The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-29
AnOpportunity
Lost
By MARGARET BARR

In feudal times, when the now ruin
ed castles on the river Rhine were
alive with people, there lay dying
In one of them Count Hallenstein, Its
owner. There had long been a feud
4 between the count and Baron Haf-
strom, 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 a prisoner, that at his IA
Tiers death there would be no head to
the Hallenstein yassals 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 walt for him, he
concluded that Ritter should personats
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 were not far
distant from Hallenstein castle they
stopped at the house 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
comedy girl, eighteen years old, az
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 Ill at ease in playing 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 harshiy. the better to carry out the
deception. Bauer told Ludwig that
Baron Hafstrom's men had been to the
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. IL occurred to Herman that
1t 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 he was at !
work and spent great deal of her
time chatting with him. This angered
her father, who was q wealthy man
and had no idea Of permitting his
daughter to become involved with a
servant. He reprimanded her, but II
was too late. Young hearts need but
q spark to start an unquenchabls
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.
rhe count had died while he was
here, but he had instructed the count
sss to keep his death a secret till Her
nan had arrived. Ludwig now pro-
POSED that Herman should obtain
,lothing from Gretchen and proceed as
i girl. SO Herman told Gretchen
hat he was political fugitive and
asked her TO let him have her clothes
~ which to make his escape. She
readily consented and brought him
What he needed. Arraying himself in
her belongings, painting bis checks
ind powdering his face, he started.
Gretchen accompanying him till he
lad trayersed the more frequented
,art of the distance and passed sew
raj bands OF men watching for him.
rhe two journeying together so aided
he deception that Herman asked her
o go on with him till his safety had
,een assured.
Leaving the main road, they entered
defiIe in the high hills that bordered
n the Rhine, which Ludwig had found
nguarded. A band had since occu-
led 1t, but the travellers climbed a
Ill and passed on above them. In this !