Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mcljt?wi? ISt SUMTER WATCHMAN,^Established April,. 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let allene Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God'sJand Truth's." SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1894. THE TRUE SOUTH HON, Established Jone, 1566 New Series-Vol. XIV. No. 18. Pal^isied Srery Wednesday, -BY NY <3r. ?steen, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : Two Dollars per annum-io advance ADVERTISEMENT: One Square first insertion;......$1 00 5 very subsequent j o ser tion.... 50 Contracts for three months, or tonger will be made at reduced rates. AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. CHAPTER L THE 2XPD0IT OP FKITZ, THE MILLER. It is more than 500 years since this little valley and all the surrounding country were ruled over hy the good margrave, Otto the Hunter. Otto the Hunter was a brave man arms a^^^^Se^^Sf?r * in. tn?1 palati? nate, hot afterward he did fealty to the emperor and became one of his bosom j friends. He had three stalwart sons---* who have nothing to do with this story -and one only daughter, the blue eyed Ermentrude, a little fair haired child 12 years old, who was the light of her old father's eyes, and whom he hoped to marry Some day to some ' margrave "or elector. Now, in those days there were wolves in tiie Rhineland. Not many indeed, for his ancestors had pretty well hunted them down, hut in the ?old winter days they would sometimes steal ont of the Black forest and be seen prowling about in search of prey. The oldcastle of the margrave, which about a century afterward was battered into reins hy a French army; stood in those clays on a craggy hill overlooking the fair plain on which the city of Wolf steinberg now stands. Surrounding it was nothing but a noble stretch of woodland, where the great oaks and and Iheret diversified wi th* broad open glades, which the wild flowers in the . springtime turned into natural gardens. It was ?a one of these glades, exactly where the grand duke's new schloss is now standing, and cn the bank of the little stream that has now been used to form the artificial lake in the new park, that in those days Fritz, the miller, had his rude hut and his water wheel. Fritz Muller, as he was called, was a hale' and hearty man in the prime of life, and many and many a time did the lit? tle lady from the castle wander down, sometimes with her nurse, sometimes alone, to gather the wild flowers on the banks of the brook and watch the mill wheel and the rushing water that foamed beneath it Now, the margrave, among his other good and generous acts, had published a solemn decree on the subject of wolves. There were many knights within the confines of his territory who hunted the wild boar and the deer, and it occurred to him that if they would only be as zealous in destroying wolves as in bag? ging big game for their own tables it would be far better for the poor people whom he ruled. Otto was a friend of the poor. And the edict which he pub? lished about the wolves was to this ef? fect-that whoso should slay a wolf with his own hand should by that very act become the owner of the spot on which he spilled its blood and of one square acre roundabout, to hold unto himself and his heirs forever. And now came a great and terrible event It was a lovely November after? noon in what is called in Germany as well as England "all hallows' sum? mer, " when Fritz, the miller, was busy about his mill and moving carelessly to and fro among the piles of sacks that lay by his cabin door. He had been splitting wood for his winter-s fire, and his cleaving az was in his hand Sud? denly he heard a wild scream, and his blood ran cold, for the voice that pierced his ears was surely that of the little lady from the castle. He rushed to the door. Flying toward him, wi th her arms thrown forward and her long hair float? ing in the wind, was little Ermentrude, and a few yards behind her were three full grown wolves in hot pursuit Fritz dashed forward with the speed of thought He was just in time. His az was still grasped in his right hand, and he only just reached the child and snatched her -from the ground with his left at the very-moment when the wolves were making a fierce spring at her. In their headlong charge they swept right past, and Fritz, seeing a tree at some little distance in front, made for it and reached it before the wolves could check their course and turn round again. Fritz saw at a glance that there must be a fight for life. The wolves were splendid specimens of their breed, and he saw hunger and ferocity gleaming in their eyes. Planting himself with his back to the tree and his little charge pressed firmly against his left shoulder, he brandished his az above his head and waited for the attack. Headlong came on the wolves with their usual impetuosity, but happily in turning round they had scattered, and one was before the other. The first that made a spring at the miller received