Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-04

One travelling In Germany is impress
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 fig
urehead than he is now. and the no.
bles were each and all independent
owners of one of these castles and
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 leyying tribute on
merchants who passed here and there
beneath him Leaving his stronghold,
he would swo0p down on some luck.
less trader and either carry off 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 1t
her part. since she had no brother. to
take his place. She began by putting
herself at the head Of 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 we'll on this expedition that
she thereafter was acknowledged as
commander Of her fathers vassals.
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 a woman. but for
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 a
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-
ThSv he,
to take his place and that there was
no one TO defend his castle except a
girl, and, although they had heard
something of Bertha's exploits, they
did not deem her q 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 Ber-
tha
The truth is he had seen Bertha and
had conceived passion for her 1t
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 ad
mltted, and Bertha. who was at win
dow when he rode into the court, saw
MIN. 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
snip OF the two estates should be de
rided by friendly contest between
them with foils. II the count proved
victorious they should both belong TO
MIN; II bertha won. they should both
belong 10 her.
Inc young count could not very well
decline such proposition II he had