The German Baron's Guests. A winter's tale

Preface

. The ruins of the old castle, called in the following tale " Adler-Schloss," though still to be seen, have in latter years undergone considerable dilapidation — a great part of the pile having crumbled awaythrough the combined action of time and inclement weather, and a part having been pulled down, because in a road below, the falling stones and detached fragments of rock, in high winds, were continually menacing the safetyof passers by-. But the portion still stand ing is sufficient to form a picturesque object in the surrounding landscape; and the remains of the founda tions of walls and buttresses to be found in the immediate neighbourhood, and covering a vast area, prove the castle to have been originally of great strength and extent. The following legend, regarding this castle and its last possessor, is still believed in by the peasants in the neighbourhood, one of whom gravely related it to the author, who here gives it for what it is A

PREFACE.

. VI worth ; but, as will be seen, it has no connection with the tale : — " The last owner of the castle, a prince, was a very bad man, who was extremely hard with and greatly oppressed his tenantry. One day, when he had re turned in the evening from collecting his hard-wrung rents on some property at a few miles distance, he entered his study or private sitting-room to make up his accounts, and, as the night was closing in, he summoned a domestic and ordered a light to be brought. The man obeyed ; but no sooner did he set the lighted candle on the table, at the head of which his master was seated in a high-backed carved oaken fauteuil, than it was extinguished. The prince impatiently told him to go back and re-light it, which he accordingly did. On returning to the apartment for the second time, the servant-man now first remarked a large black cat, seated on the top of the back of the fauteuil and close behind his master's head, aud somewhat surprised, he said nothing, and set down the light on the table ; again, however, only to be immediately and most mysteriously extinguished.

The prince became very angry, rated the man for PEEFACE. VII his awkwardness, and roughly ordered him to re-light the candle without delay. The man, now very de cidedly thinking that there must be something not right in the place, tremblingly quitted the apartment, taking care to carefully close the. door behind him ; and, being afraid to return there alone, he prevailed upon a fedow-servant to accompany him. The two men then together entered the study, and there found the prince lying back in his fauteuil quite dead, having apparently been strangled. The black cat had mysteriously disappeared, and was never more seen. " A pompous funeral was prepared. Some of the domestics affirmed that on the day of interment they had seen the corpse placed in the richly emblazoned coffin, which was then securely closed.

The church where the interment was to take place was at a distance of about three miles from the castle, the way to it being through rough mountain roads. When raised to be placed on the hearse, the coffin was found to be very extraordinarily heavy, and required several men to lift it. The horses, of which there were four, seemed to have much difficulty in drawing the hearse, and were covered with foam on PREFA.CE. VIII arriving at the church. On being lifted from the hearse, the remarkable weight of the coffin attracted the attention of the Priest, who ordered it to be opened, when lo, it was found to he filled with stones. What had meanwhile become of the corpse was never known. But from that time the castle seemed to be doomed, for shortly after a hostile armycame into that neighbourhood, attacked the castle, and suc ceeded in reducing it to a pile of ruins."' Thus much was related by the peasant, who did not know as to whether this prince left any descend ants.

If he did, it is not improbable that they lost their lives or were taken prisoners at the stormin"- of the castle. Certain it is that it was never rebuilt. A. M. DE JONGH. Manchestee, February, 1872. % Whkx's Mt.

Chapter I

" We are the fairies of the snow, Hushing the heart where'er we go ! We paint the earth in winter hours With stainless pictures of the flowers, We weave with fleecy fingers sweet The dying winter's winding sheet, We whisper comfort while we place Our parting kisses on his face, And leave upon the face we press Pale signs of unborn loveliness ! " Buchanan. At no very great distance from the Black Forest in Germany, there resided, in the latter part of the sixteenth century, in an old chateau, called Adler- B Schloss, anglice "Eagle Castle," the Baron von Tannenwald and his daughter Clothilda. The chateau was greatly elevated above the surrounding country, having been built on some rocks, which themselves formed the crowning summit of a tolerably high and very steep moun tain — one of a range of rocky mountains that extended to some distance, and where at length they seemed to join and mingle with the clouds, and then gradually becoming more and more faint in their shadowy outlines, were finally lost to view.

