The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-07
IheStranger
A Story Of Medieval Times
BY EMMA sTURCls

lnefe were TWO mis- not Iur apart, "
each of which baron had built one o
these fortresses and lived In sight o
each other. At first they were friends
but one day Sir Herman rode over I
Sir Wilhelms castle and asked for tn
hand of the latter's daughter, Wilhel
nina. for his son, Frederick. Sir VIII
helm loved his daughter dearly ant
had no wish for her to leave him, so h,
referred the matter to her. She hat
met Frederick while hawking ant
found him an Ill favored young man
not at all to her liking, so she declined
the honor offered her.
Sir Herman rode angrily back t
his castle and informed his son thai
the offer had been declined. and the
young man, who was of vengefu
disposition. made vow that he would
either marry Wilhelmina or destroy
her fathers castle. And when he got
her he would let her understand that
no maiden could refuse him with i'm.
punity.
From that time forward Sir Herman
and his son were constantly on the
lookout for cause for picking quar-
rel with Sir Wilhelm. In those days
the barons lived by plundering travel
ers. and both these noblemen sup
ported themselves and their retalners
In that way. One dark night. when
young Frederick was lying In wait for
some merchants who were expected to
pass through the valley between his
fathers and Sir Wilhelm's castles, Sir
Wilhelm, who was looking for the
same plumber. passed along the road
with a number Of men at arms.
Now, Frederick knew who was riding
by, but, pretending that he thought
them merchants, fell upon them sud
denly. A fierce fight ensued. and Sir
Wilhelnl's force. having been surprised,
was routed, with the loss of several
men, while Frederick's escaped with a
few wounds.
Sir Wilhelm knew that this was
mere pretext and that he must fight
for having declined to give his daugh-
ter to wife to the man who had attack
ed him. So he strengthened his castle.
rebuilt some of the ramparts. laid in an
increased stock of arms and awaited
the next move of his enemy. 1t came
very soon. Sir Wilhelm robbed a party
of travellers. and the next day Sir Her
man sent him word that they had been
plundcred on his own domain and de-
manded the goods that had been taken.
Sir Wilhelm sent back word that If his
neighbor thought he was entitled to the
property he had better come and take It, |
Meanwhile Sir Herman had been pre-
pairing for the approaching fight and |
was ready for 1t. His son Frederick
claimed the leadership. and his father
gave ii to him.
There is principle Of war that the
advantage is with the attacking party.
This is because the impetus is on their
side, while their enemies are ON the
defensive. At any rate Frederick not
only besieged the castle, but led one
attack after another against it. making
4 breach here and a hole there killing
,ff men who could not be replaced,
while the stock of provisions within
he walls was constantly growing less
And so it came about that Sir Wilhelm
saw that the end of the struggle must
loon come with the capture of his cas-
lie. He sent messenger to know
what sum his enemy would ask to re.
ire and leave him In peace Frederick
'eplled that the only price he asked
vas the hand of the Lady Wilhelmina.
This was sad blow to the besieged.
would rather die than give I
Ierself to the man she hated. but she
ould not bear to bring destruction on {
Ter father and his retainers.
Now. among the travellers who had
een robbed was a young man who /,
ad been fighting In the service Of the
ing of France against the English. !,
Tearing the sound of war, he sent !
rord from the cell In which he was d
onfined and held for ransom. request \
ne that he be released and be permit v
ed to take part In the defense. When v
Il hope was gone Sir Wilhelm sent
pr him. The young man proposed to
lad scTtie against the enemy and >
,as permitted to do so.
Just before dawn one morning he y
III upon them so furiously and kept .
p the fight so vigorously that within a
few hours he had them in full re- v
eat Catching sight of Frederick a
to rally his men, the Il
ranger drove his horse straight at d.
IN and felled him with a battleax. U
he sutton never arose from his fall,
I'd the attack was not renewed. =
The stranger had been badly wound !,
|, but did not know 1t till the end Of ii
e struggle. when he tainted from OF
SIS OF blood. When he came to him A
If he was lying in chamber of the o
site. and a young girl was bending W
'er him. she nursed him, dressing ol
s wounds herself and giving him !,
cry attention as the savior Of the a.
stle. He asked her what had oc- .,
stoned the war. and she told him So
w marriage was proposed for the ga
Idly Wilhelmina and rejected: nj
When the stranger recovered the co
ron asked him what boon ne could ia
nfer upon him as repayment for his NJ
vices. The hero replied that II the io
ung girl who had nursed him didn't
iect b would like her given him to ~
fe. a.
What, My daughter" =
Your daughter? No: my nurse
Your nurse does not object" said \