The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-20

Yes said another guest, IF what Is
written in our chronicle is true, our commu-
nifty was formerly rich beyond compare.
Once the emperor visited tie city, and it was
an ancient custom among the inhabitants to
honor the emperor with gift, namely, a
sheep and lamb; why just this and nothing
more | cannot sey. Therefore the people
brought the emperor the usual offering, only
the sheep was Of silver and the lamb Of gold.
And his 5esty Is said TO hare been very
much amazed at it.
s'They say. 200, began q third, ''that in old
times there stood near here village which
has now disappeared. The village possessed
inexhaustible silver mines, and the people
hardly knew what to do with the excessive
riches. Then, as is apt to be the case, they
became proud and naughty, and, in their ar
rogance, played ninepins with balls and pins
of gold. and committed all sorts of crime be-
sides: and one night the village, with chill
dren and ninepins, was swallowed up, and at
the present day it is hardly known where ii
stood"
Now the landiady. who came and went
with keys and mugs, entered into the CONVEX
sation of the men you have heard the
story. but haven't told 1t correctly. The case
of the sunIen village is altogether different.
The people who dweit there spent good lives
aad bad ones, ike ourselves. They were
prosperous. but they did not play with golden
ninepins Now, it once happened that a
whole year passed without death among
the inhabitants of the village, and when All
Souls day came they said, Why should we
pray and mourn7 We have carried nobody
TO the grave in the last year So they were
-, a,,I o,,I
ulted as in the joyful time Of May Only one
workman, who WAS piously inclined, took no
part in the goclesS doings, but went to
church in the next village. And when he
returned home at evening his village had
disappeared. A golden cross only rose above
the ground. That was the cross on the church
spire. Little by little that sank too, and now
grain grows over the place where the village
once lay. But from time TO time it rises and
becomes visible, and there are people living
who have seen it-but it is not well to talk Of
such things" Thus spoke the lardlady and
drew long breath.
What he had heard gave the stonecutter
much to think about. He had only half heard
what had been said at the drinking table and
looked constantly at the gold ring on his
finger.
When the watchman'S cry sounded on the
street and the guests left the table for the
night, Diethart went to his room. He had
Travelled long distance, but sleep would not
come to him tonight. He sat up awake on
his couch, and thought about his adventure
and the beautiful silent maiden. Again he
fastened his eyes on the ring and tried to find
some engraven mark. The outside was
smooth; perhaps there might be something
written on the inside, and he drew the ring
off his finger.
Then the door opened gently, and into the
room stepped the one who had worn the ring
before. With joyful fear Diethart jumped
up and reached out his longing arms to the
lovely woman, and the silent maiden sank,
blissfully smiling, on his breast, and returned
the caresses of the loving youth.
When the stars began to grow pale the
beautiful, mysterious maid stole away from
her lovers arms, and now she gained the
power Of speech.
Now we must part" she said, "but we
shall see each other again. As often as you
long for me, take the ring from your finger,
and l will come to you"
''And do you tell me nothing more, my
hearts love, about yourself and the place
where l first saw you"
She looked at him earnestly and laid her
finger silently on her mouth. Then she went
toward the door.
"And may not even know your nameW
Il am called Sigune, answered thu beauti-
full girl. Once more she waved her white
hand, then left the room as silently as she
had come.
In the COURTYARD the cocks were Growing
TO announce the dawn OF day
For the young stonecutter a blissful time
had begun. All day long he worked on the
building with hammer and chisel; but when
night came on. and the other young men sat
behind the full tankards, or joined in the
merry dance with their sweethearts, Dlethart
drank in love and happiness from rosy
mouth and il the arms of his Sigune forgot
the world.
''Oh, why has the day so many hours,
when 1 cannot have you with me.' said he
once, intoxicated with love, to his beautiful
wife. "Why must l only caress you Sc
cretlya Why may not follow you to your
silent homer
do not wish that" she replied, anxiously.
"Woe to me if you should once compel me to
take you with me. Listen TO me and take
my words TO heart know that you love
lile ELbONC ON q bub Ou llIGli
creatures, and your fidelity is not as steadfast
as the everlasting stars. If another woman
should gain power over you and your heart
should turn away from me, then take this
ring which l have given you from your hand
and throw 1t in the deepest well. Then the
chain which binds me &c you, and you to me,
viii be broken. you will forget me, and may
never come to you again. But if you should
call me after another has taken my place,
then you will be obliged to follow me to the
place you know, and from there will there be
no return for you"
The beautiful Sigune spoke these words
with sadness, but he kissed the tears from
her lashes, and swore that ne would always
be true
The most beautiful girl of all the city was
Miss Elsa. the only child Of the wealthy ar
cbitect, but she was proud, and of all the
burgers sons who courted her favor not
one was good enough for the naughty
maiden. Some weeks since a change had
taken place in Elsa. She had taken a fancy
to none other than the strange young stone
cutter who worked for her father. But the
youth had no eyes for the young girls beau
~, and the bealning glanceS which she cast
at Diethart'S robust, youthful form, when he
entered her fathers house, made his heart no
warmer than the eyes of the carved angel
over the church door. That disturbed
the patrician's daughter, but vainly she
strove against the love which had arisen in
her proud heart
With a woman's art she knew now TO bring
if about that Diethart became dearer and
dearer 10 her father. and that finally he came
and went in the house daily. With her own
hand she poured the golden wine into his
glass, and at the same time her arm brushed
his brown curly locks as if unaware; she
The Int fnr. hir,, h.ar LIS n,,L