Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-04-23

ing of an approaching tempest.
They are not only designed 10 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 a
hundred voices, and Steinert, the smith,
with the black brand of the forge yet
fresh on forehead and brawny arm,
threw back his long hair from his heat
ed face with agesture of Impotence and
disdain.
"Our master, the count, saves and
boards even to the drops of his own life
blood" he cried, his voice ringing out
like the tones Of trumpet, land for
whomp
"A slender child that | could crush
in my grasp as would crush helpless
flower. For her sake VIC are bowed
down, and oppressed and robbed of our
honest earnings that she may go shod
in dainty hose, and clad in costly APP
parel.
"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 lurid light of anger
deeponcd in their eyes, q hundred
threats echoed back the burden Of his
words, "A curse on her! aye, curse on
hertz
See! he comes!' suddenly cried
Hans Brcckert, shading his eyes with
one toil-embrcwned hand. ut is thy
father, Steinert Now for news from
the castle Heaven grant the tidings b
of cheer >
Carl Steinert, with his once tall 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 l 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 il we resist?"
"Then fire and sword will be your
portion
Not a 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 glowed like fiery stars
in dusky sky. Finally, q low hoarse
tone broke the stiffness.
"Short 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
ly 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, Five ewes hence"
Once-twice-t 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 shone
like molten fire, and bathed even the
tiny hamlets that lay at the mountain
foot in a flood of TRANSPORTING light,
and still no word of relenting came from
the tyrant lord.
The fourth day the harvests lay I'M
claimed in the field, and the purple
grapes blushed unnoticed in the vine
yards. 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
last pearly tints died away into the grey
of even they grew darker and yet more
sullen.
Carl. Carl, like it not" walled
Greta, the younger Steinerts gentle
wife. II saw her once and she looked
like an angel in her rich blue robe, with
her yellow hair floating about her child
face like cloud of gold.
"Shs smiled upon me, too. and it re-
minded me of our own fair little ono
whom the good Christ claimed for his
own many month ago.
Surely she is not TO blame for the
sins Of her wicked parents. Promise me
that thou wilt not touch hair of her
silken head"
But Stcinert turned upon her face
like night, and commanded sternly:
"Hush thee, woman"
A giantin strength, he was like a child
in nature.
When the moon rose and shed its sill
very luster over grey crag and lonely
mountain tarn, it showed the steep de-
file peopled, but not with richly-clad
rctainers and steeds covered with gor-
geous trappings.
Only shadows they seemed to be, but
they were the shadows of men-stal-
wart men from the hamlets below. with
anger burning in their very glances,
and hatred of oppression ragingin their
hearts.
, Stowassah Castle reared its proud
turrets from foundations of solid rock,
and the darkness lowered like mantle
about its ancient UNCOVERED walls.
A few lights glimmered from the
stained windows sunk deeply in the
heavy masonry, but no sound was
heard save the cry of passing bird
and the mournful sigh of the night
"Hist!' whispered Peter Breckert,
.his followers will be stationed in the
entrance hall, and we must surprise and
overpower them if we wish success to be
ours
, Softly they trod the grecnsward. eau
tiously they mounted the wide stone
steps with the couchant lions of theVon
Fernalds keeping guard on either side,
and stood motionless, with bated breath,
under the noble archway of the very
castle itself. No armed foe sprang up
e to check their entrance. There was nc
q shout of alarm followed by the answer.
ing clash and clangor of steel. Only
dead silence greeted them.
With footsteps that seemed to hush
thapoaluos nm tho marhln nave they