Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-09-19

might not rouse his pride, his
daughters Gisela and Rotnruoa, who
on account Of their strong mental
qualities the academicians named
| Della and Columbia, yet for her ne
felt peculiar tenderness. Stern and
unyielding to those around him, to her
at times he was most gentle and ten.
der; and though he affected to des-
ptse all display and glitter of fnery
for himself, upon ner he failed not i,
bestow many beautiful and costly
gifts. Among them was a curiously
wrought finger ring.
Now while Emma was certainly a
most devoted and obedient daughter
like her great father, she, also had a
viii Of her own, which she exercised
by falling in love with Eberhardt, her
fathers secretary. OF course the
| young lovers knew Charlemagne
would never give his consent to their
marriage. 1t mattered not,-tney
would even ask it,-so one fair morn
| ing in spring, Emma and Eberhardt
were missing. They had secretly stol-
en- away, leaving no word nor sign as
to their intended whereabouts.
Charlemagne was astounded at
their audacity; his rage knew no
! bounds. He stormed and swore; sent
out searching parties far and wide,
/ determined to overtake and severely
punish them; but not a trace of the
fugitives could be found So after
long and unavailing search he was
forced TO yield to the inevitable and
| gradually gave himself up to the be-
lief that Emma and Eberhardt If
| their efforts to escape capture had
lost their lives in some mountain
torrent of had become the prey of
, wild animals which roamed in mum.
bers through the dense woods.
One of Charlemagne's pleasures
was the hunt, and many were the
trophies of his great skill and courage
brought back from long and danger
GUS trips into the heart of the Black
Forest. During one of his trips with
few chosen companions, he CHANGED
to come upon little inn on the noun.
tain side almost hidden in the dark
forest. Here they decided to rest and
obtain if possible some refreshments
The accommodations of course were
poor, but the keeper gladly offered his
unexpected guests the best he hal.
though unaware of the fact that it was
royalty he was entertaining.
Now by fate's strange decree this
inn was the very place which Emma
and Eberhardt, after long years of
wanderings, had come upon and
chosen as their temporary home. The
poor girl though not regretting her
rash act in choosing the man of her
heart, was overcome with fear at the
sight of her stern father: yet longing
to again hear his voice. stood trembl-
ing behind an inner door striving to
catch each word that fell from his
lips.
AS the inn-keeper passed her bear
ing dish of soup, she hastily took
the curious ring her father had given
her from her finger and slyly dropped
it in the soup, waiting with bated
breath what might follow if ii was
discovered by Charlemagne. OF course
the emperor did discover and recog.
nize the ring,-and in a voice trem.
bling with emotion cried:
My daughter lives. Emma!
Emma! Come to mel"
In an instant she was in her fathers
arms. Her flight was forgotten and for
given. It was enough for him to know
yVTaE tiyri,a
Cha-lemagne called for Eberhardt
and taking the two out on the noun
tain side, he joined their hands and
pointing toward the rivers Rhine.
Neckar, and Main. said:
All the land that you see between
the Rhine, the Neckar and the Main
shall belong to you and yours for
ever
In gratitude the young couple
knelt and Emma extending her arms
exclaimed:
%, du Wald du sollt mein Er5-
theil sein from which came the name
Odenwald, now applied to noun.
famous region in Southern Germany.
And this was the beginning of the
house of Erbach-Erbach, a family
renowned in many ways, belonging 10
the mediatized nobility. thus of equal
rank with the crowned heads and hav-
ing the right to intermarry with royal
ty.
The name of Erbach was taken from
stream which rises directly up out
of the ground near the city now call.
ed Erbach, Erbach meaning earth
stream. The family title is Weiland
Erbach-Erbach Wartenburg Roth.
The term Rose of the Valley"
seems fttingly applied to this city
nesting as it does in the valley be.
tween verdure clad mountains its red
tlied roofs bearing a fanciful resem-
blance to the petals of a rose.
AS Charlemagne was an adherent
OF the church of Rome, so the courts
OF Erbach-Erbach so remained until
the following incident occurred.
1t is related that one of the counts
also Eberhardt by name, being most
ceYoIt Catholic, determined if posi-
bic to put an end to the hereto Mar
tin Luther and for that purpose armed
himself,-and despite the fact that
his child lay at deaths door from Ill
ness and his wife pleaded with him
not In Ipava hnr aIoua ,.;+b tta a,.;,