Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-21
Saint Maru's Beacon
A Legend
BIZ AMBROSE l. TURNER
Copyright by American Press ASso-
citation. 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 Rewnar was sutton for the
hand Of Gretchen Staebel. Gretchen's
father was much respected in the COM
Enunlty for his probity and piety. and
young Hans was so religiously inclin-
ed that he thought Of being a priest.
But 50 deep was the love between him
and Gretchen that he realized that he
would wreck her happiness as well az
his own II he entered a church where
celibacy is imposed on the clergy. and
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
ered at tho Staebel home TO celebrate
the betrothal OF Hans and Gretchen
In the midst OF the festivities a knock
WINS heard at the door. and q young
man. strikingly handsome. was ad-
Enitted, who said that be was a trav-
eler on his way TO Munich and begged
20 be permitted to pass the night In
the house Hospitality OF this kind
wns usual in those days. and the
young man. who gave his name a.
Herman, was not only promised a
nights lodging. but was invited to
enke T. n 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 10 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
20 play one hand and then another
and by this time they knew enough
about II to play IL. 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
Bome stranger
Herman was extremely deferential
90 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. bis eyes were constantly meeting
hsrS and seemed TO produce upon her
q 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.
II was not long before Hans noticed
that hts betrothed was being fascinat-
ed by the stranger. But. being a mild
hammered man. more devoted to say
inE 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 n mistake
she was milking in her play she gave
him sharp answer. When he pro-
tested ut some unfair advantage taken
or him In the cards nv Herman she
abused him. taking the latter's part.
IL 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
Ms attentions 20 her. and she seemed
To have been hewitChed 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
abe returned In kind.
During this time the others had be-
come 10 absorbed in the game the
stranger had introduced that they
knew nothing or what was going on
between him and Hans and Gretchen.
They We're suddenly made aware that
something was wrong by Hans loudly
cursinC 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 Elaring at Her
man and Gretchen Glaring Mt Hans.
Such was the tablenu when the door
was opened and the priest entered.
PausinG. he gazed in n mild surprise
at the scene before him. Herman's
back was toward him. so that he could
not So" his face But Herman, motto
ing that al eyes were turned toward
the door. locked around. His eyes fell
upon the rosary worn by the father
and the suspended cross. Instantly
the loof NJ injured innocence his face
had worn deserted him. 4 door near
him stood open. and. crincing. he
withdrew through II aud out into the
night.
Inc mOment ne was gone Gretchen
fell faintinC into Hans arms.
No on" 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.