The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], October 19, 1913, MAGAZINE SECTION, Image 48

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r cilna asipage1 ANNE OF GEIERSTEIN i sm wam scoTT i
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(Copyright. 1913. hy Irving King. All
rights reserved.)
It frequently happens in Scott’s ro
mances that the nominal hero is a. rather
colorless person, with whom, when the
story is ended, we feel that we have but
s passing acquaintance. Sometimes this is
the case with his heroines, but in Anne
of Geierstein’’ the heroine is a faiiiy
prominent person.
It Is, however, by the master strokes
with which the character of the unfortun
ate Margaret of Anjou and the warlike
Duke of Burgundy are drawn that the
novel is raised into the ranks of one of the
greatest of Scott’s works.
The description of De Hagenhack and
of the black priest of St. Paiil s, also,
are fascinating, if gloomy, picture. In
dealing with the people and the scenery
of Switzerland, Scott was so fortunate
that though lie had never been in Swit
zerland, the people of that country waxed
enthusiastic over “Anne of Geierstein
and showered upon Sir Walter ancient
Swiss arms and relics with which to adorn
hla walls at Abbotsford.
In transforming "Anne of Geierstein
Into a short story, the story itself had to
he told, even at (he expense of many of
the glowing passages relating to Charles
the Bold.
Descendant of a Proud Race
A PROUD and powerful race were the
Counts of Geierstein, whose great
castle frowned from a mountain
side in the Canton of the Unterwalden.
Their history dated back to the days
•f the old Helvetians, and In the feudal
days the peasants were obliged to dofC
their hats at the most distant sight of
the turrets of the stronghold of their lord.
But at the time this story opens the cas
tle was abandoned ars^ ruinous.
In a frame house nearby lived Count
Arnold of Geierstein, eldest son of his
father, and now cultivating the soil as
Arnold Biedeman, a Swiss citizen.
His father, old Count Williewald, when
many of his degree in Switzerland had
Joined with the hosts of the Emperor Leo
pold In his attempt to subdue the cantons,
had ranged himself upon the side of his
country.
Ha had united himself closely with the
state of Unterwalden, become a citizen
of the republic, and so distinguished him
self that he was chosen lunderman, or
president, of the canton.
Demanding His Rights
Count Williewald was desirous that one
af hla sons should continue the nobility
of the race of Geierstein and the other be
come a simple cltzen of the republic. But
when lie proposed this settlement of the
Inheritance to Albert, the younger son, he
cried out:
“And must my brother he a count, hon
ored and followed by vassals and attend
ants, and I a homespun far mer among the
gray bearded peasants of the unterwal
datiT
"No, Geiersteln Is & fief of tha empire,
and the laws entitle me to half the In
heritance. If my brother be Count of
Geiersteln I am not less Count Albert of
Gierstein; and I will apepal to the Em
peror rather than that the arbitrary will
of one ancestor shall cancel in me the
rank and rights derived from 100."
"Go, proud boy,” answered the Incensed
WHllewald, “give the enemy of the coun
try an excuse for again meddling with her
I affairs; appeal to a foreign prince from
I the will of thy father."
Albert replied hotly, but Arnold, com
ing in, said; "Let me be a citizen of the
republic of Unterwnlden—you will relieve
me of a thousand cares—and let Albert
wear the coronet.”
Brothers on Opposing Sides
And so it was settled. Albert, when
the old count died, took hfs rank and
titles, the castle and the feudal rights,
while to Arnold was set off enough of
the fertile land belonging to the estate to
make him one of the wealthiest men in
a country where competence was es
teemed wealth.
1 Albert had possessions in Swabia and
Westphalia and seldom visited the moun
tain castle of Gelrstein, leaving it to he
occupied by a seneschal, so rapacious
and obnoxious that he would have been
itiorn count of Geiersteln hear the words
for the protection afforded by Arnold
through his Influence with the mountain
•aers.
Again the Emperor stormed the Swit
ters' Alps and was again defeated. * Al
bert fought in the imperial ranks and,
after the war, a sentence of banishment
was passed upon him by the cantons. His
Jistate was confiscated.
