Year: 1861

the proceedings of his son. In order at once
TO put stop to his youthful FOLEY, as be
deemed it, he informed his son two weeks from
that day be was to wed the daughter of a neigh
boring cavalier.


At this intimation Rudolph felt the crisis of
his fate fast approaching Fully aware of the
uSeleSSness OF openly opposing his father S
VIII or OF lmpIorifg his pity, he withdrew ap-
parently satisfied and rode over to Karol, to
communicate the sad intelligence to him. The
warrior knew of only one way to surmount
the mighty obstacle, and that was to 60 with.
out delay to King Matthias at Vienna, from
whose justice and humanity he promised him.
self the most satisfactory result. When the
day for their setting out was once fixed, the
betrothed quickly forgot their troubles aud
now began to look upon their dreams of a
glowing future as already realized


Although the preparations for the journey
were made with great precaution, still the
Austrian traitors suspicious were aroused,
and no sooner were they confirmed, than be
again sped to kirschlag, imparting the fresh
udIngs to the count, who was just then making
merry with several boon companions. Heated
by wine and passion, Puchhem swore, in the
presence OF his guests, to prepare suitable
nuptlal couch for his Hungarian daughter-in-
law


1t was the evening before the day of de-
parture. Rudolph and G Gizela had visited for
the last time, all the places so endeared to
them 10y a thousand sweet remembrauceS-
Before entering the dwelling, they fingered at
lovely spot not far from the rampartS, cast
Ing farewell look on the glorious mouutaa
scenery, bathed in the gray hue of approach.
ing twilight. Lost in silent reYerie, and over
whelmed by au IneXplcabIe feeling of sadness,
they did not remark that night and darkness
gradually spread over valley and mountain.


As the girl leant on his shoulder, Rudolph,
all on a sudden, felt her whole frame shudder
violently. The next moment, with faint
shrek, she sank into bis arms, her breast
pierced by au arrow, and her hearts blood
gushing in warm stream over her lover, who
IN paroXysm of mingled agony and madness,
sprang forward towards a thicket, from
whence the deadly miss lie was shot Preceiv
ing the figure # man moving off stealthily,
Rudolph, with bound, fell upon him. pung
lug his dagger, IN mute rage, repeatedly into
the breast of the murderer


The catastrophe soon became known at the
settlement, and karol FASTENED with lighted
torches TO the spot, from whence two bodies
were carried into the fOrtifcation one was
RudoIph's father, the count of Puchheim, and
the other the victim of his vengeance, the
gentle Gizeia, lovely even with the impress of
death on her paIIId cheeks. The former still
lived, and be spent his last breath in cursing
his son, who stood aghast between the eorpses
of those whom he most loved and venerated
upon earth.


Gizela was buried near the tower, and her
untlmely fate awakened so much sympathy
that the people immortaIised her memory by
giving the place the name already mentioned.


The bereaved father left the mOurntul spot,
and settled farther eastward in the Rabnitz
Valley, where the village of Karl now stands.


RudoIph, broken-hearted, joined the war in
the East against the infdels, from whence he
never returned He was the last of the di-
rect line of the PuchheImS. The castle be-
came deserted, and left gradually to fall into
ruins.


The inhabitants in the vicinity of Kirchs-
Gag affirm, that at midnight, they distinctly
hear the tramping of Rudolph's horse, as be
gallops up the mountain ri5ge that separates
the castle from the watch-tower, where be
halts at the grave of his bctrothed until the
cock calls him back to his distant resting
place.