Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-08-16
ROSA
? TANNENBURG.

LII SrePG SLOue caSlle III tuo ulusG
of the deep pine forests of Germany,
there lived, q great many years ago,
the knight of Tannenburg, and his
daughter, Rosa. 1t was in the days
when the lawless mobiles of, the coun-
try were constantly quarreling with
one another, each burning his neigh
boris grain and stealing his cattle
while the owner was fighting in dis
tant wars.
The castle of Tannenburg was like
all castles of that time, strongly forti-
fed and surrounded by high walls and
deep moat. In an upper room, one
warm summer day, Rosa and her father
sat together. The knight had just
come home from the wars, badly
wounded, and Rosa, o fair-haired girl
of II, sat by him working over her
gayly colored tapestry.
Father she said. 'Tell me the
story of how You got the chain round
your neck.
Rosa had heard the story hundred
times before now, but she never tired
of hearing itany more than the old
knight of telling it.
"When I was page at court" be-
gan the knight, stroking his long, gray
beard, "a great tournament was given
in honor of French prince who came
to visit our emperor. There I saw
your 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, golden chain, to the
victor. I loved her from the moment
I saw her and he- beauty gave me such
strength and daring that came out
first in the games, much to the chagrin
OF the young baron of Odeuwald, who
opposed me fercely in the tourney.
He was, like myself, suitor for the
hand of the queen of beauty, and
when finally won her for my bride
he swore that he would have his re-
venge on me-
'But," interrupted Rosa, ''his cas-
tie is only Is miles from us, and he
has done us no harm yet.
eyes," answered her father, ''that
was many years ago, aud he has now
n young wife and two children, but he
still hates me bitterly and
A loud clamor in the courtyard in
terrupted the story, and on looking
out of the window to their consterna-
tion they saw the very man they We're
speaking of, the baron Odenwald, and
his soldiers marching up to the castle
doors. The knights soldiers were still
at the wars and the few old men left
to guard the castle had been easily
overpowered by the fierce baron.
Rosa screamed with terror. She
heard the tramp of armed feet coming
mp the stairs. In came the naughty
baron OF Odenwald and 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
of, Rosa turned out of the castle,
which was looted, and then locked up,
and the poor girl left weeping and
disconsolate.
All night she wandered through the
dark pine forest till she came to
charcoal burners hut, where she was
taken in and kindly treated. Days
passed by aud Rosa longed to see her
father once more, and perhaps help
him to escape. Accordingly, one day
she stained her face with brownberry
juice, changed her own pretty dress
for peasants coarse cotton gown, and
with large basket of mushrooms on
her arm, started off for the castle of
Odenwald.
The sentinel, seeing only harmless
little peasant girl, let her pass over
the drawbridge and through the castle
gates. She walked up to the porter's
lodge, where the porter's wife stood
in the doorway scolding her children.
The baron OF Odenwald was extremely
fond of mushrooms, aud the basketful
was soon bought and paid for by the
porter's wife.
'Will You not stay with me and
help me look after the children and
cook the food for the prisoners?" she
asked after few moments chat with
Rosa. 81 need young, strong girl
like you and ] will give you a new
dress every year if you will stay
Rosa accepted this 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 uu-
savory soup for the prisoners. of the
castle and do many other things. One
day the porter came to his wife
and told her that he was obliged to
60 away with the baron for some days
and that she would have to take the
prisoners food to them, besides cook
ing it.
''No, indeed" replied his wife,
promptly, ''there are murderers and
thieves in those cells and I will not
go near them"
''Let me CO." begged Rosa. 81
will do it for yot
every WE'LL" said the porter, rather
surprised at her request, "come with
me and will show you how to unlock
the DOORS
Together they went down winding
flight of stone eteps, opened door
heavily bolted and barred and down
long, dark corridor, dimly lightly by
the porter's lantern. On one side
were small stone cells behind whose
iron gratin-s wild, cr:ao. faces cleaned
in the light of the passing lantern.
Hideous oaths and fearful laughter
followed them, and Rosa shrank,
frightened, to the porter's side.
''Do you fear them" he said, "they
cannot possibly escape. This man,
however, is good and gentle, and you
can go right into his CELL" He stopped
in front of one of the gratings and
held up his lantern. Rosa's heart
beat fast and loud. There, on a
wretched heap of straw, lay her father,