' And now ho was prosecuting his
Schemes of ambition far away from the
irumbllng castle of his fathers; while
Lrnold Biederman, with his stout sons,
illcd his acres and lived the simple,
lardy life of a Swiss farmer.
Anne of Geiersteln
" Only once had he heard from Albert
Ince the close of that war In which they
ad fought on opposing sides.
That once was when, seven or eight
ears before the date of this story, while
e was musing amid the ruins of the
J-sstle, the former seneschal, Ital
schrenckenwald, had sudcdnly appeared
•fore him leading by the hand a beau
1 fu] girl of 7 years and said:
“Let the vasal of the noble and hlgh
)rn count of Geiersteln hear the words
! his master.
1 "Albert, Count of Geiersteln, thy lord
1 id my lord, having on his hands affairs
l ! weight, sends his daughter, the Coun
as Anne, to thy charge, graces thee sc
r as to entrust to thee her support
id nurture until it shall suit his purpose
require her of thee."
■ ’Ince that day Anne of Geiersteln had
| ;n the cherished Inmate of tho house
■ 4 of her uncle.
Two English Travelers
fow, at 18, her charniB were maturing,
Id the fame of her beauty had spread
f among the mountain:.
•ler health, mes';'. and physical, were
fe gifts the mountains gave their chu
rn; and Anne grew up firm of muscle,
re of foot, clear of eye, graceful ol
m. Joyous of disposition and pure ol
art.
Jl Ms farmhouse Arnold Blederman
s entertaining two English travelers
30 hsul lost their way In the mountains,
I the younger of whom, Arthur Fhlllp
, had Just been rescued from a posl
1 of peril by Anne of Gelersteln.
part of the mountain path, which lit
l gone on ahead of his father and
Jlr bewildered guide to reconnolter, had
|sn almost beneath his feet and lefl
i clinging to the trunk of a tree whtcti
tailed Itself across the wild abyss be
i Bared by ■ Girl
■>• of Gelersteln bad been a witness
Arthur's peril. As ha -clung In terroi
She tree trunk she walked with her
• foot and steady head out upon tli«
narrow support, encouraged the young
man by words, taking him by the hand,
bade him not to look down but straight
before him.
Arthur mustering all his courage and
ashamed that a girl should outdo him
In self-control, steadiness of head and
sureness of foot, accepted of Anne's aid,
though reluctantly, and gained the top
of the crag from which the tree pro
jected in safety.
Usually In romances It is the hero
who in the beginning of the story res
cues the heroine from peril; and Arthur
could not conceal his chagrin that, In this
case, the conditions had been reversed.
But Anne answered that it was not to
be expected—in fact, It was not possible
that a dweller In the level lands should
have the same sureness of foot and
steadiness of head among the mountain
crags rs those brought up from infancy
among the hights and depths of the Alps.
Small Cargoes of Goods
While Anne had been employed In res
cuing Arthur, her uncle had gone to the
assistance of the elder Phllipson and
brought him, with his guide and pack
mule, to the shelter of the farmhouse.
Phllipson said that he was an English
merchant traveling to the court of Charles
the Bold of Burgundy.
tou carry a small cargo of goods,
said Blederman, "but, doubtless, the small
package contains valuable articles."
“Yes, very valuable," replied Philip
son, but made no proposition to open his
pack and make sales to the numerous
household of his host.
Phllipson was a grave man between 55
and 80 who had evidently seen much of
the world. Between him and, Biederman
a mutual regard sprang up at once, and
they conversed upon many grave affairs
of state.
Principally did the talk concern the re
latione existing between Burgundy and
the other countries of Europe.
Charles the Bold
Charles the Bold of Burgundy was pre
paring to turn his dukedom into a king
dom and had assembled a great Army
near his capital of Dijon.
His brother-in-law, Edward IV, the
Yorkish King of England, had landed an
army in Prance and declared his Inten
tion of regaining the possessions In that
country which the English had lost under
his predecessor.
it was supposed that the splendid army
collected by Charles was destined to act
against Prance In conjunction with the
English; but as yet the bold duke had
made no sign except to fulminate threats
against the Swiss, whose commerce he
harassed at his borders and whose Inde
pendence he refused to recognize.
