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

SteGJTted dep1Tted on horseback through
the castle gaues.
growing impatience, in the great Rit
ter-saale listening for any audible toker
of the return of Siegfried and his ghost
ly company. At last in the still night
air there came family across the plain
monkish chant, growing louder and
louder, until finally the steel shod hoofs
Of Siegfried 8 charger rang on the stones
Of the causeway leading to the castle
gates. Pressed close behind the two
heavy open leaves Of the gates stood
the warder and his assistants, scarcely
breathing, ready to close the gates
sharply the moment the last monk had
entered.
Still chanting, led by the abbot in
his robes Of office, the monks slowly
marched into the deserted courtyard,
while Siegfried refined his horse close
inside the entrance
"Peace be upon this house and all
Within" said.the deep voice of the alb
bot, and in unison the monks MUIR
INJURED "Amen" the word echoing back
to them in the stiffness from the four
gray walls.
Then the silence was rudely broken
by the ponderous clang of the closing
gates and the ominous rattle of bolts
being thrust into their places and the
jingle of heavy chains. Down the wide
stairs from the Ritter -saale came the
clank of armor and rude shouts of
laughter. Newly lighted torches fared
up here and there, illuminating the
courtyard and showing, dangling
against the northern wall, a score of
ropes, with nooses at the end of each.
Into the courtyard clattered the baron
and his followers. The abbot stood,
with arms folded, pressing a gilded
cross against his breast. He was head
taller than any Of his frightened, cow
ering brethren, and his noble, emaciat-
ed face was thin with fasting, caused
by his never ending conflict with the
world that was within himself. His
pale countenance betokened his Office
and the church. But the angry, eagle
fash Of his piercing eye spoke of the
world alone and the field of conflict.
The baron bowed low to the abbot and
said: "Welcome, my lord abbot, to my
humble domicile. 1t has long been the
wish Of my enemies to stand within its
walls, and this pleasure is now granted
you. There is little to be made Of it
from without"
"Baron Grunewald," said the abbot,
II and my brethren are come hither on
an errand of mercy and under the pro-
lection Of your knightly word" The
baron raised his eyebrows in surprise
at this, and, turning to Siegfried, he
said In angry tones:
sis 1t sol Pledged you my word for
the safety Of these menu"
1.-THE reverend abbot is mistaken"
replied the knight, who had not yet de-
scended from his horse. "There was no
word Of safe conduct between us"
"Safe conduct is implied when an
officer of the church is summoned to
its consultations to the dy-
ing" said the abbot.
"All trades" remarked the baron
shave their dangers, yours
among the rest, as well as ours If my
follower had pledged my word regard
ing your safety, I would now open the
gates and let you free. As he has not
done so, l shall choose a manner for
your exit more in keeping with your
lofty aspirations.
Saying this. he gave some rapid or
1ers. His servitors fell upon the unre-
sisting monks and bound them hand
and foot. They were then conducted to
The northern wall and the nooses there
adjusted round the neck of each. When
his was done, the baron stood back
rom the pinioned victims and addressed
hem:
"It is not my intention that you
hould die without having time to re-
'ent Of the many wicked deeds you |
rave doubtless done during your lives
Your sentence is that ye be hanged at |
ock crow tomorrow, which was the
TOUR when, If your teachings cling to |
ny memory, the first Of your craft
urned traitor to his master. If, how
yer, you tire Of your all night vigil,
ou can at once obtain release by cry
ng at the top of your voices, $50 die all
Jhristiansr Thus you will hang your.
elves and go remove some responsibility
rom my perhaps overladen conscience.
he hanging is device Of my own, Of
which am perhaps pardonably proud.
nd 1t pleases me that it is to be first
ried on 60 worthy an assemblage. With
much labor we have elevated to the
attlements an oaken tree Topped Of its
ranches, which will not burn the less
rightly next winter in that 1t has
elped to commit some Of you to hotter
ames gin all ye say be true. The ropes
re tied to this log, and at the cry, 80
ie all ChEistians" l have some stout
naves in waiting up above with levers