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

away, ana went Dack mto Tue
Herrengasse.
Presently he turned out of it into a
much narrower 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 q house re-
markable for it's carving OH the gable
and on the oriel at one side. Two
angels were used as brackets to sup
port this window. In a niche above
the nail studded door was a 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 aRd went into
q small covered court yard. He
stopped and looked around, but there
was no 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 ut
its further end: and on this murky
afternoon, If Franz had not known his
way well, 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 room 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 were all of dark oak,
50 were the floor and the walls. This
room was the cooking as well as the
living room, ana although 2 closed
stove stood in the cerner, there was a
broad open hearth. Beside the hearth
wooden chair. Behind her was a huge
wheel was at her side. She was not
spinning; her witAeped hands were
folded together on her knees, and she
sat quite still and silent. When the
door opened, however, she gave a
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
pleasantly7' she said:
As the freight shope on his fair
hair and sunbroWAea face her smile
vanished, for there was such a sad
seriousness in his bright blue eyes.
"Wnat is it, my child7" she said.
'Tell me, Franz, what has happened to
you4"
The boy looked round the room and
then he said abruptly: Nothing has
happened to me and I left my uncle
well; but | have to tell the worst news
you eyer heard, Grandmother, where's
Magdalena?"
She will be here presently-she Is
with Gretchen upstairs. But what Is
the bad news, my boy"
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 anne up
the Herrengasse."
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 at 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 understand I heard this as I
came along. Some hours ago a man
came riding through the Spital' Thor,
his horse was covered with foam and
ready to fall with fatigue, and it
stopped at the Eoldner Hirsch. THE
French axe 'comling!" the man cried,
and then the Herr Walters and the
Herr Standschen, who Wete standing
by, took the man into the inn"
""Well?' said the grandmother.
swell, he came to bring news Of the
French. Only last week LorenZ I'm
hoff was telling bow the great French
army had been defeated, and he said
the soldiers that were left would perish
on the way from Moscow; but they are
alive, granddaughter, and''-tle boys
eyes were round with excitement
that regime4t-the worst of ql-that
calls itself Sans Mercf is coming here
to ruin FReiteRhefg."
His grandmother did not speak, but
she clasped her hands together as she
looked UP, and her lips moved.
Now do you not zee why the Raths
called a council? One man said the
gates must be closed and the towers
over them filled 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 never been filled up since Tilly
made them"
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"
lis this all you heard, dear childT"
Eyes, grandmother"
1T is very terrible news. God help
FsN h said, shuddering. She knew
that the treatment given to unoffending
citizens by French soldiery was at TINT
time burning in the minds OF all classes.
apia yeu say many people are leaving
Every oae, think. Heinrich, the
smith, said the French would be here
very sooni they will stop the night,
q take all they al get and so on