The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-09

! you came up the drive. Well, sir, a
long time ago the Baron Steingraif Of
that day, who lived then in the schloss
| higher up in the hills above the kro-
| tensee. had quarrel with the abbot
! The baron was fierce aud naughty
man that cared little for church and
priest, and the abbot was AS naughty in
his way, SO the fued grew deadliec every
day.
AT last the abbot swore on the holy
re les of st. Wolfgang that he would ex-
communicate the baron. And the baron
swore by the cross on his swordhilt that
lie would tear the frock Off the abbot 5
back and drive him and his monks ont
! of the monastery. The abbot was as
good as his word, and so, on the feast
of the BILE >sed St Woligang, he aud his
monks walked in procession through
the church up to- the altar. and the
great book was orened and the anathe
mas read, and then the bell was tolled
and the lighted candles extinguished.
and thus the baron was accommodated.
The bell was still tolling and the priests
were on their way down the aisle when
the shouts of the baron and his wild
men alarms, his iagers and holzknecth
rang at the walls, and sledges and great
pine beams We're battering at the gates.
One mad fellow seized u splinter OF wood
and lit it at the altar and then fired the
panels, and the roof and the dry wood
were all soon in a blaze The baron
seized the bell rope and rang out loud
| peal OF triumph. But the abbot walked
| up to him, dressed in all his robes, and
holding up his hands, cursed him in the
name of the b'essed Trinity, and said
"'As the evil one peals that hell now
! through your hands, SO shall he peal it
from the body of you and your son aud
Of your sons son. Amen.
so saving. the abbot called his
monks, and they went their way down
! to the Lake of Aver. But the baron
and his followers threw themselves upon
the holy men and tore their frocks from
their backs and threw their books i,.to
! the lake. The baron then seized the
monastery lands and he'd them, too
for might was right in those days, and
he built the present castle hard by the
the ruins of the monastery. lest the
abbot and his retainers should rally
and seek to regain their old posse ,sions.
Time passed on, and the baron had
well-nigh forgotten that abbot or monk
had ever dwelt within the old black.
ened monastery walls. One cold win.
ter's night the baron sat with his re
tainers in the great hall drinking and
reveliing, as was their won't The wind
howed in gusts titfullv. aud in the
pauses loud knock was heard at tn.
oahen door. The Thurhuter, when he
orened the door, saw no one, though
the moon was at that moment shining
through a rift of tie clouds. but he fei
cod blast sweep across his face. s.
he shut the door again, aud thought i
must have been the storm that deceived
lin.
The next moment those in the hal
saw a monk III a back habit, with
cowl drawn over his head, enter ant
walk without word to where the baro,
was sitting. Then the monk drew bacl
his hood. and an old withered face
CHASTITY pale, but stern, and fierce
gazed undaunted on the baron.
'Tausend sakermentr shouted tn,
baron, starting in rage, dog of an ab
bot, what brings you here? Trundl
out the shaveiing, and set tie dogs OF
him.
"The abbot raised his skinny arm
and said liz hollow and solemn voice
} This night twenty years you aud / met
/ / am on my way to the abbey; folio,
, me.
The abbot retired as he came, n
, one daring to hinder or harm the hol
) man.
ITO the hangn:an with him. crie
} the baron. choking with rage an
} springing after him. That moment til
| old tell pealed ont with wild can
from the tower. The baron fell to tn
ground. When they lifted him up il
, was dead.
J Twas said he died in a fit. Mayb
SO. But that very night one of tn
holZknechts returning to the villag
! from the Riesen up on the hill whc.
he had been working, declared that 3
Y he passed the tower he heard the ol
$ bell pealing, and saw procession {
monks following a bier and disappear
r ing within the ruins. Next mornin
f died the day before at st. Wolfgang'
l but where or when he was buried nt
: body ever knew"
+ "Oid Klaus ceased and sat gazing
: the fire.
t "A strange, wild tale," said lightl,
e unwilling to confess myself moved L
e the story. Has the ghost bell eve
s been heard since that time?'
r, Old Klaus shuddered. "Av, sir" /
:. answered gloomily, whenever the so,
e passes from the body of Won Site,
t graft, but l am not willing to belies
d that the evil one dare claim the spir
d of my dear young master-one so goo
and noble as he!" and again the ol
G servant fell to weeping.
v Hush. Klaus. lest you desturb him
d | said. hastily, although aglance at N
:, poor friedrich we'll nigh assured Il
d that few sounds would disturb hi
e more. Then paced the room and o1
s. into the hall and down the stairs, for
# heard the sound of horses at the gate
and knew that the physician had com
J. l let him 60 mp alone, while l sat ft
r few moments in the chamber l hs
l. been shown to on my arrival I cou
e not take my mind from the story of Il
" ghost bell. l stole up once more to Il
Il sick-room. The physician sat at Il
W foot of the bed. Friedrich seemed
e be sleeping .quietly. l hoped til
e might be good sign, but, to my j
Q. quiry, the old physicion shook his he:
d sadly.
Ia "'Tis the sleep that will wake only
d death. he answered sadly. An ho
!, will decide. bnt be prepared for Il
l worst. csl give Won but little hope
it Imrelled by / knew not what, su
1T denly asked
] doctor, what could have caus,
lie this sudde illness? My friend has HI
g the most perfect health all his lie.
le once told me he had never been i
ID What could have caused this fever?'
d, "God alone can tell" answered t
[ Dhysician. piously. 1.-The younp bar