Even as Phllipson and Blederman talked
there entered the house a young man
who had traveled from Berne with orders
for the noble farmer from the diet of the
united cantons. •
a ne arrival or this young man seemed
to give great pleasure to the sons of the
h.ndernian—for such was Arnold's posi
tion in the canton—but Arnold himself
and Anne, ns was evident, did not share
in the general satisfaction of the others,
who greeted the new arrival as ‘‘cousin."
Antagonism Quickly Aroused
He was, in fact, a distant cousin of the
family, by name Rudolph of Donner
hugel.
Rurolph was unusually tall, well-pro
portioned and actives with a quantity
of dark brown hair curling around his
face, together with nuistaehlos of a some
what darker hue.
He wore a small cap set upon one side
of his head and ills clothes, while of the
same style as those of the sons of the
landerman, were of much finer texture
and ornamented in a rich and fanciful
manner.
Rudolph, having delivered to Arnold a
sealed packet, took a seat beside Anne
and paid her an attention which, thougti
coldly received by the maiden, showed
in what direction the hope of the young
gallant lay.
Arthur and Rudolph tobk a dislike to
each other at once—they felt Instinc
tively that they were rivals; though in
the young Englishman's brain, at least,
such an idea was, naturally, not formu
lated, as his acquaintance with Anne
had been a matter of only a couple of
hours.
This feeling between the two young
men resulted that evening in a quarrel
CV<V some trifling matter, and they
agreed to meet at daybreak in the court
yard of the ruined castle.
Peace or War
But, carefully as the two young men
tried to conceal their design, Anne, who
perceived their antagonism and vaguely
felt that she was the cause of it, watched
them with such a shrewd eye that she
suspected their design and informed her
uncle, who Interrupted the duel Just as
Arthur had got the Swiss champion at
his mercy In spite of his great two
handed sword with which he fought
against the less powerful, but more skill
fully handled, sword of his antagonist.
Thus, having crossed swords, the two
young men shook hands and declared
themselves brothers in arms.
The message which Rudolph of Don
nerhugel had brought from the Swiss
diet to Arnold B|Qderman was to this
effect;
Outraged by the manner In which Duko
Charles had seized upon and despoiled
Swiss traders, and even taken posses
sion of towns within what the Switzers
claimed to be their territory, as well as
stirred to action by the threats of the
ambitious warrior, the diet had deter
mined to send a delegation of their most
prominent men to the duke’s capital to
remonstrate with him, demand justice—
or declare war.
With the Envoys
Peace was to be the object of It could,
by any honorable means, be brought
about. But war was the alternative
which the hardy mountaineers did not
hesitate to offer to the most warlike
and powerful prince In Europe.
The delegation of Switzers was to as
semble at Gelerstein and take tlielr de
parture from there. They were to have
an escort composed of a picked com
pany of young men, of whom Rudolph
of Donnerhugel was to be the leader.
All central Europe being at that time
In a disturbed state such an escort was
necessary.
Arnold proposed to Phlllpson that he
wait the assembling of the delegation
and journey with them to Dijon. His
offer was accepted and In due time the
embassy for the cantons set out.
With the landerman went his niece,
Anne, and her attendant Annette.
For, shortly before Mhe party was
“You are beset by dangers—your business is known”
ready to aet out, Arnold had received
a message from his brother, whe seemed
to be well Informed as to the Inten
tions of the cantons, asking him to
brihg along with the delegation "The
Countess Anne of Gelersteln," as he now
desired to receive back his daughter Into
his own keeping and would take her from
the custody of Arnold at the Burgundian
frontier.
At the Gates of Bale
The days that elapsed between the ar
rival of the Plillipsons at Geierstein and
tlie departure therefrqm of the Swiss
delegation, while few, had been enough
to make Arthur realize .that he had lost
ids heart to the mountain maiden.
Anne and her attendants were mounted
upon asses whose slow steps scarce kept
pace with the baggage mules. Arthur
would have considered it no hardship
lo have occasionally assisted Anne in
tier journey and would have enjoyed an
opportunity to converse with her, but
v as prevented from showing her any
attentions by the cutsoms of the coun
try, which customs even Rudolph did
not venture to Infringe.
At length the delegation came to the
city of Bale. The authorities of that
city had received orders from Count
Archibald of Hagenback, who com
manded for the duke in that region,
that the Swiss should not be received
into the city, the sovereignty of which
was then in contention between the fed
erated cantons and Burguhdy.
