Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-07-25

within. while little clouds of dust
flew out of a quantity Of female
wearing apparel. 1t was strange
fantastic collection. Motley and a.
most questionably fantastic in CUT
they contrasted strangely with the
solemnity of their surroundings.
It must have been a small unusual
ly delicate being who had worn
most of them bordered with rich gold
embroidery were short as the dress
of a child and the bodices of purple
or violet velvet, with ribbons and
lacings of gold cord, must have fitted
en- exquisitely plant maiden waist.
Many, many years must have glided
away since human breathing had
been heard in this solitude, or a Iiv.
ing hand touched the objects here en-
closed. The hooks in the closet had
gradually worn through the decaying
fabrics, and the threads, which had
once held pearls and tinseI in place,
hung loose.
Along one of the side walls there
stood a small table on which was a
small silver waiter. 1t seemed
scarcely able to stand upon it's tot
tering feet, and threatened with in
slant downfall the box that stood up
on the waiter. This box was a master
piece of inlaid work in metal and
ivory. The lid was not closed, but
seemed rather to be merely laid upon
a broad paper that protruded from
the box, ard was evidently so placed
as to attract attention. 1t was brown
with age and covered with a thick
cushion of dust; but the huge
stiff black letters peered out i'm
perishabie from beneath it, and the
name, Jost Won Gnadewitz, could be
read at some distance.
What may this be?' shouted the
forester, surprised almost to the
point Of speechIessness. 'Jost Won
Gnadewitz is the hero in Sabine S
tale of the ancestors"
Ferber carefully lifted the box lid.
There lay velvet cushion holding
ornaments of antique form-neck-
Iaces, brooches, a string of gold
pieces, and several strings of pearls.
The paper had fallen to the ground !;
Reinhardt picked it up and offered to
read the contents. 1t was written
very badly, and was extremely i'll
spelled even for its time, about two
centuries ago. me author had Ger
tainly understood managing the
sword far better than the pen; yet a
poetic vein ran through the lines.
They are as follows:
Whoever you may be who enter
this room, by ali that is sacred, by all
that you love and that ever touched
your heart, do not disturb her resti
She lies there sIumbering like 2
child The sweet face beneath the
dark locks smiles again now that
death has touched it. Once again,
whoever you may be, whether nigh.
born or beggar, whether you have a
share in the dead Or not let my eye
be the last to rest upon her!
I could not lay her under the
heavy, dark earth. Here golden rays
of light will play about her, the
birds will perch upon the boughs
near this her tomb. Upon their wings
is the breath of the forest; out of
their threats stream the songs that
were her cradIe-sOngs. Golden rays
sank into the thicket, too, and the
birds tWittered upon the boughs
where the slender doe parted the
branches and in surprise turned her
eyes upon the young hunter resting
in the shade. His heart beat wildly
at sight of her; he threw aside MS
weapon and followed the maidenIy
figure fleeing before HIM. She, 4
child of the forest, daughter OF
those hOrdes who are driven by q
curse to be wanderers upon the face
Of the earth who have nowhere their
own soil beneath their feet. nowhere
a rod of their native land on which
to lay their dying heads, had con
quered the heart of the young noble
Begging for her love, he rOamed
night and day about the camp of her
tribe, followed her footsteps, en-
braCed her knees in madness Of his
passion, until she was moved to CON
sent to leave her people and follow
him secretly. He carried her in the
dead of night to his castle, woe to
him, to become her murderer. He did
not heed her pleading when she was
seized by the longing for her forest
freedom. Like a Gagged bird she f1ut-
tered about, beating her delicate head
against the bars of the cage. The
walls which had once echoed her
ravishing voice her wonderful man-
dolin playing could give back only
signs and plaintive cnurmurs. He saw
her cheeks grow pale, saw her eyes
turned from him in hatred. His
heart suffered death a thousand
times as she pushed him from her
and shuddered at his touch. He des-
paired, but he doubled the bars and
bolts and watched the fastened doors
iii mortal fear: for he knew she was
lost to him forever if her fleet foot
should touch the soil of the forest.
Then came a time when she grew
calmer. She glided past him like Il
shadow. a nothing. She did not
raise her eve when he came near
her and spoke coaxingly. She had
long ceased to speak to him and no