The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-17
LEGEND OF THE RHINE.
nN BERNARD nIessY .

F, BERNARD BicsBY. Near quaint old town On the eastled Rhine, Stands a gabled cottage, of massive stone, Over whose sindows the wandering sine, Tendcrly clinging, for years has grown, And down by the brink Of the glisin ing stream, Is d gnaried and ancient willow tree, Oi a icgend strange the Wondrous theme I.c, nc tell the tale as twas told 10 me. Long 4eaIs ago. in that house by the hill Gretchen. the beautiful lived, and sang With .i oice that rival d the wildbird'S irill, TT 8scr the forests the echoes rang, And thc peasant would hold the lifted spade. Nri spe!l-bound iisten-then. haply say. ''Ho9 >weeily. hoM purely our own dear maid.
 cur beautiful Gretchen sings to day. And the grand old Baroness Van Der We'll. = She lis ed in yon castle whose ruin you see, And oaned half province. from here 10 the ~cheldt.--
 Said. Gretchen, the singer. my maid shall he
 And she sang. like bird m costly cage, Pure of heart and knowing no wrong, And all, from the lord 10 the iowliest page, Wondered to list 10 her golden song. But one ~ho heard her. the baron's son. Listen'd en,raneed as by magic spell; His flcree, false love by her beauty won A deep in his soul her wild notes fell. He "A his percd ords of love in her ear Breaihcd soft no,hings-,he old. old tale But Gretchen fled in a trembling fear, No tempter's words could her aSsail Reckless and told. and but bound by the tis Of fis own hot pas sion, the cosard stroyc By foul device. by craven lie. 1 Q have revenge for hI> wasted love. X golden cross he tore from hIs breast. And hid II away m the mainden's hood, Where others found Il. and sore iIstres sed, \ aranded thief poor Gretchen stood. Those were the d.t oi long ago. When might was right, and what tho worst
 The Law Vas but ta ~ord and blow, iHi e'cr 10 the poor the blow came first. Dcsthwas the boom. and the sentence pas sed Gretchen, the singer, must surely die She eraVe- one favor. one boon. the last >hc III ask ere her soul shall hcaS en~arc fH
 she break, ,taIe from willow tree. And N hiIc all wonder. she wrHtis her way Io that >poi on the riser bank you see. And plants il irm in the deep. red clay. Oh, God - she marmuTs, Fl place II here \ witness tar for all to know Whether nY soul in guilt, fear
 l. black, or pare as the dti.en snoA. If aiih justice meet my doom,
 Let Il Wither and die an accarsed thing B4t i not guilty, . iea II bloom.
 fad bud in Inc hreatl oi tho h1im1 sprine =
 Then shc marched 10 dca,h. rot pale n5r WaR.
 < Wiihh song on her iips she passed away No charm oi musir nuM Gretchen gone. h. simplo. .oF.oNIng peasant ~aN iH -lrng that IA < n ti4c lonely eied Rlrsi fofih H. 4 giorN ni bud and leaf. .Aas! ths s:i!.sSs-Fs e..a lsf.= fl. hand ei tad .Aad knew ih.ii theif Gretchen VI, no base lhici
 :.e :::;::sfsiii fsiii, sssTs.5 oi wrath ou the head of him ~he had done their dafling wrong Masses were sung, and prayer were sad For the sou. of the murdered Child o Song.
 Long years roli'si on. Meath the sturd, tree.
 One moonlight night ! heure stood GSAni. haggard. careworn. Yes, twas he The wretch who had shed the maiden :, blood
 One scared. quick look at the rolling tide. One gasp of despair, shrek oi woe. Gretchen, come ." he wildly cried. And sprang m the boiling depths below.
 --C hffayP Ers