Sentries at Graffslust
But at some distance from the city,
in the half-ruinous castle of Graffslust.
the burghers of Bale had prepared a
resting place and abundant* entertain
ment for the delegation.
The castle, though falling to ruin, was
still capable of defense, and that night
the escort of young Switzers kept a
careful watch, both within and without
the ancient walls.
Anne found prepared for herself and
her attendant at Graffslust a small
chamber, almost luxuriously fitted up.
In it was even a small altar, surmount
ed by an iron cross of curious workman
ship.
To this apartment she immediately re
tiled, upon the arrival of the travelers
at Graffslust, pleading fatigue from the
Journey.
The delegates, after freely partaking
of the food and drink furnished them
by the bughers of Bale, retired to rest
also, and the young men set their sen
tries and formed their bands of scouts,
who were to patrol the circumference
of the castle beyond the drawbridge.
Near the Hour of Midnight
It was near the hour of midnight
when Arthur, who had Insisted upon
sharing the military duties of the es
cort and was stationed as sentry at
the castle end of the drawbridge, saw
a female form flit by him and pass on
into the wood beyond.
Even in the dim light he knew that
it was the form of Anne of Geierstein.
His orders had been to allow no one
to enter the castle wlthout*giving the
password, but nothing had been said
concerting the egress from the palace.
Therefore he did not challenge the
apparition which, to say the truth,
flitted by him, appearing to tits amazed
senses more like a spirit of the night
than a thing of flesh and blood.
"No,” he reasoned us soon as he was
able to collect his wits, "it could not
be Anne—and if it were, what tryst
went she worth in the woods?” A pang
of Jealous rage shot through him.
Nothing but a Bush”
Just at that time came the man who
was to relieve him as sentinel and also
Rudolph of Donnerhugel, who, with a
fierce mastiff, which he held In leash,
was to make a tour of the outer lines
and Inspect the patrols.
Rudolph Invited Arthur to accompany
him, and together they went out into
the moonlight, threading their way
through the woods and open glades.
They had not proceeded far from the
castle when Arthur saw something
move beside a bush, and cried out:
“There It Is again!"
"There Is what?” answered Rudolph,
“I see nothing but a bush blown by
the wind."
“But your eyes were turned away a
moment," replied Arthur, "and see, your
dog has noticed something."
The dog had, In fact, stopped and
was gazing Intently toward the bush
and sniffling the air.
But apparently satisfied that what he
had seen or scented, If anything, was
at least nothing to be disturbed at,
he wagged his tall and started forward
in the direction in which the two young
men had been proceeding.
“You see you were mistaken,” said
Rudolph.
Wild Tales of Magic
Arthur hesitated and then told Ru
dolph the whole story of what he had
that night seen. In return the haupt
man—or captain—told the young En
glishman the story of Anne’s birth and
of how the peasantry looked upon her
as being born of mystic race and one
having the power of appearing in two
places at the same time.
It appeared that the Counts of .Arn
helm had, for many generations, from
father to son. been addicted to secret
studies and dabblers In magic.
The last Count of Arnheim had mar
ried the daughter of a mysterious Egyp
tian, or Arabian sorcerer, to whom he
had given shelter for a time in the
castle.
The Arabian disappeared, and his
daughter, after giving birth to a female
child, had been mysteriously resolved
into a handful of dust on the very day
of the child’s christening, being unable
to stand the power of holy water ,
The child, thus left motherless upon
her baptismal day, had grown up to
become the wife of Count Albert of
Geierstein and the mother of Anne.
“A Convoy of Smugglers”
Rudolph affected fo disbelieve these
weird legends, but admitted, neverthe
less, that there was something inex
plicable in the ancestry of Anne of
Geierstein.
Arthur saw in the Counts of Arnhelm
only men who had been, In scholar
ship, in advance of their times, and re
jected the, wild tales with which in all
times the ignorant surrounded those
whom they cannot understand.
Still he was troubled and perplexed
by that night’s vision and was still
further mystified when, in the morn
ing, Anne appeared and greeted him
as if nothing had disturbed her slum
bers.
