The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-17
AnOpportunity
Lost
By MARGARET BARR

siive with people. there lay dying
in one of them Count Hallen>tein. its
owner. There had long been feud
between the count and Baron Haf-
strom, neighbor. who, learning of lis
enemy's illness. designed, as soon as
possession of the castle and estate.
The counts son and heir. Herman.
was ut 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 70 waylay
and make him prisoner. thu: at his ia
theirs death there would be no head to
the Hallenstein vassals to offer resist
ance and that be 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 be might
outwit those lying in wait fer him. he
concluded that Ritter should personate
knight. and he, Herman. would act
.mentS and proceeded III this fashion
Herman riding behind Ludwig.
One evening when they We're not far
distant from Hallenstein castle they
stopped III the house in the center of a
large vineyard, whose owner. August
Bauer. entertained them hoSpita bly,.
according TO the custom of the coun-
try. Gretchen. Bauer's daughter. was
| 4 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 i'll at ease in playing Il role that
was novel to him. and the courtly man
| nerS of his servant
Herman before setting out had in
structed Ludwig not to defer to him
! in any way-indeed. to treat him rath-
er 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
| Hallenstein. 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 50
| 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 sympa thized with
him and offered. if he wished to leave
| his masters service. TO ask her father
| to give him employment i'll the grape
| culture 1t occurred to Herman that
| it might be well 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 al
work and spent great deal OF hei
time chatting with him. This angereC
| ner father who was wealthy man
aud had no idea Of permitting his
daughter to become involved with q
servant He reprimanded her. but Il
| was too late. Young hearts need but
| spark to start an unquenchablt
| fame Since Gretchen could not meet
Herman openly she met him in secret.
On the second day after Ludwig
| departure he returned. He had found
| an unguarded avenue to the castle
| The count had died while be was
! there. but he had instructed the count
eSS to keep his death a secret till Her
| man had arrived Ludwig now pro
posed that Herman should obtain
| CLOTHING from Gretchen and proceed as
| girl. So Herman told Gretchen
| that he was political fugitive anC
| asked her to let him have her clothe:
| by which to make his escape. She
| readily consented and brought hin
what he needed, Arraying himself il
her belongings. painting his cheeks
| and wondering his face. he started
Gretchen accompanying him till h'
| had traversed the more frequenteC
| part of the distance and passed sew
eral bands Of men watching for him
| The tv'U journeying together SO aided
the deception that Herman asked he
TO go on with him till his safety hat
| been assured.
Leaving the main road. they entered
defile in the high hills that borderec
on the Rhine. which Ludwig had fount
unguarded A band had since occu
pied it. but the travellers climbed !;
hill and passed on above them. In thi:
way they avoided several parties ant
| at last entered the castle
Gretchen was much astonished Il
see her companion. when he hat
thrown off his feminine apparel. re
ceive the homage of his vassals Afte
an interview with his mother and th'
funeral of his father he placed him
self at the head of his retainers sal