The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-07-29
A NIGHT
--.OF.--
TERROR

much row street on the right and
then into n curiously twisted alley
leading into one rather wider. Here
some of the houses were large, too;
all had high pitched gable ends, but
few of them had large hofs, and the
living rooms were on the ground floor.
Scarcely two houses were alike In
either Of the narrow streets. At the
angle they made stood a house re-
markable for it's carving OH the gable
and on the oriel at side. Two
angels We're used as brackets to sup
port this window. In a niche above
the nail studded door was q figure of
Our Lady with the Holy Child in her
arms. The windows We're low and
square, protected by ornamental iron
work.
Franz opened a little door made in
the large carriage gates and went into
q small covered court yard. He
stopped and looked around, but there
was nc sign of departure here. Then he
closed the door behind him. The court
yard was dark, only lighted by the
window Of a great stone stair case at
its further end; and on this murky
afternoon, If Franz had not known his
way we'll, he must have stumbled
against the steps leading up to a door
on the left of the entrance; but ever
since the death of his parents, some
years ago, he had been reared in his
grandmother's old home. He hurried
up to the steps and opened the heavy
door, pushed away the curtains that
screened it's inner side and went in.
The large, low looked gloomy,
but it felt warm and comfortable to
the lad WING had been walking so many
miles. Dark WOODEN curtains were
drawn in front Of the windows, and a
fire of logs blazed upon the broad
chimney, showing the dark recesses,
the projecting oak beams and the white
ceiling between them. The cumbrous
table and chairs We're all Of dark oak,
50 were the floor and the walls. This
room was the cooking as well as the
stove stood in the corner, there was a
broad open hearth. Beside the hearth
an old woman sat in a three-cornered
wooden chair. Behind her was q huge
folding black screen; her spinning
wheel was at her side. She was not
spinning; her witAeped hands were
folded together on her knees, apd she
sat quite still and silent. When the
quick glance toward It. but she smiled
when she saw her grandson.
!. Franz went up to her and kissed
her forehead:
"Well my boy, has your time passed
pleasaptly7" she said.
/ As the freight shope on his fair
hair and %supbroWAed face her smile
vanished, for there was such 2 sad
seriousness in his bright blue eyes.
"Mnat is it, my child7' she said.
'Tell me, Franz, what has happened to
your
The boy looked round the room and
then he said abruptly: Nothing has
happened 10 me and I left my uncle
, well; but | have to tell the worst news
you ever heard, Grandmother, where's
MagdalenaF'
she will be here presently-she Is
with Gretchen upstairs. But what Is
the bad news, my boyT
Every one is running out Of Freiten-
berg out Of the way Of the French.
They are coming down the hill and
across the bridge like a flock Of fright
ened sheep. I saw all the councillors
leaving the Rathhaus as l came up
the H~errengasse.'
Frau Herber raised herself; she drew
herself up by grasping the arms of her
chair and sat erect, looking earnestly
at Franz. "What do you mean, child?
The Raths do not hold council ut this
time Of day."
"But, grandmother, don't you see,'
he began, fmpatiently; then, checked
by the pale, still face so near his own,
he went on more quietly: II had better
begin at the beginning, and then you
will understands heard this as I
came along. Some hours ago q man
came riding through the Spitar' Thor,
his horse was covered with foam and
ready to fall with fatigue, and it
stopped at the Eoldncr Hirsch. The
French are comihg!" the man cried,
and thel the Herr walters and the
Herr Standsthen, who tWet3 standing
by, took the man into the Inn"
"Wel" said the grandmother.
hYVelI, he came to bring news of the
French Only last week Lorenz I'm
army had been aefeate4, ana he said
The soldiers that We're le4}f Would perish
on the way from Moscow; but they are
alive, grandmother, apd'-the boys
eyes were round with excitement
"that regime4t-the worst Of an-that
calls itself Sans Mercf Is coming here
!, to ruin FFeiteRheFg."
| His grandmother did not speak, but
|, she clasped her hands together as she
looked UP, and her lips moved.
Now do you not nee why the Raths
, called a council? One man said the
!, gates must be closed and the towers
+ over them filed with fighting men; but,
grandmother, that puzzled me-, for we
have no soldiers in Freitenberg, and
there are two gaps in the walls which
, have eve been filled up since lilly
. made Them" IN.
; II have heard a stir" the Frau Her
: Der said; "but Magdalena has been
, busy all day with Gretchen. She has
not been out. Yes, 1t would be impos-
sible to defend Freitenberg.
Franz patted her shoulder. you
. ought to be a Rath," he said; that is
just what they decided. Louis Werner
!, came out into the Herrengasse and said
! this to the people"
s"Is this oil you heard, dear child?"
! Eyes, grandmother"
{ 1T is very terrible news. God help
!, nsw she said, shuddering. She knew
!. citizens by French soldiery was at that
time burning IN the minds Of all classes.
, apid yyeu say many people are leaving
the fGWpY
, Every one. I think. Heinrich, the
J smith, said the French Wpuld be here
, very sOoIj they will stop the night,
. and take all they can get and go on
again in the morning; but I shall not let
: them rob you, grandmother he said
proudly. II shall bar the gates md
: fire at them with my fathers f0Wling
i piece
J She strOked his hair with her with