The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-30
THE PRINCES
TROUBAD0UR.
A Stirring Tale of the Early Days of
Texas.
BY CLAUDE NJ. GIRARDEAU.

! Bertalda ~ called a childish voice
as little yellow head was thrust in a
the door Bertalda stopped her wheel
"The father says 10 put on my bes
jacket and cap. | am going to see the
prince"
The last words We're i'm the very larg
est capitals Bertalda could not be
lieve her ears. She sat and stared al
the funny little figure in its baggy
homespun breeches and roundabout.
"Die prinzen? Himmel, Is the
boy crazy?"
"No; | am not" replied Heinrich
capering about. 81 am in the deadest
earnest. Haste, thee, liebe Bertalda "
They both spoke in low German.
The woman was of the sturdiest Ger
man type, but the little boy, although
fair of hair and white skin, had deli
cately oval face and eyes both large and
dark. AS he danced about prettily,
despite the baggy breeches, he sung a
Volkslied in voice that bubbled up
like birds. Bertalda put on his cap
and Jacket with stolid astOnishment,
and stood on the doorstep watching
him as he ran up the road, with curls
flying in the wind.
The town was collection of rough
ly-built houses of German settlers, who
had come to this strange new republic
of Texas under the leadership of Prince
Salms.
They were hardy pioneers and the
new land was fair and beautiful. What
sight that greeted their eyes whenever
they lifted them from their work, for
on a noble eminence overlooking the
silver Llano and dominating the land
scape was the Sophienburg, the castle
erected by their prince and named by
him in honor of his beautiful wife,
Princess Sophie of Saxe-Gotha.
Men-at-arms lounged about its ell
frances, and high above, from its top
most turret, Haunting its folds against
the brilliant sky, waved the flag of the
Fatherland.
RAYMOND Bloch, Heinrich's father,
was waiting for him under the live oak,
and hand in hand the two went up the
declivity to the castle.
"Hein ~ exclaimed the princes sec
retary, as he met them, "but where Is
the Princes Troubadour, Herr Bloch?'
Heinrich took off his cap and bowed
gravely.
THAT is what they call me, Excel
lency."
The secretary shrugged his should
ers. "Well, the prince is waiting for
you in the hall, Where is your music?'
at is all here, Herr Councillor" an
swered Heinrich, putting finger to his
forehead.
The prince, that jovial soldier of for
tune, smiled as the procession of three
entered the hall. Heinrich advanced
solemnly, fell on one knee and pressed
his rosy lips to the hand held kindly
out to him.
"By my sword, the boy is quite the
courtier. Where did he learn these
manners of the noblesse, Her Bloch?
"His mother, your Highness, was
"Ah, yes; | do recall his mother.
There was no better blood in the Span
ish provinces. The lad hath her dark
eyes. Hath he her voice alsO?'
THAT is for your Highness II deter
mine" replied Bloch; "the villagers
say he has"
"Let us hear it them" said the prince
seating himself.
Bloch fitted his violin to his chin
and began a rippling accompaniment
Presently the boys voice, wonderful-
ly sweet soprano, took up the plaintive
air. Ii was the story of the Lorelei
The princes face flushed with pleasure
"Truly," he exclaimed at the clost
of the song, "he sings like an angel
The Saengerbund will have hard work
to match that. Would that | could
crown the victor with mine own hand ,
"Your Highness will not go to Fred
ericksburg?" queried Bloch.
at is not possible" replied th'
prince, frowning, 'the Kiowas arr
coming for confirmation Of our treat,
and | must perforce remain here. But
Heinrich, forget not thou art tin
Princes Troubadour, and bring baci
with thee the wreath of myrtle from
| the fest"
The use of the familiar "thoI' an,
the pressure of the hand upon his curl.
head made Heinrich's eyes glisten
That night, as Bertalda tucked hin
into his feather-bed, he flung his arm
about her sturdy neck and whispere,
that the prince had called him "thou.
Great preparations were made by tn
singing society to attend the Saenger
fest held at Fredericksburg. Prize
were to be given for the best singing
both in solo and chorus, and the hope
of the Sophienburg-bund were fixed ol
Raymond Bloch's little son.
A few days before the society was /
set ont on the journey to the fest, tn
embassy of the Kiowas, with their chieI
Gomalta, approached the settlemen
and pitched their tepees on the rive
bank. Raymond Bloch, in compan
with several others, and with Heinric
clinging to his hand, went to look a
them. At first, the boy was alarme
by the lowering red faces, overtoppe
with feathers and hung about wit
chains and earrings, but catching sigh