The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-01
The Ruby
Heart
A Story Of Feudal Times In
Germany
BY F. A. Mitchell

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
J 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
reid. Below 1t little stream flows
into the Rhine. and the baron had n
boat station concealed by overhanging
trees short distance from its mouth.
When craft loaded with merchan-
disc was seen coming n party would
so down to this station aud get out the
boats. end 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 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 10 come TO her. But she was
brave rs the rest of them, and when
she was excited by 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 she 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
heart to signify that any mGn 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 a 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 h,s long fair hair fell from be-
meath lbs 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-
tina opened the easement, saluted the
young man and asked the reason for
his coming. He announced himself "a
Count Hubert Rheinhart, messen-
ger OF the king. and he had come to |
demand on the part Of his majesty a |
hundred armed men to join his army /
TO fight against the king OF Sweden. /
Bertha replied that her father was abb !
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
The kingdom, composed
OF separate provinces, was loose joint
ed, and the sovereign found il difficult
TO enforce his DEGREES. Bertha. know
ing that her father would rather re-
main at home and increase his wealth
by his descents upon unlucky way
farers, sent a messenger at once adj
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 Ii was that
Count Hubert was detained TO fall
under the spell of one full of womans
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
his 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
under the ruby. but did not
realize what It WAS. She regarded it as
a desire to attract the count as she
had attracted other men. give him the
TO win her she had given
them aud 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
were In no hurry TO go on. Be
n a.