his deathblow right in the center of his forehead. The miller's nerves were I firm as steel, and he dealt the blows as truly as if he had been cleaving a log of i wood forjas, fire. But the.second wolf ! was"too quick for bim. Before he could bring his ax round again the wolf was at his throat His teeth grazed his flesh and fixed themselves in the leathern apron that was tied round his neck. This gave way, and down fell the wolf. Fritz took two steps to one side to give his arm room to strike, and with a quick blow half severed the brute's head from his body. But he had still to try con? clusions with the third, which was tho largest and fiercest of the three. When Fritz had first caught np the child, the third wolf's headlong speed had carried it far beyond its compan? ions, so that it came to the attack sev? eral seconds a^^bcfehof themhadfall? en. But "when it " did come it c?me'i? grim earnest With a fearful howl it leaped right at the brave miller's throat He stepped aside a little, causing.it to miss its aim, but as it dropped the brute caught his right hand in its mouth and bit it horribly. It again returned to the charge and this time managed to get hold of the miller's jerkin with its teeth, where it hung for a second or two, pendulous. The miller could not strike and was at a sad disadvantage because his left hand was firmly holding his precious charge, who never uttered one cry, but clung to his neck with trembling arms. But he shook himself free from his assailant, which, however, again and again renewed the attack, bounding up time after time, evidently with the purpose of seizing the miller by the throat and giving him no chance to make a fair blow with his weapon. All the time the brute was howling in a fearful manner, and the stout miller, whose blood was now flowing freely, was beginning to think that his hour was come. But the thought of the pre? cious charge that he sheltered on his shoulder buoyed up his courage, and' mustering all his strength he gave a sudden jerk to free himself from the beast, and running several yards turned round in a new position. With a ?avage howl the wolf rushed at him; again open mouthed, but this time the trusty ax ac* the true hand did With a savage howl the wolf rushed at him again. their work, and the red blood spurted into the air from a death wound be? tween the eyes. Thus did Fritz slay the three wolves, saving the little lady of the castle from a ghastly death and her father's noble house from bitter mourning. The fame of the deed flew far and wide, and the name of Fritz Muller was soon in all men's mouths. Bonfires were lit on ev? ery hill in Otto's territory to show the people's joy at the saving of his daugh? ter's life. Men and women came by hundreds from all parts to shake hands with the brave Fritz and congratulate him on his victory. Nor was the mar? grave behind his subjects in his grati? tude to the savior of his child. With noble warmth he pressed him to his bosom, peasant though he was, and told him that he had saved two lives, his daughter's and her father's, for if she had fallen a victim it would have brought his own gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. He at once gave orders far a wolf stone to be cut and set up on the spot where the deed was done, and for three acres to be measured round it to be handed over forever to Fritz Muller and his descendants. But here a little thing cropped up that marred the joy of all the people and for a time caused bad blood between the nobles and the peas? antry. The kaiser had lately renewed an old decree of the empire that no Ger? man soil could lawfully be held by any one but a German and a noble. Fritz, brave as he was, had no claim to belong to any but the peasant class, and the I great men who had the ear of the mar I grave took good care that he should not ! forget the law. And so it came to pass that the brave Fritz, though he saw the j wolf stone set up to commemorate his I deed, yet was debarred from the more ! substantial fruit of his victory by an j imperial law which was almost obsolete. But fate has sometimes in reserve a more than poetical justice, and after 450 years had passed away tho wolf stone was heard of again. CHAPTER IL FRITZ MULLET, THE COURT TAILOR Our story skips over several centuries. Tho social earthquake of the French revolution, which set up and pulled down so many royal houses, had left the dynasty of Wolfsteinberg untouched. The margrave of the day had been one of those who so unpatriotically assisted the great Napoleon, but the only reward that he received for his perfidy was the substitution of the grand ducal title for the time honored name of margrave. The old castle where Otto tho Good had lived his time had long been in ruins, and a new palace had gradually grown out of a hunting castle, built close to the spot where Fritz, the miller, had im? mortalized himself. Their serene high? nesses the first and second grar?d dukes had. enlarged and decorated it in the style "o? the period", and the burghers!)