The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-29

h
\ AeA@scsswRiimpinge against the inner
coping OF the northern wall And now,
good night, my lord abbot, and happy
release for you all in the n,oraipg."
"Baron Won Grunewald, ask Of rou
that you will release one Of Us, who may
thus administer the rites Of the church
to his brethren and receive in turn the
same from me.
Nov. out upon me for a careless
knavel" cried the baron. IT had for
gotten that; 1t is so long since have
been to mass and suchlike ceremonies
myself Your request Is surely most
reasonable. and like you the better
that you keep up the farce Of your call
ing to the very end. But think not that
am go inhespitable as to force one
guest to wait upon another, even in
matters spiritual. Not go. We keep
with us ghostly father for such occa-
sions and use him between times to
wait on us with wine and other neces-
saries. As soon as he has filled our flag
ons I will ask good Father Gottlieb to
wait upon you, and I doubt not he will
shrive with any in the land, although
he has been this while back somewhat
out Of practice. His habit is rather tat
tered and stained with the drippings Of
his new calling, but warrant you you
will know the sheep, even though his
fleece be torn. And now again good
night, my lord"
The baron and his knight returned
up the broad stairway that led to the
Ritter-saale. Most of the torches were
carried with them. The defenses Of the
castle were so strong that no particular
pains were taken to make all secure
further than the stationing of an armed
man at the gate. A solitary torch
burned under the archway, and here
the guard paced back and forth. The
courtyard was in darkness, but the tops
Of the highest turrets were silvered by
the rising moon. The doomed men stood,
with the halters about their necks, as
silent as a row of spectera
The tall windows Of the Ritter-saale
being of colored glass threw little light
into the square, although they glowed
with rainbow splendor from the
torches within. Into the silence Of the
square came the sound of song and the
clash of fagons upon the oaken table.
At last there came down the broad
stair and out into the court figure in
the habit Of monk. who hurried shut
fingly across the stones to the grim row
Of brown robed men. He threw himself
sobbing at the feet of the tall abbot.
"Rise my son, and embrace me-"
said his superior.
When Father Gottlieb did 60, the
other whispered in his ear.
"There is time to weep and time
for action. Now Is the time for action.
Unloosen quickly the bonds around me
and slip this moose from my neck"
Father Gottlieb acquitted himself of
his task as well as his agitation and
his trembling hands would let him.
Perform like service for each Of
the Others, whispered the abbot curt
ly. "Tell each in low voice to remain
standing just as If he were still bound.
Then return to me-"
When the monk had done what he
was told, he returned to his superior.
"Have you access to the wine eel
lar2" asked the abbot.
eyes, father"
"What are the strongest wines3"
"Those Of the district are strong.
Then there is barrel or two of the red
wine Of Assmannshausen.
"Decant half Of each in your flag
ons, Is there brandys"
Eyes, father"
"Then mix with the two wines as
much brandy as you think their already
drunken palates will not detect. Make
the potation stronger with brandy as
the night wears on. When they drop
off into their drunken sleep, bring a
fagon to the guard at the gate and tell
him the baron sends it to him."
"Will you absolve me, father, for
the"-
1T Is no falsehood, Gottlieb. I, the
baron, send it, l came hither the Alb.
bot Ambrose. / am now Baron Won
Stern, and If have any influence with
our mother church the abbot's robe
shall fall on thy shoulders If you but
do well what I ask Of you tonight. 1t
will be some compensation for what I
fear thou hast already suffered"
Gottlieb hurried away as the knights
were already clamoriny for more wine.
As the night wore on and the moon
rose higher the sounds Of revelry in
creased, and once there was a clash Of
arms and much uproar, which subsidized
under the overmastering voice of the
black baron. At last the abbot, stand
ing there with the rope dangling be-
hind him, saw Gottlieb bring huge
oeaksr of liquor TO the sentinel, who at
once sat down on the stone bench under
he arch to enjoy it.
Finally all riot died away in the hall
except one thin voice, singing waver-
ngly drinking song, and when that
leased silence reigned supreme and the
noon shone full upon the bubbling
pring.
Gottlieb stole silently out and told
he abbot that all the knights were !
tretched upon the floor and tho baron
lad his head on the table beside his
'feTLuEuou udBUu' lHe 6eutluel HuOIeu |
lpon his stone bench. l
II can now unbar the gate," said '
father Gottlieb, land we may all
scape." t
"Not 60" replied the abbot. "We c
ONE here to convert these men to c
and our task isstill to do" '
The monks all seemed frightened at t
bis and wished themselves once more q
within the monastery, able to say, a
Ais well that ends So" But none 6
entured to offer counsel to the gaunt
IAN who led them. He babe each bring q
nth him the cords that had bound him, u
nd without word they followed him