunts of the Spessart he had found q
cave probably the former residence of
some religious ascetie-and he had made
the best provision in his power for that
decisive step which, love whispered, the
princess would not refuse to take, for his
sake and her own. While she, in tears,
nat in the solitude Of her chamber, her
LudoH was busy in making preparations
for her rescue.
Whenever princessss fall in love with
their fathers huntsmen it is customary
for royalty to be utterly appalled,. Ac-
cordingly, the Emperor was in most
magnificent passion, and gave strict or
ders that the princess should be confined
to her own chamber. The next morn
ing, however, he made the discovery
Just few hours too late-that the bird
had hoWn-like Love.
He opened the window and nsw away.
The poor old Emperor pined after
her so bitterly that not an unmarried
lady of the court but would have been
willing to console him, had he offered
her his hand. But, much to the disap-
poinszAonk of their phiianthropic inten-
tions, His Majesty did not see how he
could atone for the loss of daughter by
taking wife.
The princess and her LudoH (who
had assisted her out of her confinement)
lived as happily "benath the greenwood
tree, !" as if there had never been such
things as courts and kings. emperors
and principalities. They loved one
another earnestly and well, and (but
this was long agol had no wish to return
to the crowds Of society. Even If they
had, there would have been no safety in
attempting It, for how could either hope
for forgiveness? Meanwhile, the loss Of
his daughter had fallen heavily on the
Emperor. She was the sole living thing
to which his hopes had long been linked,
and all the father and the man were
shaken by the uncertainty OF her fate
and her absence from those places over
Wnlcn 0eI Bm1le8 bur6W u Kdu4aAc5, DeAu-
tiful as the last tints of dying day upon
the anow-crowned bills. The old man
said little, but his grief was deep. Pride
would not permit him to yield to open
lamentations, but in secret he shed many
q tear. His household gods were shiv-
cred By his hearth, and, like Rachel
mourning for her children, he would not
be cumforted.
he quilted Frankfort, and many years
elapsed before he again saw the place
with which were linked so many and
such rad recollections. He had laid
aside his usual sports-the huntsmAn's
spear had rarely been held by him since
tkst day on which he lost daughter;
and Il vas with some surprise that the
coufk heard him announce that he would
hold hunting match on the morrow.
Five years had lsssened his endurance
Of fstirno. and il was with some pleasure
that af the oloss Of day, when the ardor
Of the chaas had separated him from his
suite, he found himself beside rustic
hut, at the door Of which two lovely
children were playing. To dismount
from bis weary ateed, TO enter the cot
tAae, and TO request rsfreshment, was
but the work Of moment, and instant
preparations wers made foy his repast,