? the new city that grew up round about it thought that Versailles itself could hardly eclipse it But, alas! there was a very big skele? ton in the grand ducal cupboard. His serene highness was woefully in debt He owed money everywhere. He was in arrears with his soldiers, and his court musicians, and his purveyors, and his ministers. Above all, if the truth must be told, he was terribly in debt to his court tailor. He had not a large family to support, having only one son and one daughter, but they were both old enough to help their illustrious father in piling up a heap of bills. The heir apparent had achieved great success in that line both in Paris and in Vienna, and the beautiful Princess Gertrude, who had just reached her twenty-first year, was as clever in making debts as in making conquests. Her dresses were the wonder of her father's subjects; but, sad to say, none of them had been paid for. The court tailor was Heinrich Muller, the only son and successor of the late Herr Muller, who had made a consider? able fortune in military tailoring during the wars of Napoleon, and who had be? queathed to his son not only a handsome business, but a name which in one sense was as illustrious as that of the grand duke himself, for, although he was only a tradesman, he was the lineal de? scendant of the heroic Fritz, the miller, whose deed of valor I have already chronicled. Add to this that the present court tailor, Heinrich Muller, was a well educated and handsome young fel? low. He had studied at the University of Strasburg, and if a slight scar, which he got in one of his many duels there, took anything from his good looks it certainly made him more interesting and almost made up in popular opinion for his want of aristocratic blood. It was thought that when his old father died he would throw up the business and take a commission in the army; but, to the astonishment of every one, he did no such thing. He still continued to measure his serene master for panta? loons and the Princess Gertrude for rid? ing habits. If any one supposed, however, that Heinrich was without ambition, he was very much mistaken. It was often no? ticed how fond he was of getting into the great dining room at the schloss and feasting his eyes on .the picture of his brave ancestor slaying the wolves, and he had made a model of the old wolf stone in the park and placed it on top of the great china stove that stood in his workshop. Under the circumstances Heinrich Muller was a little bit of a mystery, but at last a rumor got abroad that struck every one dumb, and when it was car? ried by the prime minister, old Baron von Dernf eld, to the grand ducal ears his serene highness almost fell down in a fit It was said that the rich and handsome young tailor was in love with the Princess Gertruda There was a long and anxious confer? ence that night between the prime min? ister and the grand duke. The sun was already slanting his rays in at the win? dow before they separated; but, turn the matter over as they could, they found no sufficient answer to the terrible question, "What is to be done?" - CHAPTER HX WHAT IS TO BE DONE? The matter would have been easy enough to settle if it had not been for the horrible pile of bills that were due to the aspiring tailor. Now it was clear why he had been so accommodating. He had never once asked for a single mark. He had supplied suits for the grand ducal family, and court dresses for the servants, and theatrical dresses for the stage, and only a few months j before he had supplied new uniforms to all the army-about 62 privates and 30 I officers-without so much as a murmur. ! What was to be done? Baron von Dernfeld was a shrewd old man. In appearance he was not un? like a weasel, "?jut his blood was as blue as his master's, and be felt the terrible disgrace that threatened the grand du? cal house. He, was nearly 60 years old, and he had spent a tolerably long life in advising two successive grand dukes. He was a diplomatist, too, of the old school, and nobody appreciated more than he did the great diplomatic axiom that speech was given to man in order tp conceal his thoughts. He was rather slow in seeing his way in any emergency, but the reason of this per? haps was that his way wa3 always so roundabout that it took a very long time for his mind to get over the ground. Consequently it was not surprising that, although he had spent a whole night in discussing the great family difficulty with his serene master, he was as far from seeing his way out of it at the end as he was at the beginning. He had got far enough, however, to appreciate the situation in all its gravity. The princess was evidently in love with the tailor. Tho tailor was certain? ly rich and handsome, and the grand ? duke was certainly hopelessly in debt to j the tailor. But his diplomatic mind did not give up the great conundrum. For j several days he secluded himself in his | own apartments in the palace, and it was reported that he smoked more to- ! bacco and drank more beer during thoso days than he had done for many a long year before. But, as the old adage goes, all things come to those who wait, and at length a bright idea flashed into tho old minister's mind, and ho hurried away to tho grand ducal chamber to pour advice into his master's ear. It was to this eifect-the tailor must \ be dealt with diplomatically. Ho must j be treated with tho utmost cordiality, just as if his amorous designs were ut? terly unknown and unsuspected Tho bills must be all paid, not in the coin of ' . ?: 5 i: i! .