The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-12-01
A Legend
By AMBROSE l. TURNER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation 1911.


II citation. 1911.
Several hundred years ago every body
believed in a personal devil whose
business it was to mingle with human
beings and tempt them from virtue.
Hans Bewner was sutton for the
hand Of Gretchen Staebel. Gretchen's
father was much respected in the COM
munity for his probity and piety. and
young Hans was so religiously inclin-
ed that he thought of being priest.
But so deep was the love between him
and Gretchen that he realized that he
would wreck her happiness as we'll as
his own If he entered church where
celibacy is imposed on the clergy. and
he gave up what he really preferred
Nevertheless he was considered to be
well nigh a 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 ad-
mitted, who said that he was a 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. 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
a 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
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 then another
and by this time they knew enough
about 1t to play 1t. 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 waved
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 a bird charmed
by the eyes Of a serpent.
1t was not long before Hans noticed
that his betrothed was being fascinat-
ed by the stranger. But. being a mild
hammered man. more devoted to say
Ing his 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
a sudden aversion for her lover When
Hans called her attention to 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 holder 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 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 tableau when the door
was opened and the priest entered.