Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-01-11


Guard, the Baron Won Steingraff,
He was the sole descendant OF an an
eient Syrian family that had lived
torcenturies in a castle near Salzburg.
A finer-hearted fellow could not be
found in his imperial majesty's do
minions, nor better soldier in his
army, than Friedrich. Frank and
gay as a companion, he was afavor-
lite with his own sex, and a good fu-
ture, to say nothing of a good prop
erty, made him not unacceptable with
old mammas and young daughters.
Friedrich, however, seemed to be no
marrying man though he haG nothing
misogynistic iii his nature. When our
friendship had grown into close in
timacy happened to banter him on
the subject of,matrimony, but Fried
rich assured me gTavely that he had
resolved never to marry.
"Not," said he. that | have any
Discrimination to the matrimonial
state, but Fate, cruel and memorable
has forbidden me to enter it.
stared at him in silent surprise
After a moment he told me how,
when a child, he had met o Ziegen-
nerinn, or gypsy woman, from Boz
hernia, as he crossed a wood near
the schloss. She had stopped him.
looked into his hand and said
young Herr-when you 60 to
marry a wife. take heed. The way
to Gods altar lies through Gods
acre!"
"WelIl'' cried /, laughing, chat
was safe prophecy. A man cannot
well get to the church door unless he
walks through the church yard"
Friedrich shook his head "That
was not her meaning," said he, "but
rather that !, or she whom | shall
wish tomake my bride must die on the
bridal day Therefore, dear friend (
shallnevermarry. You may think me
superstituous and a fool, but there
have been stranger things known to
our familyI' Heshivered and turned
pale, but just as | would have ques-
toned him, he laid his hand on my
shoulder and added, AMI now,
Hauptmann, let us never speak OF
this again.
A year passed by and / was far
away in the north of Germany, when
/ got letter from Won Steingraff.
1t announced his coming marriage
with a young lady of his own country.
my destiny" he wrote, what it
may be, must work out. / could
not resist my passion for my little
Roeschen. So come to me as soon
you can, and who knows but your
happier Interpretation of the gipsy's
prophecy may be the true one?"
/ laughed heartily as | closed the
letter. The old story Woman's
tongue had over come mans resolve
pretty Roeschen had whipped the
withered gypsy from the field And
so saying, | packed for my journey
and tile morrow found me en- route.
At the close of a lovely autumn day
/ drove along the road between Salz-
bury and St. Gilgen where it skirts
the picturesque little lake OF Mond-
see, so snugly embosomed in precipi-
tous hills clothed with pine and larch.
Not far from this stood the schloss
of my friend, built close to the ruins
of ~ suppressed monastery and shelf
cred by the dark forest on whose tree
tops Intervening sun glinted warmly.
Thither worked my way-but slowly
for the approach was steep and
circuitous and by the time ] reached
the entrance and stood the heavy
arches of the doorway, the sun had
setand thegreat, stone mass OF build
ing was lying in gloom This gave
me y strange, unpleasant feeling,
which increased as stood knocking
for many minutes at the heavy open