The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-07-21

Ai-t atm. - 80 vi NAN
Gdenwa!d.
The sentinel. seeing only a harmless
little peasant girl, let her pass or1r
:he Irawbtidge an Through the castle
gates. She walked up to the porter's
lodge. where the po:ter's wife stood
in the doorway scoldlng her children.
The baron Of OCeuWald was extremely
fond of mushrooms. aud the ba>ket[ul
was soon bought and paid for by the
norter's wife.
"Will Q not stay with me and
help me look after the children and
cook the food for the prisoners?' she
aske | after Il few moments chat with
Rosa. u need a young, strong girl
like you anl I will give .you q new
dress every year il you will stay
Rosa accepte this offer eagerly, and
her duties, none too light, began that
very day. She lad to light the fire in
the morning, dress the children. help
the por;er's wife cock the most I'M
savory soup for the prisoners f the
castle and 60 any other things. One
day the porter came to hi, wife
anI told her that he vas obliged to
90 away with the baron for some days
and tha: she would have to take the
prisoners food to them, besides cook
ing it.
40, in Iced" replied his wife.
promptly, ''there are murderers and
thieves in those cells and I will not
50 near them
Let me CO." begged Rosa. 81
wili do it for you.
Very WELL said the porter, rather
surprised at her request, ''come with
me and | will show you how to unlock
the doors"
Together they went down a winding
flight OF stone steps. opened a door
heavily bolted aud barred and down
long, dark corridor, dilnly lightly by
the potter's lantern. On one side
were small stone cells behind whose
iron gratin s wild, cruel faces cleaned
in the light Of tue 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
III front Of one of the gratings and
held up his lantern. Rosa's heart
beat fast and loud. There. on a
wretcled heap of straw. lay her father.
asleep, pale and emaciated. She longel
to call to him, but remembered she
must be silent before the porter, and
they left him sleeping and walked
back through the long corridor, bolt
ing the heavy door behind them.
The next day Rosa took into the
prison the bowls Of rnappetizing soup,
pushed one under every grating and
finally came TO her fathers cell. I'm
locking his door she rushed in and
knel; by the sick mans side. Father.
father she cried. ''Rosa." exclaimed
the knight, recognizing his daughter
IN spite Of the brown stain and rough
dress. He took her in his arms and
together they wept over their terrible
misfortunes. Then Rosa told her
father all her adventures since he had
been carried off, until the sound of the
great bell of the castle coming dim and
mufled through the thick dungeon
walls warned her that it was time to
go back to the porters wife.
Twice every day Rosa brought food
to til, prisoners, and thus saw her
father. Escape, however, was not
possible. The walls were too we'll
guarded, and as the days slipped by
the poor knigh: grew worse and Rosa
. desTa:fed.
One morning the castle was filed
with nose and busy movement. The
news ibat the baron WAS to return tina.
evening With a large comDanv n.