&*?>**X> ?i For several days fcc secluded himse] his own apartments. . . the realm-for ?hat was impossib but in some other equivalent, forpri can give gifts which aspiring yo men who are not poor prize more t money. And when once the bills *v receipted in full then the audac: tailor should be duly kicked out of palace and the grand duchy. This the.baron's scheme. The grand duke fully indorsed his viser's opinion, as indeed he ah* did. It was therefore determined t the tailor should be smiled on, and t confidential pourparlers should be o men ced, with a view to induce the ta to forego his pecuniary claims in con elation of his being, made a "von. " No one who has not been in Germ can understand the boldness of 1 step* To be a "von" is to be a no! man, even though no title stands bef it It raises a man at once above ? class of bourgeoisie and places 1 among the aristocracy, and not o: himself, but all his children and Bcendants forever. Nay, more, lt ha backward as well as forward effect a ennobles his family, root and bram ancestors and descendants. Conseque] ly such a patent of nobility was and beyond price, and if the grand du could only bring himself to confer upon Heinrich Muller he would be m< than repaid for all that was owing him. It was, however, a bold and -a usual step to take, and Baron von Dei feld would scarcely have ventured make such a suggestion to the gra duke, even under the pressure , of t heaviest difficulties, if he had not be prepared to back it up by weighty dip! matic arguments. But this is how he reasoned: "Tl impudent tailor is secretly in love wi the Princess Gertrude. He fully und( stands that between him and her stan tho impassable gnlf that yawns betwe the common ?people and the nobility, we offer to create him a 'von, ' he w think that heaven itself is favoring 1 suit; that the chasm is about tobe fill* np, and that, when he is a real V< Muller he may be able with some ho; of success to declare his passion. V will make him a 'von, ' then, in order get out of his financial clutches, ai that once done leave the rest to us. " The scheme was not ill conceive Heinrich Muller had no inkling at a of what waa going forward, but if 1 had been a diplomatist he would hat suspected that some mischief was bret ing from the fact that both the grax duke and the minister were so extrao dinarily polite to him They smiled ! him whenever they passed him in the carriages, and the old baron actual] went down to the shop himself to 1 measured for a new court dress. Short] after a valet from the schloss Drong! him a command from his serene higl ness to be at the castle the next evenin after dinner. He obeyed and was clo eted for a short time with the prim minister and then for a short time wit the grand duke. Everything was ao ranged without a hitch. The ministe commenced by explaining that the hig character and education of Herr Mulle had evidently raised him high above hi position, and that his serene highnes had come to the conclusion that h could efficiently fill a court office if h would retire from all connection wit trade. The grand duke, therefore, hat for a long time contemplated asian; him to give np his present occupation for which there could be no further ne cessity, seeing how great was his wei known wealth, and thereupon conferring on him a diploma of nobility and creat ing him a "von." Only one difficult? stood in the way. His serene highnes felt bound in honor to liquidate all out standing liabilities to him before mak ing any such proposition; hut, to tel the candid truth, he began to fear ii would be several years before he woulc be able to do this in full. The prim? minister, therefore, anxious to be ol service to such a superior young mai] as Heinrich, took upon himself to lei him know what was designed for him, and in the interest of all concerned ven? tured to suggest that it would be far bet? ter for Heinrich, in view of his future career, which was certain to be distin? guished, to secure the honor at once. He could certainly do so if he would generously forego his pecuniary claims and give a receipt in full for all that was owing to him by the court Heinrich listened to all this with grave attention. There is no denying that his heart beat fast as he heard the unexpected good news. Willingly in? deed would he have paid thrice the sum that was owing tb him in order to become a "von," and without a mo? ment's hesitation he accepted tho offer. But he was not a