The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-01-09
The Stranger
A Story Of Medieval Times
By EMMA sTuRcls
By EMMA sTURcls

In those feudal days, when every
eminence was crowned with castle,
here were two hills not far apart. on
each OF which a baron had built one Of
these fortresses and lived In sight OF
each other. At arst they were friends.
but one day Sir Herman rode over to.
Sir Wilhelm's castle ana asked for the
hand of the Iatter's daughter. willel-
NINA, for his son, Frederick. Sir VIII
helm loved his daughter dearly and
had no wish for her to leave him, so he
referred the matter to her She had
met Frederick while hawking and
found him an III favored young man.
not at all to her liking, so she declined
the honor offered her.
/. Sir Herman rode angriIy back to
his castle aud informed his son that
the offer had been declined. and the
young mnn, who was of a vengeful
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
mo maiden could refuse him with Inn
punity,
From that time forward Sir Herman
and his son were constantly on the
lookout for canse for picking a quar-
rel With Sir Wilhelm. In those days
the barous lived by plupderIng 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
Wilhelm'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 a
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
plundered on his own domain and de-
manded the goods that had been taken.
Sir Wilhelm sent back word that IL his
neighbor thought he was entitled to the
property he had better come and take 1t.
Meanwhile Sir Herman had been pre-
pairing for the approaching fight and
was ready for it. His SON Frederick
claimed the leadership. and hts father
gayelt 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
breach here and hole there, killing
of men who could not be replaced.
while the stock OF provisions within
the walls was constantly growing less.
And so 1t came about that Sir Wilhelm,
saw that the end Of the struggle must
soon come with the capture oe his cas-
tie. He sent a messenger to know
what sum his enemy would ask to re-
tire and. leave him in peace. Frederick
replied that the only price he asked
WINS the hand of the Lady wilheimina.
This was a sad blow to the besieged.
Whitening. would rather die than give
herself TO the man she hated, but she
could not bear to bring destruction on
her father and his retainers.
Now. among the travellers who had
been robbed was young man who
had been fighting in the service of the,
king of France against the English.
Hearing the sound of war he sent
word from the cell in which he was
confined and held for ransom. request.
ing that he be released and be permit
ted to take part in the defense. When
all hope was gone Sir Wilhelm sent
for him. The young man proposed to
lead a sortie against the enemy and
was permitted to do so.
Just before dawn one morning he
fell upon them so furiously and kept
up the fight SO vigorously that within
q few hours he had them in full re-