Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-15
AnOpportunity
Lost
By MARGARET BARR

alive With people, there lay dying
In one OF them Count Hallenstein. its
owner. There had long been feud
between the count and Baron Haf-
strom, a neighbor, who. learning of his
enemy's illness, designed, as soon as
he. the latter, died, to step In and take
possession of the castle and estate.
The counts son and heir, Herman,
was at the time OF his fathers illness
returning from the university where
he had been studying and had been re-
called to his home.
The messenger who summoned him
also informed him that Baron Half
strom was watching for him to waylay
and make him prisoner. that at his IA
theirs death there would be no head to
the Hallenstein vassals to offer resist
ance and that he might hold the heir.
to do with him as he chose. Herman
set out on horseback with the mes
senger, Ludwig Ritter. to return to his
dying father. In order that he might
outwit those lying In wait for him, he
concluded that Ritter should personate
a knight, and he, Herman, would act
as his servant So they changed gar
ments and proceeded In this fashion,
Herman riding behind Ludwig
One evening when they We're not far
distant from Hallenstein castle they
stopped at the bonse in the center of a
large vineyard, whose owner, August
Bauer. entertained them Hospitality,
according TO the custom of the coun-
try. Gretchen. Bauer's daughter, was
comely girl. eighteen years old, an
age at which young girls are especially
Interested In the opposite sex. She
could not but notice the difference be-
tween the two strangers. the master
being III at ease In playing role that
was novel to him, and the courtly man
uers of his servant
Herman before setting out had in
structed Ludwig not to defer to him
4 In any way-indeed, TO treat him rath-
or harshly, the better to carry out the
deception. Bauer told Ludwig that
Baron Hafstrom's men had been to the
vineyard that day looking for Herman
Hallensteln. and Herman, fearing that
he might be taken for the master In
stead of the man. instructed Ludwig
to redouble his harsh treatment,
whereupon Ludwig. while Herman
was waiting on him, feigning to be dis
pleased with his servant, rated him
soundly, INDUCING his pretended ire so
far as to strike him
Herman bore his treatment meekly,
but Gretchen's eyes flashed fire. She
said nothing at the time, but when
alone with Herman sympathized with
him and offered. IL he wished to leave
his masters service, to ask her father
to give him employment In the grape
culture 1t occurred to Herman that
1t might be we'll to accept the offer
and send Ludwig ahead to find pas
sage through Baron Hafstrom's men.
SO Gretchen went to her father with
the request, which was granted, and
Herman was set to trimming vines,
while Ludwig. after abusing his man
for leaving his service, went on.
Gretchen, who was infatuated with
Herman. went out to where be was at
work and spent great deal of her
time chatting with him. This angered
her father, who was wealthy man
and had no idea of permitting his
daughter to become involved with
servant. He reprimanded her, but 1t
was too late. Young hearts need but
q spark to start an unqnenchabie
fame. Since Gretchen could not meet
Herman openly she met him In secret
On the second day after Ludwig's
departure he returned He had found
an unguarded avenue to the castle.
The count had died while he was
there, but he had instructed the count
ess to keep his death secret till Her
man had arrived. Ludwig now pro-
posed that Herman should obtain
clothing from Gretchen and proceed as
a girl. SO Herman told Gretchen
that he was Il political fugitive and
asked her to let him have her clothes
by which to make his escape, she
readily consented and brought him
what he needed. Arraying himself in
neT DtloDEluSS, puinliHS hAS Nh~SN'
and powdering his face, he started.
Gretchen accompanying him till he
had trayersed the more frequented
part of the distance and passed se~-
eral bands of men watching for him.
The two journeying together so aided
the deception that Herman asked her
to go on with him till his safety had
been assured.
Leaving the main road, they entered
a defile in the high hills that bordered
on the Rhine, which Ludwig had found
unguarded. A band had since occu-
pied it, but the travellers climbed
hill and passed on above them. In this
way they avoided several parties and
at last entered the castle.
Gretchen was much astonished TO
see her companion, when he had
thrown Off his feminine apparel. re-
ceive the homage Of his yassals. After