The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-09-28

and that the abbot alone would he as help
less as one surgeon on battlefield. Taunt
them wiki fear of the pestilence, If they hes
itate. and that viii bring them.
Se@fried accepted the commission and the
knights warmly expressed their admiration
of their masters genius. A. the great led
sun began To sink behind the westward
hills that border the Rhine. Segfriet depart
ed on horseback through the castle gates
and journeyed toward the monastery with
bowed head and detected mien- The gates
remained open. and az darkness fell a light
cd torch was thrust IN a wrought iron re-
ceptaCle near the entrance at the outside,
throwing q ntfuI. pickering glare near the
archway and into the deserted court With
iu all was silent as the ruined castle is to-
day. save only the TmkiuG sound of tho
clear waters OF the effervescng spring. as
ii flowed over the stones and trickied down
TO die4uDe3r ufider the walls at one corner
Of the courtyard The baron and his stur-
dv knights sat i'm the darkness. with grow
ing Impotence in the great utter-saale.
listening for any audible token % the re-
turn of Segfried and his ghosuy company
AZ last I'm the still night air, there came
family across the plain monkish chant
growing louder and louder. until inal4N inc
stecIshod hoofs OF Sesfricd's charger rang
on the stones of the causeway leading 70
the castle gates Pressed close behind the
two heavy open leaves of the gates stood
the warden and his assistants. scarcely
breathing. ready to close the gates sharply
tho moment the last monk had entered
Still chanting. led by the abbot IN MS
robes OF office. the monks slowly marched
into the deserted courtyard. while Seefried
rcinad his horse close inside the entrance.
peace he upon this house ana all with
IN % said the deep voice of the abbot. and IN
unison the monks murmured Amen. the
word echoing back TO them in the stiffness
from the four gray walls.
Then the silence was rudely broken by
the pouder0us clang Of the closing gates
and the omiuOus rattle Of bolts being thrust
into their places and the Jingle or heaNy
chains Down the wide stairs from the
Ritter-saale came the clank of armor and
rude shouts of laughter. NeWlN-llchicd
torches flared up here and there. illumlnat-
ing the courtyard and showing, daASiiiia
AGAINST the northern wall. a score of ropes
with nooses at the end of each INTO the
courtyard cIattered the baron and his FOL
lowers The abbot stood with arms io4atd
pressing gilded cross against his breast
lie was head taller than any of his irisht-
cned covering brethren, and his noble
emacated face was thin with tasting
caused by his never-eudnS conflict with tine
world that was within himself Ills pdle
countonance betokened his office and the
church hut the angry eagle flash of his
piercing eye spoke of the world alone ana
the field of conflict. The baron bowed low
To the abbot anu said: Welcome. my lord
abbot. to my humble domicile. 1T has long
been the wish of my enemies 10 stand with
in its walls. and this pleasure is now grant
ed you. There is little to be made of 1t
from without ="
Baron Crunewald." said the abbot. II
and my brethren are come hither on an
errand of mercy. and under the protection
of your knghtly word" The baron raised
his eyebrows in surprise at this and turn