Morris tribune., 1907-05-11
A CHURCH LEGEND

l
funds with which to finish the cathe-
iral his daughter Gertrude announced
Hendric Staufman.
HenGric was goodly fellow, little
wild perhaps but then, he was the
captain of the city guard, and much
might be excused in a soldier who
ventured blood and life as freely as
though he had ample store of both.
The little fat mayor guessed the err
rand upon which the youth had come
and was not sorry to have an oppor-
tunity to deliver his mind upon the
matter.
your daughter, worthy mayor said
the soldier briskly-"I love her and
would ask your consent to woo her"
Now, although Peter Smitz had not
the slightest intention In the world of
favoring the suit Of the young man,
yet so versed had he become in the
arts Of diplomacy since his service as
mayor that he did not openly tell the
sutton that his suit was hopeless, but
he returned an evasive answer.
| 81 have no objection against you, my
gallant captain" the mayor said, ca
ressing his fat chin and smiling upon
the soldier as if he fully intended to
say yes at once and have done with it,
shut affairs of state require me to
hesitate before deciding such
weighty matter. You know that our
cathedral is unfinished, to the great
scandal Of our town"
"What has that to do with your
daughter exclaimed the soldier in
establishment Surely you do not ez.
pect that she can aid In finishing it,!
| The soldiers words gave rise to a
bright idea in the mind Of the mayor.
Exactly" he cried. "My daughters
husband must finish the cathedral"
by my faith, then, she is apt to go
husbandless for awhilev' the soldier
cried bluntly as he withdrew.
The mayor chuckled with delight up
on getting rid of his visitor so easily
and Immediately resumed his study of
the surrounding country, planning how
he might best attack the insolent
neighbors who had dared to scott at the
unfinished church.
| The soldier quilted the mayors man
! sion in disgust, and as he walked down
the street, brooding modify over the
utterly impossible conditions that old
Peter had imposed, he became con-
scious that there was a stranger Gid
ing by his side.
Young Hendric glared at the stran
ger In wrath. He felt in the humor
| for quarrel, and here was chance.
| The man was tall and thin, with
nose curved like an eagles beak, deep
sunken eyes glowing like balls Of fire.
long, dropping mustache and sneer
| ing smile, and he was wrapped from
head to foot in long black cloak.
| Upon his head he wore little hooded
| cap. and a single slender red feather
curved in the air like a tongue of fire.
| Hendric was hot with rage when he
| glanced at the stranger, and then all Of
a sudden he became as cold as ice.
"Our fat little mayor made strange
conditions" quoth the stranger, his
voice as metallic as the ring Of steel
upon steel.
Hendric could only stare not speak.
"You see, / know all about It," the
stranger continued, with a confident
! nod land l take quite an interest in
your case. 1t is a shame that two
young hearts should be kept from each
other, and if you say the word I'm the
man who will give you the maiden"
Hendric shivered, and as he glanced
around to see. if any one was near his
! gaze fell upon the unfinished cathedral.
| The two had halted right In front of
the i'll fated church.
There you arer' cried the stranger
| as he looked at the vast pile with the
air Of a man who considered himself
Judge about such things. The finish
| ing of that is but a mere trife. I'll
| help you myself 1t is a little out of
my line to build churches, but opposi
ton is the life of trade I'll aid you
cheap. Just sign me this contract
The purport Of it is that the first who
, shall enter by the open door when the
cathedral is finished shall belong to
! me, skin and hair, body and soul"
As it is generally very easy in this
world to give away what does not be
long to US, Hendric gladly signed the
contract, and then the dark stranger
agreed to deposit a certain sum amply
sufficient to finish the cathedral in
lonely spot upon the grounds belong
ing to Hendricks dead father, accompa-
MED by will purporting to be signed
by the old man beQueathing the money
to his son. This was so arranged that
none might have suspicion as to who
furnished the money.
All went we'll Hendric found the
money. devoted it TO building the ca
thedral and married the girl But be
fore the cathedral was finished Hen
dric had lconfded to his wife the bar
gain be had made with Satan, and she.
womanlike. set her wits to work to
cheat the fend.
The contract stated that the first to
enter should fall Satan's prize, but did
not stipulate whether that first should