Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-05-11
A ROUMANIAH LEGEND
The Tragedy From Which Sprang
ManolIi's Well.
A WEIRD TALE or oLDEN DAYS
Neither Fate Nor Flood Nor Hurricane
Could Keep the Faithful Anniker
From The Man She Loved and From
Her Horrible Doom.

Ncftncr rave NOT flooo Nor lubricant
Could Keep the Faithful Annike.
From the Man She Loved and From
Her Horrible Doom.
Tradition Is not history. but II serve.
10 Gil in the gaps left by the chrOui
clers OF olden time and throws ngh
sometimes lurid one--upon IN,
manners and customs of bygone ages
A dark deed cruel enough TO be re
membered even 10 cruel age Is re
peated from father TO son. each gener
alton adding its touch OF superstitious
marvel TO the story TIL 1t grows int
the fairy tale OF today. mythical. We,
not without a kernel OF truth.
Among the picturesque peasantry
OF Roumania fingers many weird
tale OF olden days. One such legend Is
related concerning an ancient monas-
terry, the remains OF which are still to
be seen on a wooded hillside. Beneath
the weird walls lie nine great humps,
OF granite. and among these rocks
rises spring OF clear water. called by
the peasants "ManoIlf's well" and be-
lieved 10y them 10 have a strange and
wonderful origin.
Once upon time. we are told. n
Roumanian noble named Negen was n
captive In the hands OF Selim. the sui
tan OF Turkey. During his exile Ne
gen employed his time in studying
architecture. and. possessing consider
able talent. he undertook TO superin.
tend the building OF celebrated
mosque. Charmed by the beauty of
the building. the sultan granted Prince
Negen his liberty and permission To-
carry back 10 his native hand certain
costly materials similar 10 those used
In beautifying the mosque
Accompanied by nine skilled maSons
Negen returned TO Roumania. resolved
10 immortalize his name by building
there a religious house such as had
never before been seen
The site chosen. the builders set 70
work under his orders. but their labor
was i'm vain. for every night evil spir-
its pulled down what had been erect
ed during the day.
One night Manolli. the chief Of the
builders. had strange dream. 4
mysterious voice warned him that the
building they had undertaken would
never be reared unless they built into
the walls the living form OF the first
women who appeared nj break OF day
On awakiug from sleep Manolli
told his comrades Of this vision. and
together they made solemn VOW 10
sacrifice thus the frst woman. maid or
matron. VIII" appeared the next morn
ing
With the trst streak OF dawn Ma
nolli mounted the scaffolding and scan
ned ihe surrounding hills. with palIid.
anxious face. Alas. who Is II be sees
in the distance; His own fair young
wife. bringing food and wine for her
lord
Then Manolli threw himself upon
his knees and besought heaven 10
send food 90 prevent her from com.
Ing. and at once the rain poured down.
and the river rose SO that a waste of
water covered the valley. But the
young wife waded through the water.
and Manolli. in despair beheld her
still approaching.
Again he prayed. and fierce hurri-
cane swept over the mountains. level
ing trees and hurling rocks in the
way. Yet on she came Anniker had
a brave spirit. and neither flood nor
tempest would keep her from the man
she loved.
Joyfully the masons received her.
but Manollfs face was pale and strirk
en- with anguish
They led the young wife TO niche
In the newly built wall and told her 10
stand there for joke. while they pre-
tended TO build her in. At frst she
laughed merrily and entered into the
jest, but her smiles vanished as quick
ly the wall rose from ankle 10 knee
and from knee TO waist. Poor Ami
ker's entreatieS and cries did not move
the hearts OF the stern builders. and
soon her voice was heard no more.
The prophetic vision proved true
The building suffered no more from
Invisible foes and when complete sat
isfed the pride OF Negen's heart Ma
nolIi alone took no pleasure in the edi
fee which had cost him so dear.
II was finished. and the masons pre-
Peiitu 10 ItAuEu 10 tnelG OWN country
Negen. however. determined that they
should never return The design
which they had worked out so admI
rably was the creature OF his brain. the
darling OF bis heart: IL should never be
reproduced. So be Invited them all to
the roof for the last time. Then.
t~eacherously removing the ladders. he
left them there TO die
The masons devised various means
for reaching the earth. but they were
all killed In the attempt TO escape and
were changed by fairies into the great
blocks Of stone which remain to this
day In proof OF the tragic event.
Manolli alone made no effort TO save
himself and Joined In none OF the con
trivances prepared by HIS comrades
He heard only Anniker's voice calling
to him-"Manolli. Manolli." Follow
ing the mystic voice. be sprang from
the parapet. falling lifeless upon tfIe
earth. and the tears yelling up from
his broken heart became a fountain.
sver clear. cool and fresh. and 10 this
day 1t is know as Manolli's well Lon