Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-12-06
THE WREATH
OF VICTORY.
BY De Ia moite Fougne.
A Remarkable Story Of rho Border
Between thc Mortal and
Immortal.
ooooooOOOoOooooooooooooo


ooOooOOoooOOOOoOOooooooooS
Late ono evening an oh knight made
his way wearily down from high
peak OF the Ilarz mountains into the
valley. His name was Lcujhold and
he had formerly held sway over all
that tract of country tut hc had been
driven out from his possessions 10y the
superior might OF rich barron. aud the
uSurpcr NOW lived iu Tho honorcd an
ceStral halls. for glimpse OF which
the aged l.cuthold climbed the wooded
delights hy lass cottage. aS lou- as they
were paSSlhle and gazcd at the two
tall towers unyN the sun set. Then the
old man went down again into the val
ley. where hc was allowed to live un-
molcSted. being considered harmless
and powerlcss. for his only heir. n high
spirited young fellow. the hero of
many a battlefield. had fallen in de
fense Of his fathers hearth. ON his
way homo the knight always passed a
chapel which hc had had erected i'm
better daES and where the body Of the
young lord. sleeping his honorable
sleep. lay cntombcd. Then the father
would knccl before the door of the lit
tie building and say "a Tatcr NoSter for
the soul OF his dear Sigcbald. lie did
81 today also. Then hc rose and looked
lougingly through the window. hut he
could not even see the coffin. for it
stood in a niche I'm the wall behind the
altar ana Immediately after his son
was laid 10 rest the hcrcaVed father.
overcome by his grief. had flung the
key of the door into the rushing tor
rent OF the Bude He rucd il bitterly
now. for the poor man lacked money
10 have a new key made for the clab0-
rate lock, and $50 ne had cut of himself
and his good Wife ami his niece. pio-
twina. who .lad been Sigchald'S bctroth-
ed. from the precious remains of their
dearest happiness. Never before had
his longing been - great rs on this
evening. lie gazcd Al thc door with
passionate Ncarnmg. lie almost he
sought il To give way, and felt that 1t
must perfOrce yield to hiS desire. But
II stood firm and immOVahlc before
him. 1t would scarcely allow the rust
eel latch To lee moved up ana down Suf-
ficiently L. prove the strength with
which every part of the brazcn clamp
did its duty. After thr old man had
tried the door in vain for awhile he
turned away ANA went back To his cot
tage. shaking his head ANA with tears
in his eyes.
He found his wife waiting for him
with thc frugal evening meal
where is Diotwina - ne asked.
"She has gone Ia her room." replied
the dame To-day is the anniversary
OF her bctrothal 20 Sigehald. which. as
you know. She always spends in fast
ing and solitude"
The knight sighed deeply and was ST.
lent long time. At length he asked:
How much money have we got laid
aside now?'
Not quite TWO guidcn."
And the locksmith's price for a new
key is
'Thrce gold guidcn."
Then the old man fell to signing
again and looked searchingIy around
the room.
NO" said the dame, there is moth
ing more To see here. There is only
one thing. The locksmith would glad
ly give us n couple of gulden for it,"
You mean that exclaimed the old
man. looking UP at his sword, which
hung on the wall His wife nodded in
assent But he jumped up Indignantly
and cried:
God forbid, shall do no more work
with the old blade in this world. it is
true, but ii has earned the right To lie in
honor on my coffin. Sigcbald himself.
looking down from paradise, would
scarce forgive me if l parted with the
faithful old weapon"
The dame began 10 weep behind her
wrinkled hand. for she remembered
how her dead son had played, as
beautiful. merry boy. with the old
sword and liSpcd of future victories.
Then both the old people became ST
lent. put out their light and went to
bed
toward midnight the old knight
heard strange sounds and cries ringing
through the valleys. From one Of the
heights light like a great flame shone
through the window Of the little room.