The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-04


l "Wife, some one is riding q horse
past our window just as our blessed
son used to ride
She trcmbled and urged him with
gentle voice to be still. But after lit
| tie the old man said again:
"Did you not hear how some one on
the mountain called out: Wheel!
Charsey 1t came distinctly through
the storm. But shortly before our
Sigebald fell he gave just such cry"
sIf you wish to kill me with fear and
anguish" said his wife. ''or to rob me
of my reason. keep on with such words.
It will Take very little more
So the old man held his peace and
kent his thoughts, which were many
and strange. in his own breast. The
wonderful tumult ceased also or was
lost in other valleys. and toward
morning the old people fell asleep.
The bright sunlight shonc again over
the mountains. the dame was already
seated at her distalf. and the knight
was going out to hoe and spade his lit
tie patch ut the door and said:
cit is wonderful how the riddles and
chostly happenings Of the night. when
once they have forced themselves into
q mans brain. refuse to go to rest
again. l dreamed until bright day
light of the harvest festival as we used
to celebrate it in happier days at our
old home
How strangc.' interrupted the
dame Il also dreamed of it. The
.,easants came to the courtyard OF the
castl,. with shining Scythes. their wives
and daughters bearing their raiics. tied
Will, many ribbons. The harvest crown
shone brilliantly in the blue OF the
bright summer day. and alas! before 1t
walked ms dear. dear boy rs young
child. wound round and round with 2
| chain OF blue cornnowers. q beautiful
wreath like that OF bridegroom on bis
head and great red flower on his
breast. And knew the red flowcr
we'll"
| She bowed her head, and the knight,
to turn her thoughts from the death
wound OF her only son. said:
ssThc singing was the most wonder
/ full to me. Even after | awoke | stil
heard the solemn hymn which the
band had sung. and at this moment l
seem to hear it over the mountains,
coming nearer and nearer down the
wooded slope. Indeed, now that
open the door. the sound seems to
come more plainly"
The dame heard it also and rose in
4 spcechless astoniShment to step out
side the door. leaning on her husbands
arm, to look for the cause Of the unac-
customed noise. cmboldened by the
cheerful morning beams which gilded
the trees and the dewy grass under
them. but still more emboldened by
the rcverent character OF the hymn.
which came steadily nearer. Shawms
and reed pipes mingled with the sing
Ing.
AS the elderly couple stood at the
door they could see. through the trunks
! of the beechcs. Il crowd Of people with
cleaning scythes i'll their hands: some.
however. had also naked ha!bcrds and
spears.
"Ah. heavensr' cried the dame. 1t
is no. yet harvest time. And why do
they come thus. with song and rejoic-
ing? See how rcd the morning sun
shines on their scythes."
sH'm! The..c must have been a grave
moving somewhere" muttered the
knight. He knew the red on the bare
steel far too we'll to take it, as did his
wife, for the reflection Of the morning
sun.
Meanwhile the peasants had formed
semicircle around the venerable pair.
and out from their ranks. between the
scythes and lances which they brand
isllcd as they finished their song. step
ped Diotwina with radiant face. She
went UP to the astonished couple and
said:
He who goes early to prayer finds
good fruit. Here at the edge Of the
wood these heroes met me. and they
wish that you hear the tidings from
my lips. They have reconQuercd your
castle The country is free. the op-
pressor is dead!'
Tile o!d knight stared around him
as il he had again fallen into the
dreams Of the previous night. Then the
oldest of the armed peasants approach
cd. venerable graybcard. like his mas
ter, and. taking the spade and hoe
gently from his hand. he placed in
their stead an ancient silver staff. in
laid with gold. which Leuthold's fore
fathers had borne from time imnlc-
nlorial and which had now been re-.
captured with the other family relics.
Then the circle Of men raised a great
shout Of JOY, repeating Dlotwina's
words, 1.-THE country is free. The op-
pressor is dead?' over and over and
striking their weapons against one
another so that they clanked jubilant-
! ly.
1T is all true" said the old peasant
to the still sncredulous pair. "Your
! brothers. son, Richard, has returned
from the crusade. my liege. and he's
brought these wonderful things to pass
since Yesterday evening. when be first
showed himself here. He must have
known how we all longed for our old
rightful master. for be spoke to us so
that We felt compelled to take up
scythe aud spear for you as II it were