The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-07
N WILLIAM HAUFF

in the Spessart.e If deals Wltn tne Ie. began. The tale is based on popular centuries and is still told by the simple folk of the country ,S. rodha rsliey where where the the Danube has its source. |,
 The origin of the Hohenzollerns IS traced back to a count or naren. Mno founded castle on the Lonshh n.as sh ea,tnrv like the Hapsbnrgs, who became the ruIers of Austria. the Hohenzollerns ms descend from predatory, nGelss oIdsrs s'hof of those days planted their fastnesses on fhe fine of the great roads of tramc ana there levied tribute, sometimes frankly as leos s,ion pmt 1aoney Sens seisnsursEe or trade lmpost.
 Once the mightiest burg in all upper swabia was Hohenzollern. toWerea rrom its battiements the eye could sween far and free over beautirul aand Further than the eye could reach rnraad the fear of the brave race or the Zollerns, whose name was known n all German lands.
 Many hundred years ago a 1oliern ruled there who was curious crsaau.e a Ttsco,,ld not be said that he oppressed his subjects or that he did harm 10 ms nobIa neighbors; still, none cared 70 cross his path. fearing his gloomy eye b5s wrinkied brow and his sulien tenn ner Few there were who ever nao heard him speak like other men. II peasant were in his way as ne rgae through the country and dsew u on s,T s,S Capnt'" inc Count of zollern replied; ssT,rhbish" ]" ar .Know all about It.
 Yfa subject displeased him or peas ant,s cart obstructed him in narrow road his wrath unioaded itselt n thunderstorm of oaths- Though 1t nsv- er happened that he struck man, ns was known in all the surroundlng iana nrIv- as ssThe Bad Weather of zoliern.
 Tha Rad Weather of Zolfern had wife. gentle and good as day m May. Tn inc heat of summer and the snow of winter she went down the steep height to visit the suffering. When the Count met her on such erranas ne ls1 1,, marked gruftiy; Ruooisn. know Aii about it."
 The Lady Hedwig won Zcllern loved him for all that honored him, ana tried to smooth the furroWs from ms dark brow with her beautiful White hand. a
 A little heir arrived. but the Bad weather of zollern did not look any tne mora nleasan During three years he saw his son only on Sundays. when the nurse brought him In after dinner. Then hs wn,,ld glover at him for a while and hand him to the nurse again, nut 4erlng something into his great beard on the day that the boy was able to say "Father" he gave the nurse q norin. without showing face any more am aahle.
 or he told the servants to attire the boy splendidly in silk and velvet Then he ordered his grooms to lead out his great lwarhorsez smother the inc steed. He took the little fellow In ms arm and descended the broad staircase with changing spurs The Lady He'd wig was disturbed at the sight. Though she never ventured at other times to ask her husband where he was going, this time anxiety for her child opened her lips
 Are you going for q ride. countT Inquired she timidly. He did not an- swsai still more itlmidiy she continued. "Surely you will not wish to trouble yourself with the boy. will take him out"
 ''Iknow all about it." said the. Bad Weather. and went on without turning his head. Tn the courtyard he lifted the lad by one foot, set him In the huge saddle. lashed him with scarf and trotted through the portal. holding the bridle of his sons horse
 At first the small boy seemed to en- joy riding with his father. He ciapped his hands,. laughed and shook the horses mane as if to make 1t so fas- ter. The Count looked less surly than usual and muttered once or twice: You may become a stout bold fellow.
 But when they reached the plain and the Count suprred his horse to a sharp trot. the pounding soon knocked the chfld's breath from his body. Ills k.o 1aox 7rt Ia quietly at first; then, as the horses went faster and faster. and the wind choked him. he became terribly frightened, and at last was crying with all his might.
 Know 1t all! Rubbish%" growled his father. "A fine fellow. to bawl on his first ridel Silence. or"
 At that moment his horse reared and the bridle of the other slipped from his grasp. For a space 1t required all his strength to master his own mount When he looked around, frightened, for his sons horse. he saw 1t racing back to the burg. riderless.
 Hard and sullen as he was. the sight struck at his heart He plucked him. self by the beard and uttered a cry |. As if in answer. the boys voice sound ed behind him. He turned and saw an old woman sitting by the road with the lad on her lap.
 Bring the boy to me. old witchp' EOafou Iho OOuHts
 Mot so fasti Not so fast, your wor- ship" laughed the old woman. "He was hanging to his horse by one foot only. His hair was touching the ground when caught him. Pray give me one of your Zoliern-minted fiorins. "
 "'RubbishP cried the Count, tossing her few pennies.
 ''No. A florin Is what I could use" !" said the old woman.
 What! Florin? You aren't worth forinl Bring me the boy or I will set the dogs on you"
 "Sol am not worth q horin? Well we will see how much of your estate will be worth Zollern horin. But the pennies you would better keep your self" With these words she threw the coins with such extraordinary skill that they fell into the leather purse that \ Zollern still held in his hand. At first Zollern was too much sur z prised by the feat to speak. Then he & snatched his fre-lock, set the hammer S and aimed at the woman. She merely 4 smiled and held little Kuno In front of 4 her. so that the Count dared not fire 4 "Be a good, pious child" she said to N him, land all shall be well with you ? N She set him down, shook her forehngeF & at the Count, saying: "Zollern. Zollern # you remain my debtor for a zollerp fiorin" and hobbled into the forest, pay. ing no attention to the Counts curses and threats. Konrad, the squire, who had followed them, tremblipgly alight- ed from his horse, picked up his young master and rode homeward behind hia black -visaged lord.