Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-03
THE SPECPiR BRIDEGROOM.
By wAsBrscroS IEv1Se.

the Odenwald, q wild and romantic tract
of upper Germany that lies not far from
the confluence OF the Main and the Rhine,
there stood, many, many years since, the
castle OF the Baron Won LandshOrt. 1t Is
now quite fallen TO decay, and almost bur-
led among beech trees and dark mrs, above
which, however, its old watch-tower NAV
still be seen struggling, like the former pos
sessor | have mentioned, to carry nigh
head, and look down upon the nelghboring
country.
the Baron was dry branch of the great
family of Acknowledgment, and inherited
the relics OF the property and all the pride
Of his ancestors. Though the warlke dis
position Of his predecessors had much i'm
paired the family possessions, yet the Baron
still endeavored to keep up some show of
former state. The times were peaceable,
and the German mobiles in general had
abandoned their inconve nient old castles,
perched like eagles' nests among the mount.
aims, and had built moro convenient resi-
dences in the valleys still the Baron re.
manned proudly drawn up in his little fort
ress, cherishiDg, with hereditary inveter-
acy, all the old family feuds. so that he was
on i'll terms with some of his nearest neigh
bors, on account of disputes that had hap.
pened between their great-great. grand
fathers.
The Baron had but one child, a daughter;
but Nature, when she grants but one child,
always cempensates by making it a prodigy;
and so it was with the daughter OF the
Baron. All the nurses. gossips and country
cousins assured her father that she had not
her equal for beauty IN all Germany and
whe should know better than they She
had, moreover, been brought up with great
care under the superintendent Of two
maiden aunts, who had spent some years
OF their early life at one Of the little Ger
man courts, and were skilled in all the
branches of knowledge necessary to the
education of fine lady. Under their in
structions she became s miracle OF accom-
plishments. BY the time she was Is she
could embroider to admiration, and had
worked whole histories OF the saints in
tapestry, with such strength OF expression
IN their countebances, that they looked
like so many souls IN purgatory. She
could read without great difficulty, and
had spelled her way through several
church legends, and almost all the
chivalric wonders Of the Helden-
buch. She had even made considerable
proficiency in writing could sign her own
name without missing letter, and so legi-
bly, that her aunts could read it without
spectaeles She excelled in making little
elegant good-for-nothing lady-hke nick
nscks of al kinds was versed IN the most
abstruse dancing of the day f.: played num-
Der of airs on the harp and guitar and
knew all the tender ballads OF the Minnie
heders by heart.
At the time OF which my story treats
there was great family gathering at the
castle. on an affair OF the utmost impor-
tance, 1t was to receive the destined
bridegroom OF the B4ron's daughter. a
negotiation had been carried on between
the father and an old nobleman of Bavaria,
to unite the dignity of their houses by the
marriage of their children. The prelimlna-
RES had beea conducted with proper pune
tito The young people were betrothed
without seeing each other, and the time
was appointed for the marriage ceremony.
The young Count Won Altenburg had been
recalled from the army for the purpose, and
was actually on his way to the Barons to
receive his bride. Missives had even been
received from him, from Wurtzburg where
he was accidentally detained, mentioning
the day and hour when ne might be ex-
pected to arrive.
The castle was in tumult of prep
aration to give him suitable well
come. The fair bride had been
decked out with uncommon care.
The two aunts had superintendent her
toilet, and quarreled the whole morning
about every article of dress. The young
lady had taken advantage of their contest
TO follow the bent of her own taste; and
fortunately it was good one. She looked
az lovely as youthful bridegroom could de-
sire and the futter of expectation hight
ened the luster of her charms.
In the meantime the fatted calf had been
killed the forests had rung with the
clamor of the huntsmen the kitchen was
crowded with good cheer ; the cellars had
yielded up whole oceans of Rhein-wein and
Ferne-wein and even the great Heidel-
berg tun had been laid under contribution.
Everything was ready to receive the distin-
guished guest with SO Saus und Braus in
the true spirit of German hospitality
the guest delayed to make his appearance.
Hour rolled after hour. The sun that had
poured his downward rays upon the rich
forests of the 0deRwald, now just cleaned
along the submits of the mountains. The
Baron mounted the highest tower, und
strained his eyes in hopes of catching
distant sight Of the Count and his at
tendants Once he thought he beheld
them the sound of horns came float
ing from the valley, prolonged by the
mountain echoes. A number of horsemen
were seen far below, slowly advancing
along the road but when they had nearly
reached the foot of the mountain, they
suddenly struck off in different direction.
The last ray of sunshine departed
hats began to fit by in the twilight THE
road grew DINNER and DINNER to the view !;
and nothing appeared stirring in it, but
now and then peasant tagging homeward
from his labor.
When the Ole castle of Landshort was
in this state of perplexity, very interest
ing scene was transacting In q different
part OF the 0denwald.
The young Count Won Altenburg was
TRANQUILITY pursuing his route in that sober
jog-trot way, in which man travels to-
wards matrimony when his friends have
taken all the trouble and uncertainty of
courtship off his hands, and bride is
waiting for him, as certainly as dinner at
the end of his journey. He had encoun-
tered, at Wurtzburg, youthful companion
IN arms, with whom he had seen some SER
vice on the frontiers Herman Won Stark.
exhaust, one of the stoutest hands, and
worthiest hearts of German chivalry, who
was now returning from the army. His
fathers castle was not far distant from the
old fortress of Landshort, although an
hereditary feud rendered the families hog
tile, and strangers to each other.
In the hearted moment of recogni-
ton, the young friends related all their
past adventures and fortunes, and the Count
gave the whole history of his intended nup-
tails with young lady whom he had never
seen, but of whose charms he had received
the mcst enrapturing descriptions.