simpleton. Ho took all thc courteous sayings of the old min? ister for exactly what they were worth, and as he shook hands with him at the conclusion of the bargain and was shown to tho grand duke's apartments he mentally told himself that the "no? ble scruples" and "long cherished in I tentions" of his serene highness were 1 fictions of the minist?res brain, and that, as a matter of fact, lie wasT>uyi his vonship with a certain number thousands of marks. The grand dt himself was all affability and condeso! sion, and it was agreed that in i course of a few days the patent of not ity should be drawn up and forma bestowed upon him, and that at i same time he should sign a receipt j all moneys due to himself or to his : ther. And now a curious circumstance < curred. During the few days tl elapsed between the promise of t grand duke and its performance He: rich Muller made a journey to the ci of Strasburg, where, it may be reme] bered, he had studied at the universii It was generally understood that he h gone there on business, and the prix minister and his master thought it on natural, _as Jie would no_doubt ha plenty of matters to arrange"IrTconiie tion with retiring from trade But, as matter of fact, Heinrich, as soon ever he found himself in the leam* city, betook himself, not to any trade man, but to a certain snuffy old gent! man named Dr. Schlippenhammer, man whose name was famous throng out the fatherland asa learned"juri and the highest living authority on'fe dal and imperial law. What passed, the long interviews between Heinric and the doctor need not here be. relate but suffice it to say that many?ancie: tomes were consulted and. com par? and the statutes of emperors and diet ranging over hundreds of years, we unearthed and pondered over. Aft three days Heinrich returned to Wol [steinberg, and it was observed by?evei ?one that he seemed brimful of'happ ness. On the day before he was su ramone ?to the palace to receive his patent.h< casually met Baron von Dernf eld in.ti park. They greeted each other mo* 'cordially. The old man was gushin and fatherly, the youngman was smi ing and full of reverence, butanpbsen ant bystander would have been puzzle to decide which had the more diplomat ic eye. _ CHAPTER IV. THE DIPLOMA OF NOBILITY. In due time his serene highness th Grand Duke of Wolf steinberg command ed the attendance of Heinrich Muller a the schloss. With a firm, quick step the young man hastened to obey th summons. The gorgeous lackeys of th palace, whose plush suits had been mad at his own expense, ushered him wit] great respect into the state dining room Heinrich was pleased at this, for th thought flashed through his mind tha nowhere could the scene that was to fol low be more appropriate than in tha great chamber where the heroic deed c his brave ancestor was commemorate* on the walL On entering the room hi found the grand duke and his prim? minister chatting quietly by the table Evidently the affair was tobe merely ai informal one. Perhaps Heinrich was ? little disappointed at this, for he nae thought that the grand duke might hav< made a court ceremonial of the affau and so. invested it with more dignity. But no matter. He was received witt quiet politeness-cool politeness woulc perhaps be more accurate. "His serene highness," said the ole baron, "has been graciously pleased tc frffi* his seal and signature to this doc? ument, whereby, in virtue of the righti and privileges granted to his house bj the Emperor Conrad TV, he is author ized to ennoble any of his subjects whe have done good service to the common? weal. It will now be my pleasing duty to countersign it, whilft you will have the goodness to place your signature to the receipt which I have here prepared for you." There was something so stiff and even hostile in the smoothness with which this was spoken that Heinrich's face grew very pale. For a moment he suspected treachery.. "Will you allow me, baron, to read the diploma?" "Certainly," said the minister, spreading it out on the table. Heinrich, with the quick eye of a student, read it from beginning to end. It was correct in every form. He felt sure that not even tho forensic acumen of his friend Dr. Schlippenhammer could have questioned its validity. He ran his eye over the receipt which had been prepared for his signature, and that also was correct. The minister handed a pen to Hein? rich, and taking another himself they each signed their names, Heinrich put? ting his to the receipt, thc baron coun? tersigning the diploma. "I think that business is finished, " said the baron, handing the receipt tc the grand duke. "Shall I now retire?'' said Heinrich, with equal coldness, folding up his di? ploma and placing it in his breast pocket. ' 'No, not quite yet, ' ' said the old bar? on, glancing quietly at the grand duke, who all the time had stood silently on one side, giving an occasional twirl to j his Napoleonic mustache, "not quite yet. To be candid with yon, Herr von Muller, this is a mere preliminary to the real