The approach to this castle, as may be imagined, was not an easy one; the sides of the mountain being both rugged and steep. Besides which, on Hearing the summit, there were still the rocks to be ascended on which it stood, forming in fact the most toilsome part of the route. But at the period when Adler-Schloss was built, so much was thought of the safety and strength of such a position as to cause all inconveniences resulting therefrom to be completely overlooked. A winding zig-zag road of some kind had, it is true, been made up one side of the mountain; hut still the approach to the dweUing remained laboriously steep and rugged. The Baron's wife had died when his only child, Clothilda— now in her eighteenth year— was a mere baby; and he had not re-married. Clothilda was a great beauty, the idol of her father, the pride of the neighbourhood, and— with but few exceptions— much beloved by all who knew her.

For, although she was a spoiled child in the common acceptation of the term, spoiled by circumstances and position, and had a very ordinary share of fadings, yet being of a loving and lovable nature, joined to her extreme beauty, rendered her very attractive. Clothdda, however, had a cousin, Wilhelmina von Hoehtrabend, who had no friendly feeling for her; any such sentiment, having been completely smothered and extinguished in Wilhelmina's breast by the opposing ones of envy and jealousy. Wdhelmina was then in her twenty-fourth year, and had been much less favoured by fortune than her charming cousin— possessing neither her beauty nor her fortune — yet she was not dl-looking, and her parents were in tolerably easy circumstances, but she had several younger brothers and sisters who had all to be provided for as wed as herself.

There was also another exception to the general goodwill experienced for the lovely Clothilda, and that was in the person of Count von Anspruch, who was a widower, and fully forty y-ears of age ; a man of high family and considerable wealth, and who had no sooner beheld Clothilda, on her return home on leaving school, than he determined to make her his wife ; for he presumed so much on his rank, wealth and position, as to cpiite overlook the disparity in age, and doubted not of success. Great therefore was the surprise and anger of the proud Count on finding his addresses very ill received by the young beauty, who, little used to hide her feelings, was at no pains to conceal from him that he was decidedly disagreeable to her, and that she regarded his pretensions with contempt and derision.

Stung to the quick. Count von Anspruch's admiration of Clothilda soon turned into bitter hatred, and he became her rancorous enemy, but secretly ; for as his addresses and intention to marry her had been well known amongst his acquaintances, and it had also been plainly seen that she had repulsed him, his pride counselled him to pretend to put a "light face upon the matter," as if his liking for Clothilda had merely been a passing fancy; and he continued to frequent the Schloss as hitherto, greatly to the Baron's satisfaction, of whom he was an intimate and agreeable acquaintance, and who, though he had no wish to influence his daughter to receive his addresses favourably, had yet felt sorry on seeing her very disdainful rejection of them, and feared that the consequences might prove to be a complete rupture with the Count, and very possibly transforming him into an enemy ; now, however, he felt quite easy and satisfied about the matter, and his estima tion of the Count had consequently risen so much the higher; but Count von Anspruch meanwhile nourished in his breast a deadly hatred to Clothilda, and an intense thirst for revenge, so that he would sometimes say to himself: "I must have revenge — revenge at any price !

" We may as wed mention here that Clothilda's cousin, Wilhelmina von Hochtrabend, was very wishful to attract the Count's attentions to herself, and had striven hard to do so, hut as yet without effect ; still she did not despair, and continued her efforts to that end.

