Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-07
A Legend
By AMBROSE L. TURNER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.


father was much respected in the com
munity for his probity ana piety. ana
youug Hans was so religiously incIin-
ed that he thought Of being a priest.
But so deep was the love between him
and Gretchen that he realized that he
would wreck her happiness rs we'll as
his own if he entered II church where
celibacy is imposed on the clergy, ana
he gave UP what he really preferred
Nevertheless he was considered TO be
well nigh saint.
One evening Hans and Gretchen and
their relatives and friends were gath
cred at the Staebel home to celebrate
the betrothal Of Hans and Gretchen.
In the midst OF the festivities knock
was heard at the door, and young
man. strikingly handsome. was a0-
mitted, who said that he was trav-
eler on his way 20 Munich and begged
to be permitted to pass the night in
the house. Hospitality of this kind
was usual in those days, and the
young man. who gave his name as
Herman. was not only promised
nights lodging. but was invited to
take part in 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
at last. pulling from his pockets cards
similar to the playing cards in vogue
today, offered to show those assembled
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 oil
vide into sets of three, each three play
ing separately.
Those chosen to be taught the game
were Hans and Gretchen The teacher
dealt the cards and showed them how
to play one hand and thew another
and by this time they knew enough
about it to play it. 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
to Gretchen. Every now and again
he would show his white teeth in a
smile under his exquisitely cut lips
and mustache. the carefully waxed
ends of which pointed upward. More
over. his eyes were constantly meeting
hers and seemed to produce upon her
a marked impression. At first she at
tempted to turn hers away, but she
soon lost the power to do this In
deed. she seemed like bird charmed
by the eyes of serpent.
1t was not long before Hans noticed
that his betrothed was being fascinat
ed by the stranger But, being mild
hammered man. more devoted to say
ing his prayers than to quarreling. be
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
q sudden aversion for her lover. When
Hans called her attention to a mistake
she was making in her play she gave
him a sharp answer. When he pro
tested at some unfair advantage taken
of him in the cards BY HERMAN she
abused him. taking the latter's. part.
1t soon came about that the game
was rather between Hans and Her
man for Gretchen than in the cards.
Herman became holder and bOlder in
his attentions to her. and she seemed
to have been bewitched by him. He
ridiculed Hans for his stupidity in the
play. and Gretchen supported him in
his structures. And all the while he
was darting love glances at her which
she returned in kind.
During this time the others had be-
come so 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 a 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 gIaring at Hans.
Such was the tableau when the door
was opened and the priest entered.
Pausing. he gaZed in mild surprise
at the scene before shin. Hermans
back was toward him. 80 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 of injured innocence his face
had worn deserted him. A door near
him stood open. and, cringing, be
withdrew through it and out into the
night.
The moment he was gone Gretchen
fell fainting into Hans arms.
No one doubted that the stranger
was Satan in human form, come to
corrupt both 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,
and by some of them it is believed to
this day that their progenitors were
really visited by the devil.