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

III IS from our h0ty Tdther the popc."
that well cowed district would have
the daring to approach the castle, even
at night, much less NEEDLE with the
gate OF any other of the belongings Of
the Baron Won Grunewald; so, breath.
ing request to his patron saint (his
neglect Of whom he now remembered
with remorse) for protection. he tore
the document from its fastening and
brought it trembling to the baron. The
knights crowded round as Won Grune.
valid held the parchment in his hand.
bending his dark brows upon 1t, for it
conveyed no meaning to him. Neither
the baron nor his knights could read.
"What foolery, think you, is this7"
he said, turning to the knight nearest
him. "a defiance9"
The knight shook his head IT am
no clerk" he answered. For moment
the baron was puzzled then he quickly
bethought himself of the one person in
the castle who could read
"Bring hither old Father Gottlieb,"
he commanded, and two of those wait
ing by ran in haste toward the scullery
Of the place, from which they presently
emerged, dragging after them an old
man, partly in the habit of monk and
partly in that Of scullion, who wiped
his hands on the coarse apron that was
tied around his waist as be was hur-
ried forward. "Here. good father, ex-
cellent cook and humble servitor, I
trust your residence with US has not led
you to forget the learning you put to
such poor advantage in the monastry
Of Monnonstein. Canst thus construe
this for us2 Is it In good. honest Ger
man or bastard Latin1'
ut is in Latin" said the captive
monk, glancing at it in the others
hand.
'Then translate it for us, and quick
ly."
Father Gottlieb took the parchment
handed to him by the baron, and as his
eye scanned 1t more closely he bowed
his head and made the sign Of the cross
upon his breast.
"Cease that mummery," roared the
baron, "and read without more wait
ing, or the rods upon thy back againl
Who sends us this9"
ut is from our holy father the
pope, said the monk, forgetting his
mental position for the moment and be-
coming once more the scholar Of the
monastery. The sense of his captivity
faded from him as he realized that the
long arm CT the church had extended
within the impregnable walls Of that
tyrannical castle.
Good. And what has our holy ia.
ther the pope to say to us2 Demands
he the release Of our excellent scuDion,
Father Gottlieb2"
The bent shoulders Of the old monk
Strengthened, his dim eye frightened
and his voice rang clear within the
echoing walls Of the castle courtyard.
ut is a ban of accommodation
against thee, Lord Baron Won Grune-
wald. and against all within these walls.
only those unlawfully with
held from freedom"
(Which means thyself, worthy ia
Their. Read on, good clerk, and let us
hear 1t to the end"
As the monk read cut the awful
words Of the message, piling curse on
curse with sonorous voice, the baron
Jaw his trembling servitors turn pale,
Ind even his 10 knights, companions
IN robbery and rapine, fall away from
lin. Dark, red anger mounted to his
temples. He raised his mailed hand
ind smote the reading monk flat across
he mouth, telling the old man prone
1pon the stones of the court
"That is my answer to our holy ia.
her the pope, and when thou swearest
10 deliver it to him as have given it to
hee the gates are open and the way clear
or thy pilgrimage to Rome"
But the monk lay where he fell and
made no reply.
"Take him away" commanded the
aaron impatiently, whereupon several
# the menials laid hands on the falling
monk and dragged him into the scullery |
le had left.
Turning to his men at arms the baron
cared, swell, my gentle wolves, have
few words In Latin on a bit Of sheep
kin turned you all to sheepf"
II always said. "spoke up the Knight
'iegfried, "that no good came Of cap
urad xnonka np nnaAdlinO with tina