Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-30
Rosa Of TdnnenburO.
A Story Begun by a Father and
Ended by a Daughter.


The castle Of Tannenburg was like
all castles of its time. strongly forti-
fed and surrounded 10y high walls and
deep mOat. In an upper room. one
warm summer day. Rosa ami her IA
ther sat together The knight lal Just
come home from the war. badly
wounded, and Rosa. fair hail,d girl
of Il, sat 10y him working over her
gayly colored tapestry.
Father" she said. tell mc the story
of how you got the chain round your
neck"
Rosa had heard the story a hundred
times before now. bat She never tired
Of hearing il any more than the old
knight OF telling il.
when was page M court" BEGAN
the knight. strOSing his long. gray
beard. n great tournament was given
I'm honor of a French prince who came
To visit the emperor. There slw your
mother FOR the first time. aud So lovely
WAS she that she was elected 10 Dc the
queen of beauty. and Nas 10 .iv,. the
prize. golden Chain. to tie victor. |
loved her from the moment s.,.y her.
ana her beauty gave nae such strength
and daring that came out first IA it.,
games. much To Tie chagriB of the
young baron of OdcuWald. who op-
posed me ticrccly i'm the tourney lie
was, like myself a Suitor Tor the haHa
Of the queen of beauty. ami when
finally won her for uy hrile hc .,Nore
that he would have revenge on me"
But" interrupted RoSa "hiS castle
IL n1nH 1
done us no harm vet"
Yes" answered her father: that
was many years ago. and he has now
young wife and two children. but
he still hates me bitterly. am
\ loud clamor in the courtyard inter
ruptcd the story. ana ON loo. inr out of
the window 20 their conStcrnation they
saw the very man they were speaking
OF. the baron of Odcnwald. and his
soldiers marching up 90 the castle
doors. The knights soldiers were StiIl
at the wars. and the few old mca left
To guard the castle had bccn easily
overpowered lay the fierce baron.
Rosa screamed with terror. she
heard the tramp Of armed feet coming
mp the stairs. In came the haughtv
baron OF Odenwald ahd ordered his
men To bind anG carry on the wounded
AMI helpless knight Of Tanu"nhur.. Ia
vain were Rosa'S tears and Dr,yrrs.
The unfortunate knight was hurried
OF. Rosa turned ont OF the castle.
which was looted AMI then loclr,. nm.
and the poor girl left weeping ana
diSconSolatr.
All night she wandered through the
dark pine forest ill she came to =
charcoal burners hut. where She was
taken in and kindly treated. Davs
passed 10y. and Rosa lonycd To see her
father once more and perhaps help
him To escape. Accordingly one day
she stained her ra,,. with brown harry
juice changed her own pretty dress
Tor PEASANTS coarse Gotten GOWN
and with Il large basket OF mushrooms
on her arm started OF for the castle
OF OdcnWald.
The sentinel. seeing only harmless
little peasant girl, let her pass over
the draWbridge and through The caS-
tie gates. She walked UP To the DOR
ter'S lodge. where The pOrtcr'S wife
stood in the doorway Scolding her
children. The baron Of Gdcnwald was
extremely fond of mushrooms. and the
hasketful was soon bought and naid
for 10y the porters wife.
"Will YOU not stay with me and helD
me look after the children and cook
the food for the priSOncrSr' she asked
after Il few moments chat with Rosa.
Il need Il young, strong girl like YOU.
and | will give YOU Il new dress every
year if you will stay"
Rosa accepted the offer eagerly. and
her duties. none too light. began that
very day. She had To light the fire i'm
the morning, dress the children. help
the porter's wife cook the most un-
savory soup for the prisoners OF the
castle and do many things one day
the porter came TO his wife and told
her that he was obliged 10 go away
with the baron for some days and that
she would have TO take the prisoners
food to them besides cooking il.
mo, indeed" replied his wife.
''There are murderers and thieves in
those cells, and ! will not go near
them"
Let me CO." begged Rosa. Il will
do it for you"
Very WELL" said the porter. rather
surprised at her request; "comc with
me and l will show YOU how 10 unlock
the doors"
Together they went down winding
flight of stone steps. opened n door
heavily bOlted and barred and down a
long, dark corridor dimly lighted by
the porter's lantern. ON one side were
small stone cells. behind whose iron
gratings wild, cruel faces cleaned i'm
the light of the passing lantern. Hid
sous oaths and fearful laughter follow
ed them, and Rosa shrank. frightened,
10 the portcr's side.
DO you fear them" he said. They
cannot possibly escape. This man. how
ever, Is good and gentle and YOU can
so right into his CELL" He s'opped in
f:0nt of one OF the gratingS and held
pD his isntprn RpSas>. hno,.f l,,t f..t