The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-05-27
How the Castle
Was Saved
By F. A. Mitchell

ed with the number of ruined castles
he sees everywhere. These castles be
longed TO a period when the German
emperor was much more of a fg
urehead than he is now. and the no
bles were each and all independent
owners of one of these castles and a
small quantity of land surrounding it.
The reason why the castles were all
built on high ground was that they
could be more easily defended
The baron lived by levying tribute on
merchants who passed here and there
beneath him Leaving his stronghold.
he would swoop down on some luck
less trader and either carry of his
merchandise or levy. tribute in cash
The only real fighting the barons did
was with each other.
One of these mobiles. Baron Rudolph
Gothall was growing old when he
married. and a daughter. Bertha was
born TO him. When her father was
too old to fight any more Bertha. who
inherited masculine bravery with
feminine traits. seemed to consider it
her part since she had no brother. TO
take his place. She began by putting
herself at the head of a force who sal
lied forth to exact tribute from party
of merchants. She had been told that
since her father owned a narrow strip
of land over which the traders must
pass she had the right TO make them
pay for the privilege. She acquitted
herself so well on this expedition that
she thereafter was acknowledged as
commander of her fathers yassals.
From a little girl born in times when
arms for those of rank was the only
profession Bertha had learned the art
of defense. Something in the construc-
ton of her eye. in the nerves. or per-
haps both. rendered her remarkable IN
fencing not only for woman. but for
a man. There was no strength in her
success. 1t was all art. Often of an
afternoon in the castle court she would
challenge some one of the men TO
friendly contest with foils and would
usually come out victorious
The age and decrepitude of the baron
led his younger neighbors to believe
that he would be an easy prey and
that his domain might be appropri-
ated. They knew that he had no son
to take his place and that there was
no one TO defend his castle except
girl. and. although they had heard
something of Bertha's exploits. they
did not deem her a competent adver-
sary. There was one young man who
through the death of his father came
to his inheritance very young. His do
main adjoined that of Baron Rudolph.
and as soon as his father died he pro-
posed that the two estates should be
made one by his marriage with Der
tina
The truth is he had seen Bertha and
had conceived a passion for her. II
was as much his desire to possess her
as to unite the two estates. One morn
Ing he rode up to Baron Rudolph's cas-
tie and sent in word that Count Stin-
Eel desired an interview. He was adj
mitted. and Bertha. who was at win
dow when he rode into the court, saw
him. Baron Rudolph promised to sub
init the proposition to his daughter.
The answer Bertha gave was that
she would accept Count Stinzel for her
husband on condition that the owner
ship of the two estates should be de-
cided by a friendly contest between
them with foils. IL the count proved
victorious they should both belong to
him: If Bertha won. they should both
belong to her.
Tho oils
decline such proposition if he had
wished TO do SO. He would become
the laughingstock of all the country
round about But he had no desire ~
decline it. He was as well skilled Ia
the use of arms as the average man
and If he could not win from a woman
he considered that he should deserve
to come under tile feminine yoke. He
sent word that he accepted the chal
lenge on the terms offered
Bertha being a woman. the count
agreed to fight in the court of her ia
theirs castle He came on the day ap
pointed for the contest with a numbet
of his principal retainers. Bertha came
into the court in a fencing costume
that was very becoming. She and the
count met at table on which twd
| copies of the contract were placed AMI
signed them in presence of witnesses
Then they proceeded to the center CT
the court, and the contest began
From the first the counts movemenss
in contrast with Bertha's agility seerl
ed a trifie heavy. though ii was cyl
dent that the strength was all ON b..
side. As TO that something we cal
skill. which is really in the physical
makeup of the fencer. it was all on the
side of Bertha. 1t had been embodieG
| in the rules governing the contest thai
victory should consist in the first one
| to touch red heart fixed TO the tefr
| breast Suddenly the counts foil few
| up in the air and left him defenseless
| All Bertha had TO do TO win was TO
| press forward and touch the heart on
| her adversary's breast with the button
/ of her foil. Instead, she dropped the
| point of her weapon TO the ground and
/ her eyes at the same time. 1t was ap-