Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-07-23

you came mp the drive. Well, Dir, ii
long time ago the Baron Steingraff Of
that dav, who lived then in the sch1oss
higher up iii the hills above the Kro-
tensee. had quarrel with the abbot.
The baron was a fierce and naughty
man that cared little for church and
priest, and the abbot was as naughty in
his way, SO the fued grew deadlier every
day.
AT last the abbot swora on the holy
relics Of st. Wolfgang that he would ex-
communicate the baron. And the baron
swore by the cross on his swordhilt that
he would tear the frock off the abbot's
back and drive him and his monks out
Of the monastery. The abbot was as
good as his word, and so, on the feast
Of the blessed ST. Wolfgang, he and his
monks walked In procession through
the church up to the altar, and the
great book was opened and the anathe-
mas read, and then the bell was tolled
and the lighted candles extinguished.
and thus the baron was excommunicated
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 jagers and holzknecth
rang at the walls, and sledges and great
pine beams were battering at the gates.
One mad fellow seized 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 blaze. The baron
seized the bell rope and rang out loud
peal of triumph. But the abbot walked
mn IN 1tv,, lya. Ill l., H.
holding up his hands, cursed him in the
name OF the blessed Trinity, and said !:
AS the evil one peals that bell now
through your hands, SO shall he peal it
when he claims the soul as it passes
from the body of you and your son and
of your sons son. Amen!'
SO saying, 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 into
the lake. The baron then seized the
monastery lands and held 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 possessions.
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
revealing. as was their won't The wind
howled in gusts fitfully, and in the
pauses loud knock was heard at the
oaken door. The Thurhuter, when he
opened the door, saw no one, though
the moon was at that moment shining
through rift of the clouds, but he felt
cold blast sweep across his face. So
he shut the door again, and thought it
must have been the storm that deceived
him.
"The next moment those in the hall
saw monk in black habit, with q
cowl drawn over his head, enter and
walk without word to where the baron
was sitting Then the monk drew back
his hood, and an old withered face,
CHASTITY pale, but stern, and fierce,
gazed undaunted on the baron.
"Fausend sakermentp shouted the
baron, starting in rage, dog of an alb
bot, what brings you here? Trundle
out the shaveling, and set tie dogs on
him.
"The abbot raised his skinny arm,
and said in hollow and solemn voice:
This night twenty years you and I met.
/ am on my way to the abbey; follow
me-
"The abbot retired as he came, no
one daring to hinder or harm the holy
man.
ITO the hsngn.an with him. cried
the baron, choking, with rage and
springing after him. That moment the
old Eell pealed out with a wild clang
from the tower. The baron fell to the
ground. When they lifted him up he
was dead.
Twas said he died in fit. Maybe
so. But that very night one of the
holzknechts returning to the village
from the Riesen up on the hill where
he had been working, declared that as
he passed the tower he heard the old
bell pealing, and saw procession of
monks following bier and disappear
ing within the ruins. Next morning
tidings came that the old abbot had
died the day before at st. Wolfgang's,
but where or when he was buried no.
body ever knew"
"Oid Klaus ceased and sat gazing in
the fire.
"A strange, wild tale" I said lightly,
unwilling to confess myself moved by
the story. Has the ghost bell ever
1xoan heard oipoa that 4;poo 90
Old Klaus shuddered. SAY, SIR" he
answered gloomily, whenever the soul
passes from the body of Won Stem
graf, but am not willing to believe
that the evil one dare claim the spirit
of my dear young master-one so good
and noble as he!" and again the ole
servant fell to weeping.
Hush. Klaus. lest You desturb him. !"
/ said. hastily, although glance at my
poor friedrich we'll nigh assured me
that few sounds would disturb him
more. Then paced the room and out
into the hall and down the stairs, for /
heard the sound of horses at the gates,
and / knew that the physician had come.
let him go up alone, while sat for
a few moments in the chamber I had
been shown to on my arrival. / could
noftake my mind from the story of the
ghost bell. | stole up once more to the
sick-room. The physician sat at the
foot of the bed. Friedrich seemed to
be sleeping lquietly. I hoped this
might be a good sign, but, to my in
quiry, the old physicion shook his head
sadly.
'Tis the sleep that will wake only in
death. he answered sadly. An hour