🧚 Legends and Tales., part 3 · page 2

Another legend relates how a wealthy countryman had lent an Earl von Regenstein a large sum of money, but when he came to demand payment was repulsed with scorn and derision.64 Soon after the Earl did not return from a predatory excursion, and many singular reports were circulated concerning his death.65 The countryman hoped for payment from the Earl's heir, but he treated him more roughly than his predecessor had done.66 The creditor, on his way home, heard suddenly a loud noise like the crackling of flames.67 He looked around and saw a cleft in the mountain, from which issued smoke.68 He went and looked in.69 It was the mouth of a cave, in the deeps of which pitch and sulphur flames with loud hissing enveloped each other, and in the midst of this fire-gulf he saw a human form, over which the flames swept without consuming it, and which sought, wailing and moaning, to escape, but fell ever back into the boiling heat, with wringing of hands and tearing of hair.70

He soon recognized the Earl, who after some minutes saw the creditor whom he had cheated at the entrance to the cave, and broke out in lamentations and entreaties.71

"Oh! see how I must suffer for my injustice.72 Have pity on my anguish, forgive my crime.73 Take my signet ring, go to my successor, tell him what you have seen, warn him not to act as I have done, and to pay my debt, that I may escape from this bed of flames."74

The countryman hastened to fulfil the commission, showing the signet ring.75 He was at once paid with heavy interest, and the castle chaplain received orders to read a mass for the suffering soul.76

On his way home the countryman looked again into the cave, but nothing more was to be seen either of the flames or the guilty Earl.77

The Spectre Maiden of the Regenstein still haunts the ruins.78

How solemnly the old ruinated fortress looks down upon the plain bathed in the rich lights of sunset.79 And around the walls and the tower sighs a spirit, and sighs the storm.80

Let thy stay there be short and cautious, for the ruins are haunted by night.81 A maiden form rises from the dark vault, and wanders to the tower, and to the great gates, and an innocent countenance smiles upon thee.82 Guard thyself well, O wanderer; gaze not so deep in the mournful eyes; it is the Spectre-Maiden.83 She bows to thee in graceful greeting, she offers thee the full lips to kiss, she beckons, she spreads out the arms.84 Oh, follow her not!85 Her breath is poison!86 If thou grant her the kiss, thou wilt fall an irrecoverable prey to death.87 Her greeting, her beckon, are not for thee; she waits here for her lover.88

As Crusader, he marched to the Holy Sepulchre.89 She is gazing after him from the tower, waiting for his return by the broken drawbridge, and wanders ever in search of him.90

If she meet thee, she will fancy thou art her fallen hero-lover.91 If thou dost follow when she beckons, she will draw thee into an open grave with ice-cold arms.92

Oh! guard thyself well when in her sight, For she haunts the Regenstein by night!93

The Lost Sketch-Book of the Regenstein Chapel.94

The Baronin von Felsen had led her young English friend, May Rosenmore, through the ruins of Schloss Regenstein, the authentic history of which begins with Kaiser Henry the Fowler, till at last they wandered to the tiny roofless chapel.95

As May entered it through the Gothic door, scarcely high enough to pass under without stooping, the first object on which her eyes fell was a crimson morocco sketch-book, closing like a pocket-book, nearly filled with sketches.96

The last two sketches were--first, an arbour, in which a lady and gentleman are seated; the lady is arranging roses from a basket before her, while her companion reads to her.97 The last sketch is the empty arbour; the book lies open upside-down on the table, the roses are fallen on the ground.98 In the pocket was a photo of a lady and gentleman together, the latter in officer's uniform.99

"What a contrast to these grim ruins, with all their legendary memories, is this elegant scrap of modern art!" exclaimed May. "100 I am sure there is some sad history associated with this little book.101 Perhaps I may find the owner."102

"Warum nicht?" replied the Baronin. "103 The woman in the Bible found her piece of silver, the shepherd his lost sheep, Saul found his father's ass, Jochebed found her baby, Joseph found his brethren, poor old Jacob found his long-lost Joseph, and the loser of this sketch-book may be as fortunate."104

A few days after this event the Baronin gave a _Kaffee_ to a large Gesellschaft, in the park of Schloss Stolzstein.105 The company sat grouped here and there under the clumps of old beeches and oaks, the deer cast their shadows in the clear lake, graced with swans, and somewhere in the background the music of a military Capelle floated softly on the air.106

May Rosenmore amused herself with a study of the varied characters present, and with German manners, which were new to her.107

A maiden lady, the Baronin von Schattenthal, who was staying at the Castle with her young orphan niece, interested her with her quaint humour and sound common sense.108

Little Amalia came out with her attendant to her aunt.109 She was a lovely child, with long auburn curls, and a dash of the French character, for her mother was a Pole.110

Finding that her aunt paid no attention to her toilette nor her curls, Amalia finally whispered, "See, Tante, Gretchen has curled my hair."111

"I see, my dear," said the Baronin; "but it will do you no harm if your hair does curl, if you are a good little girl."112

Amalia's crestfallen, puzzled look as she walked away were amusing enough.113

Soon after she came back with a very knotty question.114

"Tante, could all our family ride on an elephant at once?115 Gretchen says they _could_."116

"Yes, child, several small families could ride on an elephant at once."117

But May was not left long at leisure to amuse herself with the pretty child.118

Her hostess brought and introduced to her Baron von Stammnitz, fresh from the Heidelberg University.119 She soon found, however, that he was possessed of much finer cultivated hair and moustache than mind.120 He had dipped a little into the natural sciences, and learned a smattering of some of the absurdities of German Pantheism, and held himself competent to solve the mysteries of creation, and moral relations, of the universe and of mind, much better than the old-fashioned Moses and the Prophets, or St. Paul.121

It is this false moral training of the students of Germany that will prove one of her greatest dangers in the future.122

Baron von Stammnitz had studied English, and began at once to edify May by airing it.123 She expressed her admiration of the Harz, its history and legends.124

He replied, "Yes, the Harz is highly interesting, but chiefly so through its old leg-ends."125