Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-04-18
The Ruby
Heart
A Story Of Feudal Times In
Germany
By r. 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 g 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 II a little stream flows
into the Rhine. and the baron had a
boat station concealed by o~verhanging
trees a short distance from its mouth.
When a craft loaded with merchan-
disc was e coming a party would
20 down to this station and get GU 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 a 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 q merchantmen was seer
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 she avowed no man should wed
her who could not conquer her. She
went so far as to e a 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 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 a 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 passive muscles
that could WELD a lance or a 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 as
Count Hubert Rheinhart, a 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 alb
sent, but the messenger and his retinue
were welcome to remain In the castle
TIL 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
" yielded military service to the king
g~rudgingIy. 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 wealth
by his descents upon unlucky way
farers. sent a messenger at once ad-
vising him Of the kings demand. sc
that he might II he chose remain away
until the party. weary with waiting.
should 60 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 woman's
w1fchery REINFORCED by great beauty.
But the pity Of II was that to win her
~ must be able to touch tho target