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

Dut hAtcf AWuue ue ueSNu ISdlu.
Wife. some one is riding horse
past our window just as our blessed
son used to ride"
She trembled 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!
ChargeT 1t came distinctly through
the storm. But shortly before our
Sigebald fell he gave just such cry"
"If yon wish to kill me with fear and
anguish" said his wife. ''or to rob ME
of my reason. keep OH with such words.
1t will take very little more"
/ So the old man held his peace and
kept 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 shofc again over
| the mountains. the dame was already
seated ut her distaf, and the knight
was going out TO hoe and spade his lit
| tie patch at the door and snd
1T is wonderful how the riddles and
| ghost!y happenings OF the night. when
| once they have forced themselves into
q mans brain. refuse to go TO rest
again dreamed until bright day
! light OF tho harvest festival as we used
| to celebrate ii in happier days 1T our
| old honc'
How strange interrupted the
| dame. II also drraIHcd OF il. The
| peasants; came to the courtyard of the
| castle With shining s;.ytheS. their wives
| AMI daughters bearing their rakes. titl
| with many ribbons. The harvest crowl
siionc brilliantly III the blue Of The
bright summer day. and. alas before it
walked ray dear dear boy as y young
child. wound round and round with 2
| chain OF blue corn;lowcrs. Il beautiful
wreath like that Of n bridegroom on his
| head and a great rcd flower OF his
breast. And knew the red flower
we'll"
She bowed her head. and the knight.
TO turn her thoughts from the death
wound OF her only son. said:
"Thc singing was the most wonder
full TO rue. Even after I awokc l still
heard the solemn hymn which tho
band had sung. and ut this moment
seem to hear 1t over the mountains,
coming nearer and nearer down the
wooded slope. Indeed. now that l
open the door. the sound seems to
come more plainly"
The dame heard It also and rose in
spcechless astonishmcnt TO step out
side the door. leaning on her husbands
arm. to look for the cause Of the unac-
customed noise. cmboldencd by the
cheerful morning beams which gildcd
the trees and the dcwy grass under
them, but still moro cmboldencd by
the revercnt character OF the hymn,
which came steadily nearer. Shnwms
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 III their hands: some.
however. had also naked hallirrtls and
spears.
"Ah. heavens" cried the dame. 1t
is not yet harvest time. And why do
they come thus. with song and rejoic-
ing? See how rcd the morning sun
shines on their scythcs."
"H'm! There must have been grave
moving somewhere" muttercd the
knight. He knew the red on the bare
steel far too well to tnke 1T. as did his
wife, for the reflection OF the morning
sun.
Meanwhile the peasants had formed
a semicircle around the venerable pair,
and out from their ranks. between the
scythes and iances which they brand
ished 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 frnit. Here at the edge Of the
wood these heroes met me. and they
wish that you hear the tidings from
my lips. They have reconQuered your
castle The country is free. the op-
pressor is deadv'
The old knight stared around him
as IL he had again fallen into the
dreams of the previous night. Then the
oldest of the armed --nsants approach
cd. venerable graybcard. like his mas
ter, and. taking the spade and hoe
gently from his hand. he placed in
their stead IN ancient silver staff, in
laid with gold, which Lcuthold's fore
fathers had borne from time imnie-
moral and which had now been re.
captured with the other family relics.
Then the circle of men raised q great
shout OF joy. repeating Dictwina's
words. 1.-The country Is free. The op-
pressor is deadv' over and over and
striking their weapons against one
another SO that they clanked jubilant-
~.
ut is all true" said the old peasant
to the still lncreduious pair. 'sYour
brothers. son. Richard. has returned
from the crusade. my liege. and has
brought these wonderful things 60 pass
since yesterday evening. when he flrst
showed himself here. He must have
known how we all ionged for our old
rightfui master. for he spoke to us so
that we felt compelled to take up
scythe and spear for you as if it were