With the day friendly scouts brought
word to the castle that Archibald de
Habenbach was preparing to arrest,
plunder and probably kill the envoys
when they arrived at his stronghold of
Brisach, under the plea that they were
smuggling goods into Burgundy against
the edict of the duke.
Prisoners of De Hagenbach
Unwilling to be the cause of danger to
the Swiss envoys, Phillpson and his son
took leave of the delegates and, pushing
on ahead of them, reached the city where
the fierce and bloody De Hagenbach held
sway.
Count Archibald had the travelers
brought before him, and fiercely rating
them, ordered their imprisonment.
Phillpson declared that he was on a
mission of great importance to Charles
of Burgundy, who knew of his being on
the way to Dijon, and would take ven
geance upon any one who troubled him.
“Search the thieves!” cried De Hagen
bach, and having disarmed Arthur and
his father, they look from the latter a
leathern case containing a diamond
necklace of Immense value. De Hagen
bach seized it, and the Phllipsons were
dragged away to their separate dungeons.
Dead Men Tell no Tales
”IIa, fo tills was on Its way to
Charles,” said the governor, gloating
over the diamonds. “Perhaps the old
merchant tells the truth, and If we let
hhn continue on his way to Dijon he
might, did we retain this necklace, make
things unpleasant for us with our lord
and master the duke. Yet such plunder
as this Is too good to lose.”
"Dead men tell no tales,” replied Kil
lian, the trusted squire and"1 confidant of
Sir Archibald. “If these, men die In our
dungeons, why, we have never seen them
—nor these diamonds either. In spite of
what rumors base churls of Switzers may
set on foot against us. We have the
duke’s ear.”
"Let them die In an hour,” replied De
Hagenbach, placing the diamonds In his
breast.
Planning Treachery
A scaffold was erected in the market
place and, gathering together all his own
men, De Hagenbach also forced the bur-,
ghers to take arms and help swell the
garrison of the city.
The fierce knight had determined to
plunder the Swiss envoys, to overpower
their guard, to create a riot and, under
the pretext that the Switzers had at
tempted to seize the city by force, to ar
rest and kill them.
He knew that lurking In the neighbor
hood was a considerable body of fiery
young Balese whom the elders of Bale
were unable to control and who, If given
opportunity, would attempt a rescue of
the envoys. But he trusted Jo his strong
walls and strong garrison.
As the governor was giving his orders
for this reception of the envoys, a deep
voice behind him said: 4,I have seen the
wicked man flourish in his power even
like unto a laurel, but I returned and he
was not—yea, I sought him but he was
not to be found.”
The Black Priest
The governor turned to see a tall, dark
man, wearing; the garb of a priest, and
looked into the deep, commanding eyes
of the cleric, who was known as the Black
Priest of St. Paul’s.
The interview between the priest and
the knight was short. The knight, It was
apparent, feared the priest as he feared
no other man—not even the Duke Charles.
Scorning all the efforts of De Hagen
bach to propitiato him, the Black Priest
denounced the governor as a bloody
minded murderer, and warned him of ap
proaching retribution.
A huge beaker of wine was necessary
to steady the nerves of De Hagenbach
after the Black Priest had left him.
By the time the envoys were reported
as entering the city gates, De Hagenbach
had worked himself up to a murderous
frenzy by repeated drafts of strong
liquors, and when the little body of
mountaineers, surrounded by their small
guard, marched to the market place, he
received them with angry looks, and cried
out: “Who are you that dare to come
with arms in your hands into a Burgun
dian garrison?"
Burgundy to the Rescue
“We are deputies,” answered Arnold
Biederman, “from the towns of Berne and
Soleure and the cantons of Uri, Schwytz
and Unterwalden, bound on an embassy
to the gracious Dulse of Burgundy and
Lorraine. “
"What towns? What cantons?" cried
De Hagenbach. in rage. “I know of none
such. You are rebels against the au
thority of the Duke of Austria.
"Know ye that ye go not to Burgundy
at all or go In fetters with halters around
your necks. So ho! Burgundy, to the
rescue!”
That had been the signal arranged by
tlie governor for the onset of his men
upon the Swiss. The delegates, encom
passed and overmatched by the soldiers,
who now showed on every hand pressing
toward them, stood back to back, while
the young Swiss of the guard drew their
weapons and prepared to sell their lives
dearly.
