Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-30

Not far from EhrenbreitstetD. on
the Rhine and on the same side Of
the river, is castle, or, rather. the
ruin of 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 1t. as when 1t was a fortress
and the banner of its possessor foated
above its highest tower. On looking
up at It from the steamers deck one
may fancy its 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-
tainers emerge and ride proudly down
the declivity.
At any rate. such were my flights
of fancy as I watched It 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.
1 asked a gentleman who was gaz-
ing upon 1t as intentiy as / If he
could tell me anything about it when
1t was in its prime. He proved to be
a student of the history of the castles
of the Rhine and gave me an incident
pertaining to this particular one that
1 afterward wrote out as follows:
During the seventeenth century
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 Ke1lerman, the possessor Of an
estate lying a few leagues from the
river and not far from Wrentheim
castle. He was a commoner who had
grown rich in trade and had purchased
his title. Very ambitious, he made up
his mind that he would marry Bertha.
thereby becoming the possessor of
castle and feudaI lord.
One morning when Bertha was walk
ing on the battlements of her fathers
castle she saw a cavalcade approach
ing Seeing that it would enter the
Enclosure. she went to a 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 |
i'll favored. He was bent |
in the back and bald. and his face |
indicated graspfng disposition. |
Bertha took 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
he 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 fugerain-that is, a feudal
ord-he was rich and could hire men
to fight for him.
Not long after Kellerman'S refusal |
some of the baron's retainers while
crossing territory owned by the latter
we're attacked by him and his hire
ings, who were far more numerous,
and taken prisoners. Kel-
erman sent Wrentheim word that his
men had been trespassing on his prop
,rty. He would release them If the
aaron would give him his daughter to
wife; if not he would put out their
yes and send them back to him. He
ave the baron q week to consider his
Both father and daughter were much
beloved by their retainers because Of
heir kindness and affection for all
Who were in any way dependent on
heir bounty. This offer placed them
n desperate position. Either Bertha
aust marry the hated Kellerman or
be captiveS, some of whom were the
athers of families, while others were
ear either as brothers or lovers. would
e blinded for the rest of their lives.
Bertha secretly resolved that she
Tould save the prisoners, but before
with the detestable man who
ad made such an inhuman proposition
'ould take her own life.
One evening when the baron and his
lughter were sitting together bemoan-
Is the misfortune that had befallen
hem servant announced that a min
rel was without who would. II per-
lifted, afford entertainment. The baron
as about to direct that the man be
ent away when Bertha interposed.
lying that the music might serve to
raw their minds from their trouble.
he baron assented. and the minstrel
as admitted.
Wilhelm-the only name the young
IAN gave himSelf-was tall and straight
an arrow. He unslung his harp as
sily as if it had been a crossbow and
as about to begin song when the
iron said to him:
Il wonder that one should devote
mself to the harp whose arm seems
r more fitted to WELD the battleax." {
IF you prefer military service to
ng l will give it." replied the min
REL {