The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-30
The RUBY
Heart
A Story of Feudal Times In
Germany
BY F. A. Mitchell

S~>>~~~>~>>~~-~~>~~s>>
The tourist steaming on the river
Rhine sees high up on the peaks Of
either bank ruins Of castles that sew
eral centuries ago were the homes Of
feudal barons. One of an imaginative
turn Of mind may picture those strong
holds peopled with gayly dressed men
and women, soldiers and servants.
There lived the baron. descending now
and again to the river. collecting trib-
ute from merchants passing up and
down. the lions share of which he took
for himself, distributing the rest among
those who did his bidding.
In one of those castles. which now
stands out against the sky a lonely
ruin, dwelt the Baron Rudolf Eden
reid. Below it little stream flows
into the Rhine. and the baron had a
boat station concealed by overhanging
trees short distance from its mouth.
When a craft loaded with merchan-
disc was seen coming party would
60 down to this station and get out the
boats, and when the merchant came
opposite the mouth Of the creek would
shoot out to levy tribute. Some
times the merchant would be pro-
tected by armed men; then there
would be fight, but the baronial Gus
tom house usually won, and the mer>
chant would be forced to pay the duty
Among the Rhine maidens Of that
time was Bertha, the baron's daughter.
At times when her father was not at
home, when a merchantmen was seen
coming, she would take command Of
the revenue party and lead them to
collect the tribute. She was greatly
admired by all the men at arms In the
castle, who would not willingly permit
any harm to come to her. But she was
brave as the rest Of them, and when
she was excited by a contest to pro-
tect her was no easy matter. for she
would often distance her supporters In
moving against an enemy.
So great was Bertha's military ardOr
that abe avowed no man should wed
her who could not conquer her. She
went so far as to wear on her left
breast a ruby cut In the shape Of a
heart to signify that any man who
aspired to her hand must be able to
place the point of his sword at the
spot underneath which her heart was
beating.
One morning party of horsemen
was seen ascending the height on
which the castle stood. The baron was
away, and when these men entered the
postern and stood In the courtyard Ber-
tina, looking from easement, surveyed
their leader. He was a young man
slenderly made, but very symmetrical
His face was Of an intellectual cast,
and his long fair hair fell from be-
meath his velvet plumed cap over his
lace collar. Altogether he formed a
very pleasing picture to the eyes of
the maiden. But the massive muscles
that could WELD lance or battleax
were wanting, and his was a strength
Of intellect rather than Of flesh. Ber-
tha opened the easement, saluted the
young man and asked the reason for
his coming. He announced himself as
Count Hubert Rheinhart, a messen-
ger Of the king, and he had come to
demand on the part Of bis majesty a
hundred armed men to join his army
to fight against the king of Sweden.
Bertha replied that her father was alb
sent, but the messenger and his retinue
were welcome to remain in the castle
till the baron's return. The count ac-
cepted the invitation, and he. and his
followers were housed and their horses
stabbed
Now. the barons Of those days usual
ly yielded military service to the king
grudgingly. The kingdom, composed
Of separate provinces, was loose joint
ed, and the sovereign found 1t difficult
to enforce his DEGREES. Bertha, know
ing that her father would rather re-
main at home and increase his wsalth
by his descents upon unlucky way
farers, sent messenger at once ad-
vising him Of the kings demand. so
that he might If he chose remain away
until the party. weary with waiting.
should go on to collect men and arms
elsewhere.
But this was not the only reason for
the girls action. From the moment she
caught sight of the fair haired count
the spark of love entered her bosom
and she decided to keep him as long as
possible in the castle. So it was that
Count Hubert was detained to fall
under the spell of one full of woman's
witchery REINFORCED by great beauty.
But the pity of it was that to win her
he must be able to touch the target
heart on her breast with the point of
bis sword. Unfortunately, his training
was rather in diplomacy than In feats
Of arms.
When the little god enters the heart
he does not always make himself
known. Bertha was conscious of
commotion under the ruby, but did not
realize what it was. She regarded 1t as
q desire to attract the count as she
had attracted other men. give him the
opportunity to win her she had given
them and beat him at the same game.
So she entertained him royalty and
soon made him forget his errand In the
pleasure he took in her company. His
escort. being provided with all they
wanted, were in no hurry to go on. Be-
sides. it was observed that they had no
will other than that of their leader.
whom they treated With great respect.
Now and again Baron Eidenreid sent
a messenger 10 ask II the party had
gone, and Bertha replied that they
were still in the castle.
The young man must have possessed
a refinement superior to his fellows of
that rude age, for though he noticed
from the moment he met the girl that
she wore the ruby heart on her left
breast, he did not ask why she did so.
Though he felt the effect Of Cupid's
shaft as soon as he saw her, he seemed
to be resisting it. This only made her,
more eager to conquer him.
One evening just before dark n craft
was seen floating down the river load
ed with merchandise. Bertha, who was
with the count, stole away from him
and. DOMINIC her military costume. de-
scended to the creek, took command
of the boats starting to levy tribute
and went out to intercept the stranger.
There was fight. in which the latter
was worsted. as usual, and the tax
paid. Bertha. flushed with the fray, re-
turned to the castle and. ascending a
spiral staircase leading to her room to
change her costume. met Count Hubert
face to face.
The sight of the girl, her dark eyes
flashing with the memory Of the fight.
her raven hair that had come I'M
lonsanad and fallen I'm n coil m har