But on a sudden there came the cry of
“Treason! Treason!" and De Hagenbach
and the soldiery hesitated.
On His Own Scaffold
The Balese who had been lurking In the
neighborhood had been secretly admitted
Into the city and had made common
cause with the citizens who had revolted
against the ruthless governor.
The whole thing had been arranged by
the Black Priest of St. Paul’s, who now
appeared upon the scene.
The soldiers of De Hagenbach were
overpowered and disarmed and the
knight himself seized and bound. He
was caried to the scaffold, where the
common executioner struck oft his head.
And in the market place also now ap
peared Arthur Philipson and his father,
who had been liberated from prison by
this same Black Priest of St. Paul's.
When the head of De Hagenbach rolleit
in the dust the chief burghers>t>f the city
mounted the scaffold and announced that
the governor had been executed by the
decree of a regular tribunal whose power
no one would dare to question.
condemned ny me venme
All felt that this was the celebrated
“Vehme," or secret tribunal, which, In
those troublous days, wielded such power
upon both banks of the Rhine and whose
operations were enveloped In such Im
penetrable mystery.
The bold Duke Charles had declared
that If he caught any of the “Initiated”—
as the members of this secret society
called themselves—upon his terlrtory he
would send them to the scaffold, and was
proportionately enraged to And, every
now and then, some decree of warning oS
the secret tribunal stuck by a dagger to
his very dressing table.
The diamond necklace which Phillpson
had been taking to Duke Charles was re
stored to hi piaftcr the death of De
Hagenbach, and he and Arthur without
waiting for the envoys, procured a guide
and set out again for the court of
Charles.
The elder Phillpson did not like the
guide's face—Its appearance was sinister
to the last degree.
The Lady in the Magk
As the phillpsone, mounted upon horse
back, and their guide on foot, were pro
ceeding along the road which ran by the
right bank oT the Rhine, they were over
taken by wlmt was, apparently, the party
of a young lady of rang out upon her
palfrey In pursuit of the popular pastime
of haw’king.
Before the two parties are brought to
gether it should be said that, after the
excitement of the event sat Brisach, Ar
thur Philipson had sought in vain for a
sight of Anne of Geierstein.
In reply to his guarded Inquiries, Ar
nold had said that she had been sent to
a place where she would remain in cafety
until the times were less troublous.
But now, as the hawking party came
up with the Philipsons, Arthur could
have sworn that in the richly dressed
young lady, with her hawk upon her
gauntleted wrist, attended by her fal
coner and a half dozen mounted men-at
arms (which the state of the country
rendered necessary as a guard), he rec
ognized Anne of Geierstein.
Indifferent Sport
A black vizard concealed ber features,
as was the custom in those days when
young ladies of quality rode abroad.
But the form and air were that of the
maiden of the mountains.
Yet born she and her attendants were
dressed in the German manner. Arthur
thought of the strange story of Anne’s
ancestry and of his experience that night
when he kept guard on the draybridge
at ruined Graffslust—and was bewildered.
The elder Philipson saw only a high
and well-born damsel out hawking, and
greeted the lady with courtly phrase,
Inquiring after the success of her sport.
"It is indifferent, my good friend," re
plied the damsel. "I dare not fly my
hawk so near the broad river lest he
should soar to the other side and be
lost. But I reckon on finding better game
when I have crossed the ferry."
A Whispered Warning
She rode to young Philipson and said
in a low tone: "You are beset by dan
gers. Your business is known—your
lives are laid in wait for.
"Cross the river at the ferry of the
chapel—or Han’s ferry, as it is called—
to Kirchoffon, the other side of the river.
Take lodgings at the Golden Fleece, where
you will be expected.’’
Then seeing a woodcock spring up she
cast off her hawk and with- a "Sa ho—
sa ho—wro ha" from the falconer, swept
away with her train.
The voice was the voice of Anne of
Geierstein.
"Arthur," said Philipson a little later,
"I am convinced that yonder howling,
hypocritical vagrant has sonio design
upon us and have Well nigh determined
to consult my opinion and not tils as to
our places of repose and the direction of
our journey."
