Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-06-04
A TALE OF OLD VIENNA.

Alfred Austin in Prince Lucifer.
A TALE OF OLD VIENNA.
Of all the gay Viennese who passed us
on the crowded 'sGrabenn there was none
to me as fair as my pretty country wom-
an, Maud Wemyss, of Baltimore. whom
| had the pleasure of escorting. I had
made her acquaintance over the leaden
sarcophagus Of defunct emperor in the
vault of the Augustine convent, where
the bones Of Austria's rulers are on exhi-
bition. Nobody could blame me for fall
ing in love with her, because she really
is the sweetest girl on earth.
So we were walking toward st. Steph-
ems cathedral in charge of paid cice-
rome. He was little old man with
wrinkled face and nose that had, like
his shabby genteel clothes, seen better
days. Now it was by no means an orna-
ment, unless considered from the purely
coloristic standpoint He knew nearly
everything about the brilliant city by
the blue Danube, and where his knowl-
edge was inadequate his imagination
tided him over.
Suddenly Miss Wemyss halted before
strange object, and with little femi-
nine exclamation Of surprise she asked:
"Why, what is this thing for? 1t seems
to be the stump of a tree all covered with
nails And so it was. So closely to-
gether had the nails been driven that not
a piece of the wood as large as pin head
even was visible on the entire surface.
Our guide at once assumed the Gus
tomary attitudes of his guild in action,
which closely resemble the gyrations ac-
companying the spread eagle finish of a
stump speakers oration.
And this is the story he told Of the nail
studded tree:
Several hundred years ago there lived
a blacksmith on this spot which is occu-
pied by a stock brokers' Office now. In
those times blacksmith understood the
working Of iron in all its branches, and
it was as easy for him to hammer the
metal into graceful curves and flowers
for altar ratings as it was to forge
horseshoe or the point Of a hunting
spear.
Our blacksmith had beautiful daugh-
ter, whose hand was sought after by all
the young men for miles around, for she
was as good and pure and gentle as her
eyes were blue. Her hair was golden and
her cheeks were like the glacier snow
upon which the morning sun had cast
his virgin rays.
Her father guarded her as jealously as
the dragon of old ever did guard fair
lady, and many were the silent tears
poor Kathi wept in the solitude of her
''Kemenate" where she had been locked
up. Her only joy was the bunch of fra
grant flowers which she was always sure
to find upon the outer sill of the only
window in her room. No matter how
early she awoke, these sweet messengers
Of kindly thought were sure to be in
their usual place.
Often and often did she arise with the
sun, hoping to catch glimpse Of her
unknown friend, but she was invariably
disappointed.
At last, one morning she failed to find
the flowers. She dressed hurriedly and
concealed herself behind the window
curtain. She watched for the person
whose gift she felt certain to receive
yet And her expectation was not fu-
tile.
But what was her surprise and disap-
pointment when, instead Of the fine
young fellow which her fancy had pict-
ured. she beheld poor, defor1ned
creature with large hump on his back.
Her first feeling Of horror found vent
in a little exclamation, but there was
something SO sad and pleading in his
eyes that were uplifted to hers, that, in
her profound pity for him, she felt sin
cerely ashamed to have exhibited any
sign of annoyance.
ssWas it you who brought me all those
lovely fowers?" she asked in kindly
voice, as he was trying to conceal nose
gay he held in his hand.
In answer he blushed like school girl
and nodded.
Il thank you for them very much"
she continued; "they have been the only
pleasure in my monotonous life. But
how did you know that was locked up
in hereY'
II have heard you sing occasionally"
he answered, 'and from the sound Of
your voice knew you were young and
beautiful, and, alack-a-day, unhappy
withal, and because IL because felt
-sorry-for you, brought you some
flowers from my mothers garden. But
please don't tell master about it, for he
would surely
just then q handsome young fellow,
1.-THE as doe and graceful as q young
cherry tree, appeared on the scene, and
greeting the hunchback affectionately,
he exclaimed:
Brother, have been looking for you
this last hour; mother is full sorely vexed
about your Absence" then, looking up,
he noticed the young girl at the window
just as she withdrew her blushing face.
He bowed to her with courtly grace
and raised his iaunty red cap, and she, Of
course, could not but return the courtesy.
Every morning after this incident there
were two nosegays on the window sill
instead of one
In time the old blacksmith yielded to
the opportunities Of his wife and her
friends, and agreed to look around for
husband for his daughter.
According to the customs Of the time
his son-in-law would have to be also o
blacksmith. In order to make sure that
Kathi's future liege lord was master Of
his trade the old man constructed an in
genious lock, which he put on the door
Of his daughters chamber.
Whoever had attempted in vain to
open the door had to drive an iron nail
into certain tree, but the prize of the
successful man was to be the hand of the
fair Kathi
But if none should succeed in unlock
ing the door then the maiden was to en-
ter convent as soon as the tree was Gov
cred to a mans height
Full many swain whose heart had
been filled with hope, left sorely disap-
pointed after an unsuccessful attempt.