The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-06
A CHURCH LEGEND.

la-Chapelle, sat within MS private cham
Der, deep in thought. He was brooding
over the cathedral Of AK, which was but
half finished, and there were no funds for
its completion. His gloomy meditations
were interpreted by his pretty daughter.
''What Is it, Gertrude?" the father
asked.
"Hendrio wishes to speak with you"
the maiden answered, her face as demure
rs though she knew not the quest upon
which the young man came.
LET him come in, - the father said, and
che daughter withdrew to make room for
the daXen haired youth.
Hendric Staufmsn was a goodly fellow,
q little wild perhaps-but, then, he was
the captain of the city guard and much
might be excused in a soldier who ven
tured blood and life as freely as though he
had ample store Of both.
The little fat mayor guessed the GRAND
upon which the youth had come and was
not sorry to have an opportunity to de-
liver his mind upon the matter.
Straight and bold was the speech Of the
soldier, like to the sword he wore, and the
example of the warrior Alexander, who
cut the Gordlan knot with the edge Of his
own bright blade.
"Your daughter, worthy mayor" Eaid
the soldier briskly. IT love her and would
ask your consent to WOO her. "
Now, although Peter Snitz had not the
ing the suit of the young man, yet so
versed had he become in the arts of diplo-
macy since his service as mayor that he
did not openly tell the sutton that his suit
was hopeless, but he returned an evasiVe
answer.
at have no objection against you, my
gallant captain, " tho mayor said, oaress-
ing his fat chin and smiling upon the SOL
der as If he fully intended to say yes at
once and have done with it, ''but affairs
of state require me to hesitate before de-
Gliding such a weighty matter. You know
that our cathedral is unfinished, to the
great scandal of our town."
"What has that to do with your daugh-
terP'' exclaimed the soldier in astonish
ment. ''Surely you do not expect that she
can aid in finishing it?''
The soldiers words gave rise to bright
idea in the mind of the mayor.
''ExactlyP' he cried. my daughters
husband must finish the cathedral"
''By my faith, then, she is apt to go
husbandIess for awhilel" the soldier cried
bIuntly as he withdrew.
The mayor ohuckled with delight upon
getting rid of his visitor so easily and i'm
mediately resumed his study of the sur
rounding country, planning how he might
best attack the insolent neighbors who
had dared to scott at the unfinished church.
The soldier quilted the mayors mansion
in disgust, and as he walked down the
street, brooding modify over the utterly
impossible condition that old Peter had
imposed, he became conscious that there
was a stranger gliding by his side.
Young Hendric glared at the stranger
in wrath. He felt in the humor for a
quarrel, and here was a chance.
The man was tall and thin, with a nose
curved like an eagles beak, deep sunken
eyes glowing like balls of fire, long,
dropping mustaohe and sneeriug smile,
and he was wrapped from head to foot in
a long black cloak. Upon his head he
wore little hooded cap and single slen-
der red feather curved in the air like
tongue Of fire.
Hendric was hot with rage when he
glanced at the stranger, and then all of a
sudden he became as cold as ice
"Our fat little mayor made strange con-
ditions," quoth the stranger, his voice as
metallic as the ring of steel upon steel.
Hendric could only stare, not speak.
"You see, know all about it, - the stran-
ger continued, with a confident nod, land
take quite an interest in your case. 1t is
a shame that two young hearts should be
kept from each other, and If you say the
word I'm the man who will give you the
maiden
Hendrio shivered, and as he glanced
around to see If any one was near his gaze
fell upon the unfinished cathedral.
The two had halted right in front of the
III fated church.
"There you areP' cried the stranger as
he looked at the vast pile with the air of q
man who considered himself q judge
about such matters. 'The finishing of
that Is but a mere trifle. I'll help you
myself. 1t is a little out of my line to
build churches, but opposition is the life
of trade. I'll aid you, cheap. just sign
me this contract. The purport of 1t Is
that the first who shall enter by the open
~ &c Hvoia had aha1
belong to me, skin and HAIR, body and
soul"
AS IL is generally very easy in this world
to give away what does not belong to US,
Hendrio gladly signed the contract, and
then the dark stranger agreed to deposit a
certain sum amply sufficient to finish the
cathedral in a lonely spot upon the
grounds belonging to Hendricks deRd IA
Their, accompanied by will purporting to
be signed by the old man, bequeathing
the money to his son. This was so ar
ranged that none might have a suspicion
as to who furnished the money.
All went we'll Hendric found the
money, devoted it to building the cathe-
dral and married the girl But before the
cathedral was finished Hendrio had con-
flded to his wife the bargain he had made
with satan, and she, womanlike, set her
wits to work to cheat the fend.
The contract stated that the first to en-
ter should TRl1 satan 8 price, Du5 d1d noU
stipulate whether that first should be hui
man OF beast.
And SO the opening day came and a
vast crowd assembled. Two men placed
large box close to the cathedral door, the
portal was opened, the box was shattered
and a huge wolf ran into the church at
headlong speed
The flend in waiting gripped the beast
fast, but when he saw how he had been
tricked ne vanished with a howl of rage.
The contract had been strictly kept. The
Rand had cnrnr,latad thu cathedral -NevR