Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-11-15
A Legend
By AMBROSE L. TURNER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. l9i1.
Several hundred years ago everybody


business it Wa. TO miagle with human
beings and tempt them from virtue.
Hans Bewner was suitor for the
hand of Gretchen Staebei. Gretchen's
munity for his probity and piety. and
young Hans was SO religiously inciin-
ed that he thought of beinC priest.
But SO deep was the love between him
and Gretchen that he realized that he
would wreck her haplpness M we'll as
his own If he entered "A chur'h where
ceibacy is imposed on the clergy. and
he gave up what he really preferred.
Nevertheless he was considered TO be
well nigh saint.
One evening Huns and Gretchen and
their reiztives and friends were gath
cred Mt the S:aebel home 10 celebrate
the betrothnl OF Hans and Gretchen
In the midst of the festivities II KNOCK
was heard at the door. and n young
man. strikingly handsome. WAS ad
mitted. who said that he was II trav.
eler on his way to 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. hut was invited to
take part In the festivities.
The stranger soon became the hfe
OF the party. Brilliant sayings fell
from his tongue that astonished and
LIT f,A q oil
different methods OF amusement and
ut last. pulling from bis pockets cards
similar to the playing cards in vogue
today, offered to show those asset bled
"a game. All We're pleased at learning
some novel amusement and SssenSed
readily. Herman proposed nrst 10
show three of them how to play the
game. after which the rest might Ill
vide into sets OF three. each three play
tA9 separately.
Those chosen TO be taught the game
were Hans and Gretchen The teacher
dealt the cards and showed them how
10 play one hand and then another
and by this time they knew enough
about It to play it, Those looking on
then proceeded to arrange themselves
mt tables. and presently the whole
company were deeply immersed In the
amusement introduced by the hand
some stranger.
Herman was extremely deferentia
to Gretchen. Every now and agaiI
he would show his white teeth in
smile under his exQuisitcly cut lip
and mustache. the carefully wnxe'
ends OF which pointed upward. More
over. his eyes were constantly meetiui
hers and seemed to produce upon he
a marked impression. At first she at
tempted to turn hers away. but sh
soon lost the power TO do this. In
deed. she seemed like n bird charme-
By the eyes OF a serpent.
IT was not long before Hans noSce
that his betrothed was being fascinat
: ed by tho stranger. But. being mil
hammered man. more devoted 10 SAY
ing his prayers than to qunrreGng, b
held his peace. hoping that no gree
harm Was being done and on the mo
row Herman would have journeyed q
and been forgotten. But Gretche
seemed not only attracted by II
stranger, but 10 have been seized wit
a sudden aversion for her lover. Whe
Hans calied her attention to u mistai
" she was making In her play she ga
him q sharp answer. When he pr
tested at some unfair advantage TAXI
Of him IN the cards by Herman s.
% abused him. taking the atter's part.
D Ii soon came about that the gar
was rather between Hans and H'
10 man for Gretchen than In the carC
&c Herman became holder and holder
a his attentions TO her. and she Seem
>. to have been hewitched by him.
y ridiculed Hans for his stupidity in
- play. and Gretchen supported him
g his structures. And all the while
% was darting love Chances at her viii
she returned I'm kind.
. During this time the others bad
;" come so absorbed In the game
NO stranger had introduced that II
knew nothing OF what was goiag
between MIN and Hans and Gretch
They were suddenly made aware Il
=" something was wrong by Hans Ion
10 cursing the stranger and attempt
20 thrust dagger into his bre;
:" But Herman easily turned away
~ blow by raising his arm. and all III
rose and stood. Hans glaring at i
man and Gretchen giaring Mt fia
Such was the tahleau when the d
.o was opened ard the priest entered.
Pausing. he gased In mild salrp
At the scene before him. HeTS;
back was toward him. so that hr ga
not see his face. But Herman. Nc
WI ing that all eyes were turned tow
the door, looked around. His eyes
''o' upon the rosary worn by the fni