The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-04
CHAPTER I.
-r rypIcnr or FRITZ. TnE MILLER.

Otto the Hunter was brave man
who in his younger days had borne
arms against the kaiser in the palati-
nate. but afterward he did fealty to the
emperor and became one of his bosom
friends. He had three stalwart sons
who have nothing TO do with this story
and one only daughter, the blue eyed
Ermentrude, little fair haired child
IL years old, who was the light Of her
old fathers eyes. and whom he hoped to
marry some day TO some margrave or
elector.
Now, in those days there were wolves
in the Rhineland. Not many indeed,
for his ancestors had pretty we'll hunted
them down, but in the cold winter days
they would sometimes steal out OF the
Black forest and be seen prowling about
In search Of prey.
The old castle of the margrave, which
about a century afterward was battered
into ruins by French army, stood in
those days on craggy hill overlooking
the fair plain on which the city OF
Wolfstcinbergn now stands{ Surrounding
1t was nothing but n$ble stretch OF
woodland, where the great oaks and
pine trees made miniature forests here
and there, diversified with broad open
glades, which the wild flowers in the
springtime turned into natural gardens.
1t was il one Of these glades, exactly
where the grand dukes new schloss is
now standing, and on the bank OF the
little stream that has now been used to
form the artificial lake in the new park.
that in those days Fritz, the miller, had
his rude hut and his water wheel. Fritz
Muller, as he was called, was q hale
and hearty man in the prime OF life,
and many and many time did the lit
tie lady from the castle wander down,
sometimes with her nurse, sometimes
alone, TO gather the wild flowers on the
banks of the brook and watch the mill
wheel and the rushing water that foamed
beneath it.
Now, the margrave, among his other
good and generous acts, had published
a solemn decree on the subject OF wolves
There were many knights within the
confines Of his territory who hunted the
wild boar and the deer, and it occurred
to him that if they would only be as
jealous in destroying wolves as in bag
ging big game for their own tables 1t
would be far better for the poor people
whom he ruled. Otto was friend OF
rhe poor. And the edict which he pub
lished about the wolves was TO this ef-
fect-that whose should slay wolf
l. I,,,l chat. III hxy that
act become the owner of the spot on
which he spilled its blood and of one
square acre roundabout, to hold unto
himself and his heirs forever.
And now came great and terrible
event 1t was lovely November after
noon in what is called in Germany as
well as England 'all hallows' sum-
mer, when Fritz, the miller, was busy
about his mill and moving carelessly to
and fro among the piles of sacks that
lay by his cabin door He had been
splitting wood for his winters fire, and
his cleaving AK was in his hand. Sud-
denly he heard wild scream, and his
blood ran cold, for the voice that pierced
his ears was surely that of the little
lady from tho castle. He rushed to the
door. FLYING toward him, with her arms
thrown forward and her long hair float
ing in the wind, was little Ermentrude,
aiSl few yards behind her were three
full grown wolves in hot pursuit.
Fritz dashed forward with the speed
of thought. He was just in time. His
AK was still grasped in his right hand,
and no only inst reached the child and
snatched her from the ground with his
left at tho very moment when the
wolves were making fierce spring at
her.
In their headlong charge they swept
right past, and Fritz, seeing a tree at
some little distance in front, made for
it and reached it before the wolves could
check their course and turn round again.
Fritz saw at "a glance that there must
be n fight for life. The wolves were
splendid specimens of their breed, and
he saw hungc- aud ferooity cleaning in
their eyes. Planting himself with his
back TO the tree and his little charge
pressed firmly against his left shoulder,
he brandished his ax above his head and
waited for the attack.
Headlong came on tho wolves with
their usual impetuosity, but happily in
turning round they had scattered, and
one was before the other. The first that
made a spring ut the miller received his
deathblow right in the center of his
forehead. The miller's nerves were
firm as steel, and he dealt the blows as
truly as if he had been cleaving log OF
wood for his fire. But the second wolf
was too quick for him. Before he could
bring his ax round again the wolf was
ut his throat. His teeth grazed his flesh
and fixed themselves in the leathern
apron that was tied round his neck.
This gave way, and down fell the wolf
Fritz took two steps To one side to give
his arm room to strike, and with quick
blow half severed the brute's head from
his body. But he had still TO try con-
illusions with the third. which was the
largest and fiercest of the three.
When Fritz had first caught up the
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