Escaping Many Plots
Without explaining whom the young
lady they had recently parted company
seemed in his eyes to resemble, Arthur
told his father that she had whispered
to him that they ought to take the road
to Strasburg by the eastern side of the
river, and for that purpose cross over
at a place called Klrchoff.
After considering the matter, the elder
Philipson decided that Arthur should take
the road advised by the unknown maiden
while he himself would continue on by
the right bank of the river. Thus one of
them would be sure to arrive at the court
of Charles and present to him the busi
ness upon which they journeyed to the
duke’s capital.
After escaping many plots laid against
him by secret foes, the elder Philipson
at length arrived at Strasburg. Several
times upon the journey he encountered in
the most unexpected places the Black
Priest of St. Paul’s and everywhere this
strange man seemed to exercise the power
and inspire the same terror as at Brisach.
And it was the Black Priest, apparent-^*
ly, who watched over Philipson and res
cued him from thd many perils he en
countered on the journey.
Welcomed With Blushes
In the meantime Arthur, pursuing his
journey upon the.left hank of the river,
came one day toward evening to a
great satle situated near the village,
and in front of the castle saw, to his
amazement, Annette, the attendant of
Anne of Gelerstein.
His heart throbed as he asked the
girl if Anne was in the neighborhood.
Annette answered that " The noble and
high-born lady, Anne, Countess of Arc
helm,’’ was in residence at the castle;
conducted him thither and, in the coun
tess, he recognized Anne Gelerstein.
Anne welcomed Arthur with diffi
dence and blulslies. but finally assumed
a more formal and stately manner.
The village was occupied by a band
of mercenary soldiers in the pay of the
empire, and it would not toe safe for
Arthur to venture among them, 11s they
were mutinous, not having of late re
ceived their pay.
Anne explained many things. It had,
Indeed, been she whom Arthur h.ad seen
go out of Graffslust that night whpn he
kept watch at the drawbridge.
Some Mysteries Explained
A messenger from her father had got
word to her that she should meet him
In the woods that night, and she had
obeyed the paternal Injunction.
In that interview It had been ar
ranged that Count Albert should re
ceive his daughter the next day, when
the envoys set out for Brisacli. She
had been sent under escort by the
count to the Castle of Arnhelm, and
while she was on her way there had
encountered Arthur and his father.
This guide, she had learned from the
conversation of her attendants, had been
sent by persons who had an Interest
In preevntlng the arrival of the Phllip
sons at the Court of Charles—to pro
cure their Imprisonment or death.
Her father was now at Strashurg.
The wild romances connected with An
ne’s ancestry she explained as Action
based upon Ignorance.
Parting Forever
When Arthur spoke of Rudolph Don
nerhugel Anne told him frAnkly that
while Rudolph had been a suitor for
her hand neither she nor her uncle had
given him any encouragement and she
could never be his wife.
While they talked the steward came
In excitedly to say that the soldiers had
broken out into open revolt and would
attack the castle early the next morn
ing.
To defend the huge edlAce with so
small a number of retainers as could
be mustered by Anne was Impossible.
It was resolved to Ay the next morning
while the soldiers were sleeping off
:heir potations of the night before.
So with a small escort they fled at
laybreak and Arthur rode by Anne's
side to Strasburg;.
And on the way what more natural
:han that he should pour out into the
istening ear of the maiden that of
which his heart was so full—his love
lor her?
But Anne replied that she would
lever marry without the consent of
ter father and that this she knew he
would withhold should Arthur make a
Formal proposal for her hand. But she
would never marry anyone else.
"And so, farewell forever,” she said,
md giving him a little looket wilh
'-V von G” engraved upon it, she left
lim at the entrance into the city of
3trasburg.
Arthur met his father at a place they
had agreed upon and together they
proceeded to the camp of the duke
near Dijon.
The seeming merchant found ready
access to tho great duke, for Phillpsun
was, in fact, the Karl of Oxford of the
proud race of the de Veres and Arthur
Ills heir to that great title.
The earl had found defeat, poverty
und exile in the service of the House
if Lancaster and had now been sent uy
the exiled and dehroned Queen, Mar
garet of Anjou, to endeavor to induce
the duke to furnish men and means
In aid of a Lancastrian descent upon
England.
