The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-11-11
The Minstrel
A Medieval Story OF
the Rhine
By r. A. Mitchell

the river, Il castle. or. rather. the
ruin OF castle. which looms M
against the sky when seen from the
stream below by the thousands OF
tourists who pass In the Rhine boat.
Light clouds sail above IL, winds circle
about Il, as when II was fortress
and the banner Of its possessor tioated
above its highest tower. On looking
up at IL from the steamers deck one
may fancy its dra whridge let down
! to the distant rattle OF chains, its
/ portculis raised and the baron him
self at the head OF body OF his re
talners emerge and ride proudly down
the declivity,
At any rate, such were my flights
OF fancy as watched II while pass
ing up the river and saw ii appear
faint as mist ahead, reveal itself as
we steamed by. then recede and finally
disappear In the distance behind
| asked n gentleman who was gaz-
ing upon il as intenty as | II he
could tell me anything about 1t when
II was in It's prime He proved to be
student Of the history OF the castles
Of the Rhine and gave me an incident
pertaining to this particular one that
afterward wrote out as follows:
During the seventeenth century a
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 daughter
Bertha. Since this girl would inherit
all her fathers possessions at his
DEATH besides being very attractive
woman, there were many suitors for
her hand Among them was Count
Carl Kelerman. the possessor Of an
estate lying a 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 a
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 a room over
looking the courtyard. There she saw
Count Carl Kelerman dismount from |
his horse and enter the living apart.
ments Of the castle
Kelerman was fifty years old and
extremely i'll favored. He was bent
in the back and bald, and his face
indicated a grasping 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 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 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
we're attacked by him and his hire
ngs. 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 |
baron would give him his daughter to
wife; If not he would put out their
yes and send them back to him. He
rave the baron week to consider his |
proposition.
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 {
u a itNHfIdit IiDniLiplls iJIllI'i ib'i iHh '
must marry the hated Kellerman or /
he 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. Z
Bertha secretly resolved that she i
lould save the prisoners. but before (
marriage with the detestable man who /
I'D made such an inhuman proposition $
rould take her own life. I
One evening when the baron and his q
aughter were sitting together bemoan. y
~ the misfortune that had befallen
lem a servant announced that n min. +
rel was without who would. IL per. :,
lifted. afford entertainment. The baron =
as about to direct that the man be u
INT away when Bertha interposed. n
lying that the music might serve 10 ;,
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 unsluDg his harp ~
isily as II IL had been a crossbow and y
ms about to begin a song when the y
iron said to him: