Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Witch Angel.

tired out the many young fellows who
accepted the test had she not been
witch. At least this is as the legend
has it, though it is possible for q girl
built for racer to run very fast. Ber-
tina Gerhart was very slender. her mus
Giles were hard, and she was tall for
woman, having great length of limb
from the knee TO the hip. Her face,
without animation while ut rest, when
she was being chased by Il sutton grew
bright, her eyes glistened, and her lips
wore perpetual smile. She was con-
tinually looking back. and when she
did so her pursuer started on with in
creased speed. III this way the girl
led him TO follow her so long as any
strength remained to him, so that at
last, when he sank down beaten in the
race, he was in danger of death from
exhaustion.
\ number of young fellows had run
the race with her only to be tired out,
while Bertha's endurance seemed to
give her greater fieetness the longer
she ran After one of her pursuing
suitors had died of heart failure the
baron OH whose domain she lived shut
her up in Il tower in his castle and,
upon the representations of her neigh
bors that she was a witch, decided
that she should be burned ut the stake.
The baron had a son. Oswald, slightly
lame. q great student. Knowledge is
the best means of dispelling the mists
of superstition. and Oswald ridiculed
the charge of witchcraft. He gained
access to Bertha's cell, fell in love with
her and. his passion being returned,
begged his fathers permission to mar
ry her The baron was Mortified and.
in order to separate his son from the
witch. ordered him to go for n course
of study TO the University of Paris.
But Oswald was so obstinate and made
his father so much trouble that the
barren. who was growing old and con-
sequently weakening. finally consented
to a compromise. Oswald proposed to
demonstrate that Bertha was no witch
by chasing and catching her himself.
The baron only yielded to such a risk
after his son had declared that if not
successful the connection. so far as he
was concerned. should he ended. The
baron also insisted that Bertha should
be told that if she escaped this sutton
she should be set at liberty and trou-
bled no further. If caught, she must
die at the stake. In this way the IA
Their hoped to escape 4 witch for a
dauGhter-in-law. ..., -.......,.
The race came on. While waiting
for the signal to start. Bertha stood
dozen yards in advance of her sutton,
looking at him with melancholy eyes
remembering that this the only man
she had ever loved she must escape or
lose her life. Oswald. who. with the ex-
ception OF his lameneSs, was of beau
tiful figure and face, threw all the love
he felt into pleading look which said.
yield to me and-death"' When the
baron drew his rapier. the signal. the
runners started. Bertha stepping off
slowly, but nimbly, like q fawn, Os-
wald with Il limping gait, showing
plainly that it would he impossible for
him TO catch her unless she permitted.
Bertha led him here and there within
the prescribed inclOsure, keeping but
n short distance ahead of him and
turning often to look at him, not en-
ticingly. but as il to beg his forgiveness
for not permitting him TO catch her.
Though Oswald was not permitted to
speak 10 her. lie pleaded with every
feature of his face for her to yield.
Then she would look ut him reproach-
fully, to which he would reply with
the same expression as before, as if TO
say, BE mine and-dier'
Bertha ran on, always leading her
lover by few rods. and it seemed that,
like her former suitors. he was sure in
the end to sink down exhausted. The
onlookers. more than ever convinced
that the girl was n witch, appealed to
the baron to put an end TO the unequal
contest. And now they saw Oswald
draw his dagger, the hlt of which re
sembled a cross, and hold it up before
Bertha's eyes.
Hes showing her the cross" said
the people. IF she is a witch, she will
sink down at once"
But Bertha only looked the more
melancholy out of her eyes, casting
them upward, as if in prayer. Then
Oswald pointed the dagger at his heart
IF she's n WITCH" the people said
now, shell throw Il spell upon him to
make him drive it into his breast
But Bertha, when she saw it was her
life or her lovers that must be given
up. slackened her pace, running slower
and slower. Oswald creeping nearer,
till at last she stopped, tottered and fell
back into his arms.
Then great shout arose:
''She's an angel from heaven come
down to bless the young heir to the
baronyr'
Il have given my life for yours"
said Bertha in despair.
You have saved your life by your
prOffered sacrifice and will he my
bride"
The baron was pleased both at the
devotion of the girl for his son and at |
that sons wisdom. Now that he was |
satisfied that she was not n witch he /
welcomed Bertha as n daughter and !
proclaimed many days of festivities for |
the wedding. AS soon as it was con-
he turned over the care of |