Wichita eagle., 1889-08-13
IN THE BLACK FOREST.
The Beautiful Legend Connected with One
of Its Remarkable Lakes.

The Beautiful Legend Connected with One
of Its Remarkable Lakes.
The Schfuchsee is the largest lake in the
Black Forest and one Of hemost picturesque.
During the spring and summer it is a great
resort for invalids from Srasburg and
Heidelburg, attracted TO the neighborhood
by the bracing quality of the air and the fine
water in this vicinity.
The Ieke itself affords excellent bathing,
which is said TO be great restorative IN
cases of chronic disability or slow GONZALES
cence The origin of this Curative power is
explained by another characteristic legend,
which, although it excites the ridicule of the
physicians of today, has nevertheless the
merit Of accounting for fact otherwise IN
explicable, like its sister stories of the Black
Forest.
At the period of the Crusades when so
many good Christians left their homes and
native land to go to the deliverance OF the
Holy City, there lived in this country brave
warrior called Ccnrad.von Feldberg. He ac-
companied Godfrey of Bou!ogne to the siege
of Jerusalem, where his stout lance had laid
many fierce Sasacen in the dust
Conrad was also the companion and friend
OF Tancred, and Raymond of Toulouse.
After he saw the crescent go down before the
cross, and had Kissed the holy sepulcher with
his pfous EpS. he prepared to return TO the
land of his fathers, where he was the possess
or of lordly castle in the Black Forest.
Here too fair maiden, to whom he was
betrothed, awaited his coming with an anx-
ious heart; and during her lovers long alb
sence it was her daily custom TO ascend to
the top of a lofty tower, whence she could
see the spot where they renewed their mu-
tual vows on the eve of has departure,
The brave crusader reached the Rhine land
in safety and arrived in the valley of the
Sohluchsee. One evening, as he was passing
through the forest, he came TO a kke which
he did not remembsr having seen before 1t
was a lovely and peaceful spot. Night was
at hand The turf was cool and soft, aud
Conrad, weary from his long journey, could
not resist the temptation TO repose He COM
mended his soul to God and lay down on the
green sward with no thought of danger near.
At this era the Scluchsee was haunted by
fairies, who had many traits in common with
their neighbors. the " Ills, or dancing spirits
OF the Mumnselsea. Soon beautiful female
form arose from the tranquil waters Of the
lake She saw the young Crusader sleeping
IL Tue ulOOhIiSAl d4ii ea<Sd Ou LIZ AkAAi>StL1o
features with admiration. Then she envel-
oIei him In her long sea green tresses and be
gan to chant & weird melody that had power
TO cast a spell over any one who should bear
1t even in slunber. While she sang her feet
moved lightly TO a magic measure and seemed
to cares the smooth surface of the lake.
In few moments Conrad arose like one in
dream and followed the fairy, who extend
ed her white arms toward him
Conrad felt The water glide beneath his
feet, vet be ma not draw back Still tbs
fairy sang her strange melody aud stiIl Con-
rad advanced But just as she held out her
arms to drag him down into the enchanted
lake. 5 ccasecrated relic that be had always
worn around bis neck fell into the wafer
All at once the lsAe vanished. and with it the
beautiful sprr,e who had risen from its crys-
tai depths.
The good crusader, saved by his piety, re-
turned home and eSpous-i the maiden OF his
choice-Adapted from the French Of Arnedes
Archari