Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-08
Rosa Of Tannenburg.
A Story Begun by q Father and
Ended by a Daughter.
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4 deep moat. In an upper room, on
warm summer day, Rosa and her ia
ther sat together. The knight had jus
wounded, and Rosa. fair haired cir
of Il, sat by him working over he
gayly colored tapestry.
Father" she said, tell lne the stor!
OF how you got the chain round YOU
neck
Rosa had heard the story hundred
times before now, but she never tiret
OF hearing it any more than the ole
knight of telling it.
When ! was Il page at court begaI
the knight, stroking his long, gray
beard, "A great tournament was giver
in honor of French prince who came
| to visit the emperor. There | saw youl
mother for the first time. and so lovely
was she that she was elected to be the
| queen of beauty, and was TO give the
| prize, Il golden chain, to the victor.
| loved her from the moment | saw her
and her beauty gave me such strength
| aud daring that | came out first III the
| games, much TO the chagTin of the
| young baron of Odcnwald. who op-
posed me tiercely in the tourney. He
was. like myself, a suitor for the hand
Of the queen of beauty, and when |
finally won her for my briue he swore
that he would have revenge on me-"
But" Interrupted Rosa, mis- castle
is only 10 miles from us, and he has
done Us no harm yet"
Yes" answered her father; that
was many years ago, and he has now
d young wife and two children, but
lie still hates me bitterly, and
\ loud clamor in the courtyard inter
rupted the story, and on looking out of
the window to their CONSERVATION they
saw the very man they were speaking
of, the baron OF Odenwald, and his
soldiers marching up to the castle
doors. The knights soldiers were still
ut the wars, and the few old men left
to guard the castle had been easily
ovcrpowered by the fierce baron.
Rosa screamed with terror. She
heard the tramp of armed feet coming
Up the stairs. In came the naughty
baron of Odenwald aid ordered his
men to bind and carry off the wounded
and helpless knight of Tannenburg. In
vain were Rosa s tears and prayers.
The unfortunate knight was hurried
off, Rosa turned out of the castle.
Which was looted and then locked I'D.
and the poor girl left weeping and
discousolate.
All night she wandered through the
dark pine forest till she came to a
charcoal burners hut, where she was
taken III and kindly treated. Days
passed by. and Rosa longed to see her
father once more and perhaps help
him to escape. Accordingly one day
she stained her face with brown berry
juice, changed her own pretty dress
FOR peasants coarse cotton gown.
and with a large basket of mushrooms
on her arm started off for the castle
Of OdenwaId
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
ters lodge, where the porter's wife
stood in the doorway scolding her
children. The baron of OdenwaId was
extremely fond of mushrooms, and the
basketful was soon bought and paid
FOR by the porter's wife.
''Wul you not stay with me and helm
me look after the children and cook
the food for the prisoners?" she asked
after few moments chat with Rosa.
Il need young, strong girl like you,
and | viii give you a 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 in
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 to go away
with the baron for some days and that |
she would have to take the prisoners |
food to them besides cooking it.
''No. indeed" replied his wife.
those cells, and Will not go near
them"
Let me 60" begged Rosa 81 will
do it for YOU"
Very well.'' said the porter, rather
at her request; come with
me and will show you how to unlock
the DOORS
Together they went down winding
fight of stone steps, opened door
heavily bol,ed and barred and down a
long, dark corridor dimly lighted by
the portcr's lantern. On one side were
small stone cells. behind whose iron
gratings wild, cruel faces cleaned in
the light of the passing lantern. Hid
aous oaths and fearful laughter follow
I'd them, and Rosa shrank, frightened,
to the porter's side.
DO you fear them?' he said. "They
:annot possibly escape. This man, how
ever is good and gentle, and you can
20 right into his CELL He stopped in
:: ont of one OF the gratings and held
up his lantern. Rosa heart beat fast
and l1ud. There on n wretched heap
Of straw lay her father, asleep, pale
and emaciated. She longed to call to
him, but remembered that she must be
silent before the porter. and they left
aim sleeping and walked back through
The long corridor, bolting the heavy
lOor behind them.
The next day Rosa took into the pris-
)ncrs the bowls of unappetizing soup,
pushed one under every grating and
inally came to her fathers cell I'm
locking his door, she pushed in and
melt by the sick mans side. Father!