'the diamond necklace was sent by
Margaret as a token to Charles and
was to be as his pledge for the men
»nd money he should furnish.
But Charles declared that he would
3o nothing until he had chastised the
Swiss. He declared he would hang the
Swiss delegates when they should ar
rive at Dijon, and it was only the in
fluence of the Karl of Oxford that pre
vented him from carrying out his
threat.
binding peace impossible, the envoys
made a formal declaration of war and
returned to their mountains. Then be
gan that war against the Cantons in
which the great duke was killed and
the power of Burgundy broken forever.
Arthur and his father made the cam
paign with the duke.
Amid the forces of the young claim
ant of the dukedom of Lorraine, who
ioined with the Swiss, rode a warrior
who had vowed, the deatli of Charles,
and whoso death the duke had sworn.
He was Albert von Geiersteln, once
the black priest of St. Paul's and head
of the Secret Tribunal, so hated by the
duke. Ho was now released from his
priestly vows and took the field In
armor.
..nJ rxV... I. M1 ,
Bothhe and Charles were killed In
the last Battle between the Swiss and
the Burgundians. (
Margaret of Anjou died and be
queathed the diamond necklace to Ar
thur and his father. With the proceeds
of the sals of the jewels they pur
chased, after the war, a farm near
CJeierstoin and settled down as Swiss
farmers.
Anne had repaired to Geierstein to the
protection of tier uncle, and soon after
she and Arthur were married.
Years passed, and with the triumph
of Henry VII at Bosworth the‘pro
scribed earl was restored to Ills for
tune and title in England. He repaired
with his family ,to his native country,
where he soon after died, and Arthur
andi Anne, as earl and countess of Ox
ford, long lived in prosperity and
power.
Rudolph of Donnerhugel was killed
during the Burgundian war. He fell
beneath the sword of Arthur, fighting
valiantly in a personal combat, which
he himself had sought with the riVnl
who had stolen the heart of ttie girl
he loved.
Lifesavers Not Thanked
"Do people thank us for saving their
lives?" asked a bronzed lifeguard at At
lantic City, says the Philadelphia North
American. "Nay and nit; not so that
I've ever noticed it. Quite the other way.
The women do, of course, but the men!
wily, you'd think we had insulted them.
"They get mad and roast our heads off,
even though we don’t go after them until
they’ve hollored for help. I’ve got some
of the worst tongue lashings ever after
hauling out a man who had shrieked for
help and would have dronwed if he hadn't
had assistance pretty quick.
'You see the minute a man learns to
swim a few strokes he gets the idea
that he’s a world beater and can plow
through the water from here to Ocean
City. He digs for the float or the plat
form, showing his friknds on shore what '
a dabster he is at the game. He gets
to tho float all right, rests a little there
and then goes out further. Then he gets
a little tired and swallows a couple of
rollers, loses his nerve and sets up a
holier you could hear a mile except for
the other noises here.
"Here we get Dusy. out to
where he la floundering as fast as we
can. Sometimes we go overboard after
him, and sometimes we can yank him •
Into the boat without getting into the
water. Then the fun begins.
“ ‘What are we doing?' he demands.
He was all right! Could swim all aronud
and back again! Doesn't like the humil
iation of being brought ashore in the
boat before a beachful of people, and all
that sort of rot.
‘‘X don't know how many we have
brought ashore this summer so far, but t
I do know that only two of them said
•Thank you;' the rest gave us a roast
ing and then told their friends on shore
how we Interfered when they were all
right. But we’re working for our pay,
not for thanks, so what's the differ
ence?”
Banana Eaters
Americans used to be called a nation
of pie eaters. Today a more appropriate
term "Would be a nation of banana eaters.
The United States takes more than two
thirds of the bananas shipped to the hand
lers in the world, says the Chicago Jour
nal.
Part of tills pre-eminence In banana
consumption Is due to geography; the/
source of supply on the Caribbean Is
almost at our door. Part is due to ac
cident. A Boston skipper Introduced the
American public to this tropical fruit
while it was still unknown In Europe.
Whatever reason one may choose to give,
the United States Is the world’s chief
banana market, and though the use of
this fruit le increasing abroad the Ameri
can boy remains the Jamaica grower's
best friend.