The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-04-08
The Minstrel
A Medieval Story of
the Rhine
By r. A. mitchell %


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 fortress
and the banner of it's possessor foated
above it's highest tower. On looking
I'D at it from the steamers deck one
may fancy its drawbridge let down
to the distant rattle of chains. It's
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 it 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 it as intently as ! II ne
could tell me anything about 1t when
it 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
I afterward wrote out as follows:
During the seventeenth century q
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 few leagues from the
river and not far from Wrentheim
castle. He was 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 feudal 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 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. He was bent
in the back and bald. and his face
indicated 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, feudal
lord-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
were attacked by him and his hire
lings, who were far more numerous,
overpowered and taken prisoners. Kel-
herman sent Wrentheim word that his
men had been trespassing on his prop
erty. He would release them If the
baron would give him his daughter to
wife; if 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 retainers because of
their kindness and affection for all
who were In any way dependent on
their bounty. This offer placed them
in a desperate position. Either Bertha
must marry the hated Kellerman or
the captives, some of whom were the
fathers OF families, while others were
dear either as brothers or lovers, would
be blinded for the rest of their lives.
Bertha secretly resolved that she
would save the prisoners, but before a
marriage with the detestable man who
had made such an inhuman proposition
would take her own life.
Ono ovnpfv,op xr,ho~, kh1 how1x, ona hSe
daughter were sitting together bemoan-
ing the misfortune that had befallen
them a servant announced that a min
strel was without who would, If per-
mitted, afford entertainment. The baron
was about to direct that the man be
sent away when Bertha interposed.
saying that the music might serve to
draw their minds from their trouble
The baron assepted. and the minstrel
was admitted.
Wtlhelm-the only name the young
man gave himself-was tall and straight
easily as If 1t had been crossbow and
was about to begin a song when the
baron said to him:
II wonder that one should devote
himself to the harp whose arm seems
far more fitted to WELD the battleax."
IF you prefer military service to
song I will give it." replied the min
strel.
Would that you could serve us in
that way, but it Is impossible"
"Why so?"
The baron gave an account Of the ap-