The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-06
How the Castle
Was Saved
By F. A. Mitchell

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 IL
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.
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
be would swoop 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 70 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 force who sal
lied forth to exact tribute from a 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 vassals.
From 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 fol
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 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 be would be an easy prey and
that his domain might be appropri
ated. They knew that he had no soI
to take his place and that there wa:
no one 10 defend his castle except 6
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 bt
made one by his marriage with Der
tina
The truth is he had seen Bertha an(
had conceived a passion for her. i
was as much his desire to possess hel
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
mftted. and Bertha. who was at a win
| dow when he rode into the court. saw
him Baron Rudolph promised to sub
NIT the proposition to his daughter
The answer Bertha gave was tina
| she would accept Count Stinzel for he
| husband on condition that the owner
| ship of the two estates should be de
cided by a friendly contest between
| them with foils If the count proved
victorious tSey should both belong t.
him; if Bertha won. they should botf
belong to her.
| The young count could not very vel
decline such a proposition if he ha6
| wished TO do So He would become
the laughingstock of all the country
round about But he had no desire Il
decline it. He was as well skilled il
the use of arms as the average man
| and II he could not win from a woman
be considered that he should desery,
| to come under the feminine yoke. HI
sent word that he accepted the chal
lenge on the terms offered.
Bertha being woman. the coun
agreed to fight in the court of her ia
Tiers castle. He came on the day an
| pointed for the contest with a number
OF his principal retainers Bertha came
INTO the court in a fencing costum,
that was very becoming She and the
count met at table on which two
copies of the contract were placed anC