Chapter II

" While the white snows are falling So glistening and cold, And whilst the chilly tempest Shrieks in the wintry wold, Safe in the chimney corner, With faces brown uplit, Talking of village wonders, The quiet cotters sit." Christmas time was approaching, the Christmas of the year 16 — , and the weather was extremely rigorous even for that season. The winter had commenced early, and was an uncommonly severe one. The snow lay thick and hard frozen on the face of the whole country around Adler-Schloss. Sad accounts were heard from time to time of persons being lost in the snow and frozen to death. There were also some frightful accounts, continually making themselves heard, of ravages committed by the wolves — now rendered more than ordinarily ferocious by hunger, as the depth, hardness, and long duration of the snow upon the ground de prived them of their wonted supply of food ; and quitting their accustomed haunts in the depths of the forest, they boldly sallied forth in bands, and prowling about the farms and villages, attacked and seized anything living that came in their way.

Thus they carried off a great quantity of poultry, and killed and devoured a considerable number of sheep, cows, and horses, to the very serious loss and detriment of the poor peasants. But, sadder still, several individuals, who at various times had happened to be rather late on the road, or had ventured unarmed, in the dusk of the winter evenings, near to the confines of the Black Forest, had never more been heard of, and there was every reason to conclude that they had been killed and devoured by the wolves. Many guests were assembled in Adler-Schloss, according to the hospitable Baron's custom at that season ; and some more, who were not yet arrived, were still expected. In the mornings, when the weather was not too inclement, the young people amused themselves with sledging parties on the frozen snow, for which purpose they had to descend from the castle to the plain below ; the sledges being carried part of the way — where the rocks were too precipitous — and caused to slide down the remainder by stout peasants, who would often seat themselves in the sledges, and thus slide down the mountain with great velocity but considerable risk.

In the evenings, the younger part of the company amused themselves with music, dancing, and games of various kinds ; whilst the elder ones generallychatted together or played at cards. * Amalia Goldenherz, however, one of the y-oung lady guests, and an intimate friend and school companion of Clothilda's, could seldom be persuaded either to join in the dancing or the games, all that she could generally be induced to take part in w-as the music. She was a very sweet-looking girl, graceful, gentle and amiable in manner, had a clear pale complexion, thoughtful deep blue eyes, and a mild but grave cast of countenance. On one of these evenings, when Amalia had been sitting pensively apart from the other young people for some time, some of them, urged thereto by a young gentleman of rather forward manners, decided that they would not allow her to do so any longer, but would compel her to join them.

But it was in vain that they used all their arts of per suasion, had recourse to ridicule, and even resorted to reproach and reproof; at length the forward young gentleman said — " Fraulein Goldenherz is in love; the right person it seems has not y-et arrived, and she is reserving herself until he comes." " Oh, if that is the case," said Count von Anspruch, who had joined the group of young people, and who was continually watching Clothilda in order to find some opportunity of revenging himself upon her for the mortification she had caused him ; " if that is the case," he said, " the Fraulein may as well at once resign herself to be disappointed for to-night — such a night, too, as it is ! — more snow falling, and the wind blowing a perfect hurricane ! — there will be some awful drifts before morning, and we shall he sure to hear of more accidents !

Besides, when I went to the north wing just now, to look out from one of the library windows, away from all the noise in these saloons, I quite distinctly heard the barking and howling of a pack of wolves at no great distance ; therefore it is to he hoped no more visitors are on the way to the Castle to-night." Whilst the Count was saying these words he kept his eyes fixed upon Clothilda's countenance, for he thought that she expected some one else, and he wished to make her feel either mortified and disappointed, or uneasy, or all these feelings together. But she did not seem to have heard what he said, and was engaged in whispering something in Amalia's ear, who, in turn, did not appear to he attending to her, for she looked as if her thoughts were far away, and her dps moved unconsciously, though no word escaped them.

" Oh, how dreadful to think of ! " affectedlyexclaimed Wilhelmina von Hochtrabend; "I declare you have made me feel perfectly miserable ! " The Count did not even look at her. " You are a bird of ill-omen, Count von Anspruch," said the forward young gentleman. " Don't you see how you frighten the ladies ? You ought to have more consideration at your age ! " "How can you be so rude, Herr von Feldstein?" said Clothilda, thinking that, as lady of the house, she ought to reprove him, but still looking rather amused ; which look caused the Count to feel much more angry at her than if she had remained perfectly quiescent. " For my part," said another young gentleman, led on by the example of the first, and who felt provoked at the Count's pretensions of being a young man, and in the habit of joining himself to their society ; " for my part, I am surprised to see you here, Count von Anspruch, whilst your com panions, the Baron and his compeers, are all in the other saloon !

