The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-18

simply said:
al wish to find the owner of this
ring"
Immediately he found himself in a
dark forest, where a group of wild look
ing men were gathered around fire.
In their midst stood a woman bound
and helpless, with her head bowed
down to her hands. The knight drew
his sword and advanced among the
startled men.
"What are you going to do with this
woman ?" he demanded.
''She is a witch, and we are going to
burn her." said the leader. ''If you
have any objection state it,"
"Take that then" cried Rud;ger,
sweeping the bandits head from his
shoulders with stroke of his sword.
Then before the others could grasp
their weapons OF make any defense, he
treated them in the same manner. The
woman looked up to thank him for
preserving her life. As she did so,
Rudiger drew back surprised. At the
first glance he saw that it was the old
crone that had given him shelter the
first night after he left home.
"Well, well, young man, have you
come back TO work for me?" she asked
coolly.
"No; but l have ring, a marvellous
opal, that"
"a ring! An opal! Let me see it,"
cried the woman, interrupting him.
Rudiger took the ring from his bosom
and showed it TO her.
THAT is my ring, young man." she
said at once. al lost it long time ago
in this wood. 1t was in a purse full Of
gold"
az do not wish to keep what is not
mine" said Rudiger, handing her the
ring. "rhe purse of gold, however, I
have not with me, but l will return it
one day without fail"
'See that you dc" said his compan-
ion, placing the opal on her finger, 81
shall trust you"
The next moment she had vanished,
and he stood alone in the dark forest,
dressed in the rough gardeners suit
that he wore before he went to the bat
tie. He passed the night in the wood,
and the next morning he presented
himself in his accustomed place in the
royal garden.
Everybody about the place was talk
ing of the great victory the king had
won yesterday, and they all said that
the battle would have been lost but for
a strange knight, who came to the
kings help with steel-elad warriors at
his back.
II suppose you will say you were the
knight that helped our king win his
victory" ," said the gardener sneeringly
to his assistant.
"Certainly 1 do" declared Rudiger.
"Then of course you will claim the
prize the king offers to the man who
aided him. You will rule over half of
his kingdom. 1 envy you"
Rudiger took no notice of the gar
dener's jeers, but at night, when the
king was walking In his portico, he
before him, his golden hair
hidden under a rude straw hat. The
monarch looked at him inquiringly.
''I have come for my reward" said
Rudiger, fastening at once to business,
as all men of energetic natures do. II
am the man that saved you from defeat
Yesterday"
"You must be mad, or simple" cried
the king. "The man that helped me
was a knight in gold armor, and he
had brave men at his back"
Nevertheless, said Rudiger, 81 am
the man; but | do not want half of
your kingdom. All ask is thous-
and gold pieces to pay debt I owe. Ii
you doubt my word, go with me TO Sto-
nyheart's castle i have two hundred
men there vino will know me-"
Doubtless his msjesty thought it all
very strange, but he agreed to accom-
pany Rudiger to the castle, and the
next morning the two set out together,
the king in his royal robes, R1diger
still wearing his rough gardener dress.
When they arrived at Stonyheart's
castle, they found the place like scene
of enchantment. Banners floated gayly
from all the battlt ments, and the great
halls were splendid with garlands and
tapestry. AT the portal
stood two hundred stout warriors in two
long lines, who instantly lowered their
spears, bowling low as the king and Ru-
digger advanced. Instantly the crier
"Room for his msjesty, King Gray
hair, and the knight Of the Golden
LOcksr
Then the king knew that Rudiger
was all he claimed to be, but he had no
time to speak to him, for just then
very beautiful and gracious lady APP
preached and welcomed them to the
banquet, which was spread.
When the feast was over, and the
company were assembled in the grand
drawing room, the lady approached
and said:
al know you. You are the young
man that saved me from the robbers.
You found my opal ring in the forest"
"And owe you one thousand pieces
Of gold, which can now repay"
"But L owe you a Million" said the
princess; and then she told him how
she came to be an old crone in the for
sst. King Stonyheart, her husband,
who was a great sOreerer, had changed
her by his magic, after she lost her opal
ring, and condemned her to perpetual
exile. His death and the restoration of
the magic jewel, of course, gave her
.he power to become her former self
again.
Rudiger WAS feasted for week in
great style, and many rich gifts were
bestowed upon him; but at the end of
hat time he expressed desire to go
home.
az have made my fortune, and shall
have to cut wood no more" be said,
and my parents will wish to see me-"
The princess gave him a gorgeous
coach, with eight horses 10 draw it, all