Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-11-15
THE YOUNG COUNTESS.

| - ''s"~ ~ "SAh" tAstS tiSN lACNi
upon, those groups of -brOwed.
angry men congregated on the confines
of the little hamlet, but brave one too,
withal and as the band of horsemen.
winding up the narrow mountain deiile
with the red rays of tho declining sun
glittering on their Furnished arms and
gorgeous trappings, finally disappeared
from view, and the iron clang of hoofs
sounded no longer on their listening
ears, they turned to one another with
white faces and eyes in which the red
glow of anger burned with deadly light
There will be splendor at the castle
even if our children pine and die in the
cottages below and our wives toll till
death or disease overtakes them," cried
Peter, mis- brother, shaking his strong
right arm in impotent wrath, and from
the lips of his companions round about
rose hoarse murmur, low, deep, and
terrible rs the first ominous mutter-
ing of an approaching tempest
They are not only designed TO add
to our lady's state, but when, frenzied
| by our wrongs, we rebel and claim as
men our just due, they will be sent
among us to devour us like pack of
| hungry wolves unless we consent to
lay down our remnant of manhood and
submit to their might like cowardly
slaves
''Nobly said, Steinert" chimed in q
hundred voices, and Steinert, the smith,
with the black brand of the forge vet
fresh on forehead and brawny arm.
threw back his long hair from his heat
cd face with gesture of impatience and
disdain.
''Our master, the count. saves ana
boards even to the drops of his own life
blood he cried his y9ee Sili ringi ind for
whom?
"a slender child that could crushx
in my grasp as l would crush q helpless
flower. For her sake we are bowed
down. and oppressed and robbed of our
honest earnings that she may 90 shod
in dainty hose. and clad in costly ap.
parcl.
"A curse on her young head in whose
veins flows the last blood of the Won
Fernalds.'
He ceased. and for moment silence
fell.
Then. while the lurld light of anger
deepcned in their eyes, hundred
throats echoed back the burden of his
words, "a curse on her. aye. 4 curse on
her!''
''Sec. he comes!'' suddenly cried
Hans Breckert, shading his eyes with
one toil-embrowned hand. 1T is thy
father Steinert. Now for news from
the caste. Heaven grant the tidings be
of chey...
Carl Steincrt. with his once tail form
bowed. and his white hair blowing
loosely in the wind, came feebly down
the mountain path, and in answer to
the eager queries that greeted him, bent
his aged face sorrowfully on his with
cred hands.
"Speak, father, whispered the young
er hurriedly. sis it yea, or nay?'
The elder Steinert raised his face, and
the silence of death ensued.
''Oh, that | should live TO tell the
tale!" he answered, his voice shaking
with passionate vehemence.
1.-The count utterly refused to remit
this unjust tax, whose payment will
bring poverty, mayhap ruin to our men
and misery and weeping to our women.
''Our master has forgotten that in the
sight of Heaven we are His children.
His answer is nay"
''And if we resist?"
"rhen fire and sword will be your
portion
Not murmur rose from the lips of
those round about him. The shadows
fell, and after them came the night,
and still they stood speechless, but the
anger in their eyes burned red and ever
redder till they slowed like fiery stars
in dusky sky. Finally, q low hoarse
tone broke the stiffness.
sShort shall be his time for relent-
ing. Brothers, remember, five ewes
hence
Then they moved and shook them
selves like Gagged animals, eager to
throw off the shackles that bound them,
and the younger Steinert, raising his
mighty left arm aloft. swore with dead
" menace, "Before Heaven, high-born
churl though he be, he shall rue this
day And the rugged rocks, rising
mass upon mass till their slender peaks
pierced the sky, sent back the tardy
echo, "Fivc ewes hence"
Once-twice thrice the sun rose and
gladdened the earth with its golden
beams, and life went on. Three times
it set, and the crimson light from the
west FURNISHED the many window tur-
rets of Stowassah Castle till they shono
like molten fire, and bathed even the
tiny hamletS that lay ut the mountains
foot in flood of transtiguring light.
and still no word OF rclenting came from
the tyrant lord.
The fourth day the harvests lay un-
claimed in the field, and the purple
grapes blushed unnoticed in the vine
wards. The fifth eve the sun went down
and many an eye turned TO watch its
westering course, but even its crimson
flame had no power to tighten the
sombre. gloomy brows, and when the