" The Count reddened, and gave the young man a look of mingled scorn and fury, but took no further notice ; and Wilhelmina hastened to say — " Count von Anspruch, I am sure, Herr Saltz mann, is as much in his right place here as anywhere else; and I think he shows his good taste, and good feeling, in not choosing to pass his evenings in so stupidly playing cards; when, too, he may by his presence give us pleasure; and I think we ought to be grateful to him for it ! " The Count did now look at her, and thought her rather pretty, and certainly very agreeable. But just then the folding doors of the apartment were thrown open, and a very portly personage, of about the same age as the Baron, entered; and was greeted on all sides by the title of Hofrath Richteramt, and congratulated on his safe arrival at such a time of night and in such weather.

His personal appearance showed robust health, and his countenance expressed much good nature; and notwithstanding his well-known character of bein _v an inveterate grumbler and fault-finder, he was generally liked and respected. Wiping his face, all in a glow from his recent exertions in the frosty air, he said — "Well, I certainly should not have been here to-night— horrid weather! not fit for a dog to turn out. I wonder how anyone can think of inviting friends at such a season ! — and stid more how they can expect such an invitation to be accepted ! I certainly should not have come if I had not thought that perhaps my old friend, Herr von Tannenwald, would be disappointed. Folly on my part to imagine such a thing, for no doubt he would care nothing about it ! However, here I am, safe and sound — which I much wonder at — for hard work it was, and very hazardous, chmbing up these rocks amongst the drifting snow;* and I * It will easily be understood that no vehicle could attain to the chateau.

Besides which most of the travelling, it should be borne in mind, was at that time accomplished on horseback. But neither did the horses approach nearer to the chateau than the commencement of the rocks already mentioned, where the Baron had his stables, and where it was customary for guests to leave their steeds in the care of grooms, whilst they mounted the rocks on foot. was thinking the while, that those who planned and built a dwelling in such a situation were senseless louts ; and that I was no better, being a fool for my pains ! " The Baron then, with many expressions of pleasure and a hearty welcome, came forward to greet the Hofrath, and led him away into another apartment, where such of his guests, whose ages approximated his own, were assembled. No sooner had the Baron and his newly-arrived guest quitted the saloon, than Herr Feldstein somewhat sneeringly said — " You see, Count von Anspruch, that you were quite mistaken in supposing we should not have any more arrivals to-night.

I would advise you another time not to be so sure." The Count looked vexed at this reflection upon his judgment, and irritated at the tone in which it was made ; and with some asperity said — " Oh, you did not understand me at all ! — I was only alluding to people of sense. As for the poor Hofrath, I heartily agree with him reo-ardinothe opinion expressed in his concluding words." Young Feldstein seemed about to reply in the same spirit, but Clothilda hastened to prevent him from so doing, by addressing herself to him, and proposing that they should have some music ; a proposition which was eagerly seconded by him, as he was very fond of music, and accepted by the whole group around her. " Certainly, that is a good idea," said Wilhelmina von Hochtrabend, rather forwardly; for she excelled on the harpsichord, doubted not that she would be one of the first asked to play, and rejoiced at this opportunity of showing her proficiency in the presence of Count von Anspruch.

She was, how ever, doomed to be disappointed ; for Clothilda turned to Amalia Goldenherz and requested her to sing, who, though with evident reluctance, nevertheless complied; and, after a short prelude over the keys of the instrument, in one of the sweetest and most touching of voices, accompanied herself to the following words : "Yes! beauty dwells in all our paths — but sorrow too is there : How oft some cloud within us dims the bright still summer air ! When we carry our sick hearts abroad amidst the joyous things, That through the leafy places glance on many colour'd wings, With shadows from the past we fill the happy woodland shades, And a mournful memory of the dead is with us in the glades ; And our dream-like fancies lend the wind an echo's plaintive tone Of voices, and of melodies, and of silvery laughter gone.

