The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-01
"And mind.o added the maiden,

| KIND beast would not be worthy OF so
kind a wife"
SO the black saddle-mare was led out,
and saddled and bridled.
I" Dear Barbara" cried Fostern, 81
am the happiest of men. To the top
of the hill and back, you say?'
eyes,
"Then hold your love till am back
Now here's upl'
As he spoke he vaulted into the sad
die and commenced to draw the rein;
but" o! Ali What the - Whoal"
But neither force nor entreaty could
make the black mare go ahead She
only reared and plunged furiously, and
finally, by springing erect on her hind
legs, managed to throw her would-be-
rider. Barbara was sorry, and she said
so-but she could not help it. So John
Fostern went away, protesting to be
very miserable.
Lovers kept coming-some for the
pretty girl herself, and some for the
money and the mill. Among the for
mer at length came Peter Rothendorf.
He was well-looking young man, of
respectable family. Barbara had known
him some time, and she knew him to
be a good, kind man. She felt sure
she should love him if he continued his
addresses, for she respected him now,
and even felt happy when she saw him
coming. But she forgot not her prom
Use to her protector, and she told Peter
the conditions on which he could con-
tinue his visits.
" But that is too easy task for so
rich prize" the young man cried. 81
nj axy,No,.;onno1 hpruapnon onI
as well call the work done"
" But you must do it," said Barbara.
"Of course-and it shall be done at
once, too Hail, happy day, that sees
my love my own"
And with this scrap upon his lips,
Peter Rothendorf went out Martin
led the black mare from the stable, and
as soon as the saddle and bride were
on the young man mounted He
waved his hat to Barbara, and then
whistled to the mare. The animals
first movement was sudden spring,
sideways, to the left--then, as sud
denly, to the right-then three light
ning-like leaps forward, and then, in
an instant, rearing straight upon the
hind feet. Poor Peter Rothendorf
went over the mares head and lighted
in the great water-butt by the fence.
Barbara went sadly into the house, and
Peter went sadly home.
The next whom the maiden fancied
was Rodolf Silthofen. He also passed
through the ordeal, and instead of
reaching the top of the hill upon the
black mares back, found himself in
the mill brook upon his own back.
Poor Barbara began to fear she should
never get husband, for these repeated
failures rather tended to make her want
companion. Within the next year
five young lovers tried the task, and
they all failed. The black mare seemed
bewitched.
By-and-by Barbara was twenty-one
years old, and when she looked into her
mirror she knew she was beautiful.
Eleven lovers-good young men-had
confessed her charms, but they had
been driven off by the strange fatality
attached to the black saddle-mare.
One day a new lover came to the
mill. He said his name was Karl Than
hauser. He was not far from seven
and twenty, with bold, frank face, a
fine, dark eye, glossy hair that hung in
nut-brown curls, and stout and strong
of frame. His voice was like music,
and his smiles like the summers sun.
He had little money, but a great deal
of genius. He came up first to
paint the old mill-not to cover the
fabric itself with paint, but to paint its
counterpart on canvas; and while doing
this he worked in the house, and took
his meals there. After the mill was
done, he painted some more pictures of
scenery thereabouts; and then he said
he must paint Barbara's likeness. To
this the maiden readily consented, for
she liked the young artists companion
ship. Before the portrait was done she
wished he would ask her to be his wife
so he could put her to the test. And
finally the question was proposed
Karl asked her, plainly, to love him
and be his wife. For an instant she
thought of accepting him without run
ming the fearful risk of losing him, for
her heart would break were she to lose
him now. But her truth triumphed
and she told the artist that he must ride
the black saddle-mare to the top of the
high hill and back again ere she could
give him an answer.
And why is this?" Karl asked
Because my old foster-father, Karl
Won Dunderman, made me promise
never to marry a man until he had
done it,"
"And have any tried it YETI"
Yes-eleven have tried, and failed y
Barbara" cried the young man, "
shall not lose you. Thou art mine"
Again Martin put saddle and bride
upon the black mare and led her forth.
Karl gathered the reins in his hand, and
then put his foot in the stirrup. Then,
with cheerful whistle, he brought the
beast gentle cut with his whip, and
she put her nose forward and trotted
off. Away to the top of the hill she
went, and then came back again, and
then he alighted.
"Now what say you?" the youth
cried.
She made no reply. 1t was arranged
that they should be married in one week
On the very evening before the mar.
riage was to take place the lovers sal
together upon the door-stone.
I" Barbara" the youth said, " it is me
you love and not my name, eh?'
Certainly. But why do you ask
such question:"
Because my name is not Thanhau-
SER My true name is Karl Won Dun,
dermanD