The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-27

his clemency. They are ready to be
ieve any story we care to tell as to the
influence of such scribbling over US.
You, Segfried, owe me some raDara-
ton for this mornings temporary de-
lection, and to you, therefore, 90 [
trust the carrying out of my plans.
There was always something of the
monk about you, Segfried, and you
will yet end your days sanctimonious
ly in a monastery, unless you are first
hanged at TrieYes, or knocked IN the
head during an assault. Draw, then,
your longest face, and think of the
time when You viii be a monk, as Am
brose is, who in his time drew as much
blood as ever you have done. Go TO
the monastery of Monnonstein in most
detected fashion and unarmed. Ask, in
faltering tones, speech Of the abbot,
and say to him, as if he knew naught
of it, that the pope'S ban is on us.
Say that at first I defied it and smote
down the good father who was reading
it, but add that as the pious man fell,
a sickness like unto 4 Destilence came
over me and over my men, from which
you only are free, caused you suspect,
by your loudly protesting against the
telling of the monk. Say that We lie
at deaths door, grieving for cur sins,
and grooming for absolution. Say that
we are ready to deliver UP the castle
and all its contents to the care of the
Holy church, so that the abbot sees
our tortured souls safely directed to-
ward the gates of paradise. Insist that
all the monks come, saying that you
fear we have but a few moments to
live, and that the abbot alone would be
as helpless as one surgeon on a battle
field Taunt them with fear OF the
pestilence, if they hesitate, and that
viii bring them"
Segfried accepted the commission,
and the knights warmly expressed
their admiration of their masters gen
ius. AS the great red sun began to sink
behind the westward hills That border
the Rhine, Segfried departed on horse
back through the castle gates and
journeyed toward the monastery with
bowed head and detected mien. The
gates remained open, and as darkness
fell, lighted torch was thrust in
wrought iron receptacle near the en-
trance at the outside, throwing a. fit
full Pickering glare near the archway
and into the deserted court. Within
all was silent as the ruined castle is
today. save only the tinkling sound of
the clear waters of the efferyescing
spring, as it flowed over the stones and
trickled down TO disappear under the
walls at one corner of the courtyard.
The baron and his sturdy knights sat
tience, in the great Ritter-saale, listen
ing for any audible token of the re-
turn Of Segfried and his ghostlv com-
pany. At last in the still night ar
there came family across the plain a
monkish chant growing louder and
louder. until finally the steel-sflod hoofs
of Segfried's charger rang ON the
stones of the causeway leading to the
castle gates. Pressed closely behind
the two heavy open leaves Of the gates
stood the warder and his assistants,
scarcely breathing, ready to ciose .he
gates sharply the moment the last
monk had entered
Still chanting. led by the abbot in
his robes Of Office, the monks slowly
marched into the deserted courtyard,
while Segfried reigned his horse close
inside the entrance.
Peace be upon this house and all
Within said the deep voice of the alb
bot, and in unison the monks muir
INJURED Amen" the word echoing back
to them in the stiffness from the four
gray walls.
Then the silence was rudely broken
by the ponderous clang of the closing
gates and the ominous rattle of bolts
being thrust into their places and the
jingle of heavy chains. Down the
wide stairs from the ritter-Saale came
up here and there, illuminating the
court yard. and showing, dangling
against the northern wall, a score of
ropes with nooseS at the end of each
Into the court yard clattered the bar
on and his followers The abbot stood
with arms folded, pressing gilded
cross against his breast. He was a
head taller than any OF his frightened
covering brethren. and his noble ema-
ciated face was thin with fasting,
caused by his never ending conflict
with the world that was within him
self. His pale countenance betokened
his office and the church; but the an
cry eagle fash of this piercing eye
spoke OF the world alone and the field
Of conflict. The baron bowed low to
the abbot and said: Welcome. my
lord abbot. to my humble domicile. 1t
has long been the wish of my enemies
to stand within it's walls, and this
pleasure is now granted you. There is
little to be made of it from without"