But are we free to do even thus — to wander as we will, Bearing sad visions through the grove and o'er the breezy hill? No ! in our daily paths lie cares, that ofttimes bind us fast, While from their narrow round we see the golden day fleet past." * When Amalia had advanced thus far in her song, so unusual a stir and movement arose in the saloon that she stopped and looked round. All eyes were directed towards the large folding-doors, a little inside of which, and seemingly just arrived, stood a very old and infirm-looking man, who might * Mrs. Hemans. C THE GERMAN BABON's GUESTS. have been tall, had he held himself upright, hut who was bent nearly double, so much did he stoop, as, leaning heavily on a stick he held with both hands, he stood for a few moments on the spot where he was first noticed, apparently quite exhausted by the extraordinaryefforts that a man of his age must doubtless have made use of to have succeeded in reaching the Schloss that night.

His hair, w-hich fell in disorder over his forehead, was snow-white, as was also a long beard which entirely hid the lower part of his countenance, whilst large shaggy, overhanging and grizzled eyebrow-s, almost completely concealed his eyes from view; and it was impossible to form any decided opinion as to the expression of his face, so much was it hidden by beard, eyebrows, and the long white locks that strayed neglected on his forehead. Some particles of frozen snow might still be seen adhering to his eyebrows and beard, and also to some parts of his dress, which w-as exceedingly plain and unpretending— rather bor dering on what might be termed decidedly poor ■27 and shabby, and not at all in character w-ith the place and company. After standing for a few moments, seemingly to recover himself, the old man, with a trembling unsteady gait, and steps that were very slow and tottering, notwithstanding the support of his stick, advanced a few paces further into the apartment.

But Amalia Goldenherz — whilst the other persons composing the group around the harpsichord were curiously scanning the new comer — with the respect she was in the habit of showing to old age, rose from her seat, and approaching the aged man politely offered to lead him to it, until the Baron should have been apprised of his arrival. Clothilda then felt somewhat reproved for not having been the first to propose it, and also hastened forward to the old man's assistance. He inclined his head by way of thanks, and accepted the offer, but did not immediately speak. When he was seated, however, and whilst awaiting the Baron's response to the news of his presence, he seemed to make an effort, and said a few words about the inclemency of the weather, but in so feeble a voice, and which trembled so much, it was barely intelligible.

The Baron approached with a puzzled and surprised look on his face, yet with his wonted hospitality, cordially and kindly greeted his unex pected guest ; but whilst assuringhim that he was heartily welcome at Adler-Schloss, he politely intimated that he had not the pleasure of his acquaintance. "Ah! Herr von Tannenwald," said the stranger, seeming to make a great and painful effort, and in which his weak voice trembled very much, " I am not surprised to see that you do not now recognise me ! — you will no doubt have forgotten y-our old acquaintance, Professor Frank ; for one of us was but very young when we two last met, and I leave you to decide which of the two that was," he said ; but here the old professor was seized with a violent fit of coughing. " You should not have ventured out at such a time of night, and in such weather, Herr Frank," said the Baron, compassionately ; and, calling to a servant, he ordered some hot spiced wine to be brought for his aged guest without delayr.

Mean while, a half-suppressed titter had arisen amongst the young peojde; Amalia looked distressed and disapprovingly from one to another, and the Baron frowned; but still the young folks tittered audibly; because, in saying the last words, the professor's voice — perhaps from the effort he was making to speak distinctly — had quavered into some very extraordinary intonations. Amalia thought it very unfeeling of them to laugh at the poor old man, and felt sorry. The Baron thought it veryrude, and felt angry. " Try to swallow some of this hot wine," he said; "I really wouder at you, Hen- Frank, at your age, venturing here on such a night as this is ; but I take it as the greater attention on your part, and feel exceedingly obliged. You must pardon my want of memory in not having recog nised you; which is the more excusable on my part as so many years must have elapsed since we last met— I having then been, as you say, so very >: young.

