The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-09-26
The Minstrel
A Medieval Story of
the Rhine
BY F. A. mitchell

MOI tar from Ehrenbreitsteln, on
the Rhine and on the same side OF
the river, Is a castle. or. rather. the
ruin OF a castle. which looms up
against the sky when seen from the
stream below by the thousands Of
tourists who pass In the Rhine boat.
Light clouds sail above It. winds circle
about It. as when It was a fortress
and the banner Of its possessor noated
above its highest tower. On looking
up at 1t from the steamers deck one
may fancy It's drawbridge let down
to the distant rattle of chains. its
portcullis raised and the baron him
self at the head OF a body OF his re-
talners emerge and ride proudly down
the declivity.
At any rate, such were my flights
OF fancy as I watched 1t while pass
ing up the river and saw 1t appear
faint as mist ahead, reveal itself as
we steamed by, then recede and finally
disappear In the distance behind.
I asked a gentleman who was gaz-
ing upon Il as intently as / IL he
could tell me anything about 1t when
II was in It's prime. He proved TO be
n student OF the history OF the castles
OF the Rhine and gave me an incident
pertaining to this particular n that
1 afterward wrote out as follows:
During the seventeenth century n
family known by the name OF Wren
theim occupied the castle, the last pos
SCISSOR OF that name being Baron Cas-
par Wrentheim. This nobleman had no
sons, his only child being a daughter,
Bertha. Since this girl would Inherit
all her fathers possessions at his
death. besides being a very attractive
woman, there were many suitors for
her hand. Among them was Count
Carl Kellerman, the possessor Of an
estate lying a few leagues from the
river and not far from Wrentheim
castle. He was n commoner who had
grown rich I'm trade and had purchased
his title. Very ambitious, he made up
his mind that he would marry Bertha.
thereby becoming the possessor OF a
castle and a feudal lord.
One morning when Bertha was walk.
Ing on the battlements OF her fathers
castle she saw a cavalcade approach
ing. Seeing that 1t would enter the
Enclosure. she went to n room over
looking the courtyard. There she saw
Count Carl Kellerman dismount from
his horse and enter the living apart
ments Of the castle.
Kellerman was fifty years old and
extremely Ill favored. lie was bent
In the back and bald, and his face
indicated a grasping disposition.
Bertha took a great dislike to him even
at seeing him. He had not been In the
castle long before her father came to
her and informed her that the count
had come TO propose for her hand. The
baron had replied that he would refer
the matter to his daughter. Bertha
sent back a refusal. The count left
the castle showing his spleen at being
refused, and the baron knew that he
would find some pretext for a quarrel.
This he dreaded, for. though the count
was not a fugerain-that Is, n feudal
lord-he was rich and could hire men
TO fight for him.
Not long after K~ellerInan's refusal
some OF the baron's retainers while
crossing territory owned by the latter
were attacked by him and his hire
H.. .-N. r.or. fan NOR. al oraGNfu
overpowered and taken prisoners. Kel
herman sent Wrentheim word that his
men had been trespassing on his prop
erty. He would release them II the
baron would give him his daughter q
wife: II not ne would put out their
eyes and send them back TO him. He
gave the baron a week TO consider his
proposition
Both father and daughter were much
beloved by their r%ctaincrs because OF
their kindness and affection for all
who were In any way dependent or
their bounty. This offer placed them
I'm a desparate position. Either Bertha
must marry the hated Kellerman OF
the captlves, some of whom were the
fathers OF families. while others Were
dear either as brothers or lovers. would
be blinded for the rest OF eiriives.
Bertha secretly resolved that she
would save the prisoners, but before
marriage with the detestable man who
had made such an lnhuman proposition
would take her own life.
One evening when the baron and hi.
daughter were sitting together bemoan
ing the misfortune that had befaller
them n servant announced that n min
strel was without who would. II per
mitted, afford entertainment. The baroI
was about TO direct that the man b,
sent away when Bertha ~interposed
saying that the music might serve e
draw their minds from their trouble
The baron ~assented. and the minstre
was admitted.
Wilhelm-the only name the youni
mar gave himself-was tall and straigh
as m arrow. lie unslung his harp as