business that we have to discuss together. " ' 'A preliminary, baron? Pray, explain your meaning!" "I will do so in the fewest possible words. You, sir, have up to the present time had certain heavy claims upon t?e house -of Wolfsteinberg.' Those.?claims are now paid off, and it is;my painful duty to charge you with an act of au? dacity which has determined our sove? reign to expel you from his dominions. " A.quiet smile stole over Heinrich's face as he said:- "Cfo an, baron. ?Pray goon." "We are not so blind, sir, as to be unaware of the.fact that you have taken advantage of your position as the court tailor" "I note your sarcasm, baron. Pray go on." "Taken advantage, I say, of your po? sition to try to win the affections of the Lady Gertrude, an act of insolence and audacity which is beyond pardon. I have only to say, therefore, in the name of his serene highness, that with? out a day's delay you must leave the grand duchy and'never venture to show your face here again. I hope you under? stand me We will now say good even? ing." "Yes," chimed in the grand duke, "you are a detected intriguer, and 1 give you fair warning that if you re? main in my capital more than four and twenty-hours I will order my officers to expel you by force. " With another twirl of his mustache the grand duke marched toward the door, followed by his prime minister, leaving Heinrich standing by the table. "Stay!" cried out Heinrich, still quiet and collected, but with a strange light in his gray eyes. "Your serene highness has been good enough to ex? press your views toma I have now a few views to express to you." Saying this, he stepped forward quickly and placed himself between his sovereign and tiie door. "You will have to hear me, and you may as well hear me at once." If all the German heroes who were painted on the wall had jumped down into the room, the grand duke and his minister could not have appeared more thunderstruck. "Donner und Blitz!" shouted the grand duke, laying his hand upon his sword "What does this mean?" "It means, your highness, that in the last half hour you and I have changed places. Do you know who I am?" "What in the name of heaven do you mean?" stammered the old baron. "Do you know, I ask, who I am, and do you know the feudal laws of Ger? many? But I see you are hopelessly in the dark. Look yonder to that fresco on the wall and tell me if you remember the deed of my great ancestor, Fritz, the miller?" "What do you mean, base born var? let?" cried the duke "What has that old legend to do with us?" "I am no longer base born," replied Heinrich. "I am a noble, with the patent of nobility in my possession, and not only all who come after me, but all who went before in my house, are noble Yonder hero, who slew the wolves on this very spot, was noble, and being noble this land and all that stands on it are his, and in his right I claim it This is no madness, sire This is the old law of the empire, and I will enforce it" "Great God," cried the grand duke as the gravity of the situation dawned upon him, "?can this be true, or is it all a hideous dream?" "Nay, more," continued Heinrich, "I have searched the feudal statutes of the last 400 years, and I find that, by a solemn decree issued at the time when the old castle of the margraves was de? stroyed and this schloss was erected in its stead, the margravate of Wolfstein berg was attached forever as a fief to the owner of this castle, so that, if I am the owner of Wolfsteinberg, as owner I surely am, I am also by that very fact margrave and grand duke I claim? therefore, that by my becoming a noble? man the only bar has been removed that stood between me and the throne, and that it is no longer you, but I who am the master here" The grand duke stood like a statue He was simply thunderstruck Even the old baron's diplomacy was at fault, and he was at a loss for words, when suddenly the dcor by which they were all grouped was opened, and in walked the Princess Gertrude "I have come to congratulate you," she said, with a beaming smile, "oh your new rank. I hope I am the first to do so." This was an awkward speech, for what Heinrich's rank at that moment precisely was perhaps no one was quite sure-not even the great Schlippenham nier. However, Heinrich accepted her prof? fered hand, and saluting it respectfully thanked her gravely for her good wishes. "Gertrude, " said tbs grand duke (if we may still give him rhis title), "we are engaged cu serious business. We have discovered some unexpected diffi? culties in our way. ' ' "Then, papa," replied the maiden, with a smile, "perhaps I can help to solve them. I know that you have deter? mined to get rid of Heinrich, but I may as well say now as later that for six months wo have been betrothed to one another, and nothing you can do ar.d nothing you can say will ever make me give him up. " A dead silence fell upon all the company at these firm and impas -?? ??--a--? ? Highest of all in Leavening Power.-Latest U. S. Gov't Report RoYal i^iP8 1 ABSOLUTELY PURE