The professor, who had taken a few mouthfuls of the spiced wine, seemed about to say something, but was again seized with such a fit of coughing, that he had to desist ; and the Baron considerately requested him not to trouble himself byexplaining anything further just then, but at least to wait until he had rested awhile. And so saying, he offered his arm to the aged stranger, to conduct him to a more retired apartment in the Schloss ; where he would be properly attended to, and might enjoy in tranquillity that refreshment and repose which his feeble frame seemed so much to need. And a striking contrast did the two present, as the stalwart aud portly- Baron, not more than about fifty, and still in his full strength and vigour, walking slowly to suit his pace to the tottering gait of his companion, who leaned heavily on his arm on one side, and supported himself by his stick on the other, left the apartment.

No sooner had the Baron and his newly-arrived guest disappeared than Count von Anspruch said — "What an unpleasant interruption ! and how ill-suited to the occasion. I wonder what has brought the old fellow here? " "More especially," said young Feldstein, sneer mgly, "since he furnishes a second refutation of what you so confidently advanced, in respect to more guests arriving to-night." " For my part," said another young gentleman, " it would not surprise me much, after so strange an apparition, if our next arrival were to be the Berg-Geist* himself!" Whereupon, the ladies crossed themselves, and begged he would not mention anything of the kind ; saying that " There was no knowing what the consequences might be;" and some of the gentlemen even looked grave and uneasy. " Well, I think," said Wilhelmina von Hochtra bend, annoyed at the interest that Count von Anspruch had shown in Amalia's singing; "I must say that I think we ought to compliment Fraulein * Berg-Geist— "Mountain Spirit," or "Spirit of the Mountain."

Goldenherz on her display of sensibility towards the charming stranger, and congratulate her on the effectiveness of her acting ; it was perfect — do you not all think so ? If she would go on the stage, I am sure she might make a fortune ! " " Certainly-," said the Count ; " I think you are quite right there ; but it would be owing to her voice alone. I never before heard so delieiously sweet a voice ! " At which words a murmur of assent and approval passed around. And Wilhel mina, disappointed and irritated, slunk into the background to hide her vexation. " But I hope the Fraulein will now resume her singing," said Count von Anspruch ; " and let us at least have the pleasure of hearing the remainder of the song, commenced before the interruption occurred, but not concluded." Amalia, however, under the plea of fatigue, excused herself from singing any more just then.

The fact was that she felt strangely moved and agitated by the appearance of the aged guest ; she could not account for the extraordinary effect that he had produced upon her — her heart felt both disquieted and oppressed ; and to have burst into tears w-ould have greatly relieved her ; and indeed it seemed to her that she could hardly have pre vented herself from so doing if she had then attempted to sing.

Chapter III

" Wishes are wings on which we fly From evils keenly felt ; Yet found, as we ascend on high, Like those of old, to melt. Wishes are wheels, which motion give To action's varied course ; Yet, when they no result achieve, Expend a useless force. Wishes are flowers which rashly blow Before their proper time ; No marvel oft they undergo A withering in their prime." Lord Ktnxoch. The evening was far advanced and drawing to a close at Adler-Schloss ; and the gaiety of the guests assembled there had, for the most part, increased with the advancing hour, as if they wished to make the most of the time y-et ■ remaining to them, for enjoying themselves to the utmost ; and it must be admitted that some of the gentlemen had become somewhat more noisy and uproarious than was quite consistent with good manners, having partaken freely of the Baron's hospitable cheer, both in eating and drinking— though not more so than the usage of the times allowed ; and the scene presented in the brilliant saloons had assumed more of the appearance of boisterous revelry, than, as earlier in the evening, simply that of social and orderly festivity.