The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-23

i
I feel it my duty to warn this young Baron
for L know something of the family, of the
danger which threatens him."
The landlord gazed curiously upon his
unceremonious guests. There was no mis-
taking the man. Courage and determine
ton were stamped upon his fine cut fea-
| lures.
9You are an officer?' he asked inquir-
ingly.
eyes"
"Captain ?"
Exactly
HDisbanded p
"No.'
The quiet smile that accompanied his
answer bewildered the landlord. In fact
the Captain was an enigma that the worthy
host of the Travellers Rest found it i'm
possible to solve.
The appearance of the maid of the hos
telry with flask of wine and the refresh
ments the Captain had ordered, interrupted
the conversation.
The host whispered to the girl and then
hurried away.
"What did he say to your" asked the
Captain abruptly, fixing his keen eyes upon
the girls face.
''To wait upon you while he went up to
the monastery" answered the girl, unhesi-
tatingly.
"The monastery" rejoined the Captain,
leisurely inspecting the contents of the
flask of Rhenish, which seemed to be much
to his satisfaction. "The old ruin upon
the hill yonder Is that occupied?'
"Oh, yes; about year ago party of
wandering monks, whose monastery had
been destroyed by the soldiers of the league,
occupied it, and they have remained there
ever since. They call themselves the Black
Brotherhood of St. Bruno. And very pi-
GUS and self-denying men they are, too.
They keep wrapped up in an odor of sane
tity all the time. They never hold any
communication with the world without, no
stranger is ever admitted beneath their
walls, and whenever one of the brotherhood
comes out, he always has his black cowl
drawn closely over his face. Though |
have been here as long as they have, l
never saw one with his face uncovered. y
II thought you said your uncle was
going there?" remarked the Captain, care
lessly slipping his wine.
"Oh, he only goes to the porters wicket,
he never goes in. He supplies the monks
with food.'
"And how many bottles of this capital
wine month";"
II am sure l don't know how many,
but l know that we have more empty TASKS
at the end of the week than the number of
travellers could possibly have drank.
II thought SO. The close neighborhood
of these good monks accounts for the ex-
celIence of the wine. ST. Bruno, your
very good health Do many travellers pass
this way, sweetheart"
'sNot many, and what seems to me very
singular" continued the girl, bending low
towards the Captain, and speaking in low,
cautious whisper, "none that pass this way
ever return.
''Indeedl What kind of road is it be-
tween this hostelry and the next stopping
placer"
every lonely and desolate. p"
Infested by robbers, eh?''
"I believe so, though my uncle always
assures travellers there is no danger"
"Who is your uncle-the landlord?'
eyes, 1 am his niece, Bonita, if you
please, sir
"Whether please or not, is more than
I can say, but you please me, my pretty
Bonita"
He caught her quickly around the waist
drew her upon his knee, and imprinted a
kiss upon her cherry lips. The girl freed
herself from his embrace and retreated in
confusion, but she did not seem very angry
at the liberty the soldier had taken. 1t
was something to be handsome captain
even in those days.
The sound of approaching wheels now
attracted the attention, and light travel
ing carriage drawn by two horses, driven
by postillion, and accompanied by four
outriders, drove up to the hostelry.
The attendants opened the carriage door
and young man in the handsome uniform
of Pappenheim's dragons, jumped lightly
out and assisted an elegantly attired young
lady to alight from the carriage They
were the Baron Ravensburg, Colonel in
the Imperial service, and his sister, the
Countess Adalia.
The landlord, who had returned from
the monastery, welcomed them, conducting
them into the hostelry, while two rough
looking hostlers took charge of the carriage.
The out-riders stabbed their own animals.
The captain had observed all that passed
with an attentive eye He had expected
much larger escort. The lady was with
out maid and the Baron had but five at
tendants, and yet the landlord told him
there was no accommodation. There was
something wrong.
The Baron came from the hostelry fol-
lowed by Bonita, bearing fresh flask of
Rhenish wine.
''Good evening, Captain" he said cour-
teously, touching his plumed beaver with
graceful action which bespoke the finish
ed cavalier, perhaps you will do me the
favor to drink this flask of Rhenish with
me-"
"With all my heart" answered the cap
tain cheerfully, "mine is empty"
The Baron seated himself on the bench
and Bonita placed the flask and cups before
them
"Stay" cried the Captain, as she was
going, Chow many monks are there in yon-
der castle, my pretty Bonita.
Twenty, 1 think, Captain" she an
swered.
She went into the house. The Baron
regarded the Captain attentively. His
question about the monks seemed to sur
prise him.
'Do you think of retiring from the
world, Captain?" he laughingly inquired,
''and take up your abode in yonder monas-
terry"
II, faith, not l." He filled the cups in
that careless, of-hand manner which per
vaded everything he did, and raised it to
his lips. "Your health, Baron Ravens
burg
"You have the advantage of me, an
swered Ravensburg, as he responded to the
toast.
"Ohl call me Captain Bernard" "
II passed dead horse on the road.
The landlord tells me it was yours. also
saw the bodies of the men slain by you.
A narrow escape, Captain. By the way,
| o,.a x,o,, IN tho Tmpariol service 2''