Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-21
Saint Maru's Beacon
A Legend
By AMBROSE l. TURNER
Copyright By American Press Asso-
rfMFfon 1911

Several hundred years ago everybody
believed in a personal devil whose
business Il was TO mingle with human
Beings and tempt them from virtue.
Hans Bewner was sultor for the
hand OF Gretchen Staebel. Gretchen's
father was much respected In the COM
alunity for his probity and piety. and
young Hans was 50 religiously inciin-
ed that he thought OF being a priest.
Hut so deep was the love between him
and Gretchen that he realized that he
would wreck her happiness as well as
his own II he entered a church where
cslibacy IL imposed on the clergy. and
he gave up what he really preferred.
Nevertheless he was considered to be
well nigh n saint.
One evening Hans and Gretchen and
their relatives and friends were gath
cred nj the Staebel home 10 celebrate
che betrothal Of Hans and Gretchen.
Ia the midst OF the festivities a knock
was heard at the door. and a young
nan. strikingiy handsome. was ad-
nitted. who said that he was a trav.
elcr on his way TO Munich and begged
g. be permitted TO pass the night In
tte house. Hospitality Of this kind
was usual in those days. and the
ySung man. who gave his name N
Herman, was not only promised
nights lodging. but was invited TO
Snke RI I'm the festivities.
The stranger soon became the life
Of the party. Brilliant sayings fell
from his tongue that astonished and
delighted the company. He suggested
different methods Of amusement and
1t last. pulling from his pockets cards
similar 70 the playing cards in vogue
q game. All were pleased at learning
some novel amusement and assented
READILY. Herman proposed first to
show three OF them how to play the
game. after which the rest might d.
vide into sets OF three, each three play
int separately.
Those chosen 70 be taught the game
were Hans md Gretchen. The teacher
dealt the cards and showed them how
20 play one hand and then another
and by this time they knew enough
about II 10 play II. Those looking on
then proceeded to arrange themselves
at tables. and presently the whole
company were deeply immersed in the
amusement introduced by the hand
some stranger.
Herman was extremely deferential
% Gretchen. Every now and again
he would show his white teeth in a
smile under his exquislteiy cut lips
and mustache. the carefully waved
ends Of which pointed upward. More
over. his eyes were constantly meeting
hers and seemed to produce upon her
n marked impression. Al first she at
tempted to turn hers away. but she
soon lost the power to do this. In
deed, she seemed like a bird charmed
by the eyes Of serpent.
II was not long before Hans noticed
that his betrothed was being fascinat-
Cd by the stranger. But. being n mild
hammered man. more devoted to say
Ing bis prayers than to quarreling, he
held his peace. hoping that no great
harm was being done and on the NOR
row Herman would have Journeyed on
and been forgotten. But Gretchen
seemed not only attracted by the
stranger. but to have been seized with
n sudden aversion for her lover When
Hans called her attention to a mistake
she was making In her play she gave
him sharp answer. When he pro-
tested at some unfair advantage taken
OF him in the cards ny Herman she
abused him. taking the latter's part.
II soon came about that the game
was rather between Hans and Her
man for Gretchen than In the cards.
Herman became holder and holder I'm
his attentions 10 her and she seemed
60 have been bewitched by him. He
rtdiculed Hans for his stupidity I'm the
play. and Gretchen supported him in
his structures. And all the while he
was dartinG love glances at her which
ehe returned I'm kind.
During this time the others had be-
come no absorbed in the game the
stranger had introduced that they
knew nothing OF what was going on
between him and Hans and Gretchen.
They were suddenly made aware that
something was wrong by Hans loudly
cursing the stranger and attempting
TO thrust n dagger into his breast
But Herman easily turned away the
blow by raising his arm. and all three
rose and stood. Hans glaring at Her
man and Gretchen glaring at Hans.
Such was the tahleau when the door
was opened and the priest entered
Pausing. he Eazed in n mild surprise
at the scene before him. Herman's
back was toward him. so that he could
not see his face. But Herman. motto
ing that all eyes were turned toward
the door. looked around. His eyes fell
upon the Rosary worn by the father
and the suspended cross. Instantly
the look " injured innocence his face
had worn deserted him. A door near
him stood open. and. cringing. he
withdrew through It and out into the
night
The moment he was gone Gretchen
fell fa!nting into Hans arms.
No one doubted TINT the stranger
WINS Satnn IN human form, come to
corrupt 10th Hans and Gretchen and
that he had been driven away by the
sight Of the cross. The legend has
been handed down for centuries
among the descendants OF the pair.
a