Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-10-06
THE WREATH
OF VICTORY.
By De IL Motto Fougne.
A Remarkable Story Of the Border
Between tho Mortal and
Immortal.

Q A Remarkable Story Of the Border Q
q Between tho Mortal and q
o Immortal. Q
oooooooooooooooooooooooooG
Late one evening an old knight made
his way YEARLY down from n high
peak of the HarZ mountains into the
valley. His name was Lcuthold. and
he had formerly held sway over all
that tract of country, but he had been
driven out from his possessions by the
superior might of Il rich baron. and the
usurpcr now lived in the hOnored an
cestral halls, for a glimpse of which
the aged Lcuthold climbed the wooded
heights by his cottage as long as they
We're passahlc and gazed at the two
tall towers until the sun set. Then the
old man went down again into the val.
ley, where he was allowed to live un-
molcStcd, being considered harmless
and powerlcsS, for his only heir, Il high
y
many battlefield, had fallen in de.
Tense of his fathers hearth. ON his
way home the knight always passed a
chapel which he had had erected in
better days and where the body of the
young lord, sleeping his honorable
sleep, lay cntombed Then the father
would kneel before the door Of the lit
tie building and say Pater NoSter for
the soul Of his dear Sigcbald. He did
so today also. Then he rose and looked
longinGly through the window, but be
could not even see the coffin, for II
stood in O niche in the wall behind the
altar. and Immediately after his son
was laid TO rest the bcreaved father
overcome by his grief, had flung the
key of the door into the rushing tor
rent of the Rudp. He rued it bitterly
now, for the poor man lacked money
! to have a new key made for the Clabo,
rate lock. and SO he had cut off himself
and his good wife and his niece, bio
twina who had been Sigebald'S hCtroth
ed, from the precious remains Of their
dearest happiness. Never before had
his longing been SO great as on this
evening. He gazcd at tho door with
| passionate yearning. He almost be
sought it to give way, and felt that II
must perforcc yield 10 his desire. But
It stood firm and immovablo before
| him. 1t would scarcely allow the rust
ed latch to he moved up and down Suf
! ticicntly to prove the strength with
which every part of the braZen CLAMP
did it's duty. After the old man had
tried the door in vain for awhile he
turned away and went back to his cot
tagr, shaking his head and with tears
| In his eyes.
He found his wife waiting for him
with the frugal evening meal.
! Where Is Diotwina" he asked
she has gone to her ROOM" replied
the dame. To-day is the anniversary
Of her betrothal to Sigebald, which, as
you know, she always spends in fast
ing and solitude
The knight sighed deeply and was 81
lent long time. At length he asked:
"How much money have we got laid
aside now"
Not quite two gulden,"
"And the locksmith's price for a new
key is
Three gold gulden."
Then the old man fell to signing
again and looked searchingly arounG
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 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 it has earned the right to lie II
honor on my coffin. Sigebald himself
looking down from paradise. would
scarce forgive me if parted with the
faithful old weapon"
/ lie NHIllc began 10 weep Dpnlnu mel
wrinkled hand, for she remembered
now her dead son had played. as {
beautiful, merry boy, with the ole
sword and lisped Of future victories
Then both the old people became 81
lent, put out their light and went Il
| bed.
Toward midnight the old knigh
heard strange sounds and cries ringin!
through the valleys. From one of tn
heights a light like great fame shont
through the window Of the little room
He was about to get up to see what II
might be, but his wife said:
Lie still, husband. | have heard il
for long time and have been praying
silently. 1t is surely some unholy march
of the Mad army"
HIN" said Lcuthold, 81 have OTTER
heard the Wild Hunter rush past IL
mighty forests, but this is quite diff
ferent thing.
Then it must be witchcraft Of somt
sort" said his wife. who knows what
may be happening upon the Broken
beg you to lie still and to curb youl
curiosity
The old man yielded to his wife's en-
treaties, lay quiet and prayed softly
But after awhile he began again;