Alfaleith.org

"We are at peace with Romans and Allemanns," he said at last, cautiously; "and we Thuringians do not fear the might of Cæsar. But thou thyself, as I perceive, wast in the neighborhood when the battle was fought, and thou hast since then avoided the villages of the Catts, who, as thou sayest, are inclined toward the Romans. I do not ask thee to whom thou hast wished the victory."

"I give information without questions," exclaimed the stranger, proudly. "I have not taken Roman pay."

A ray of kindliness shot from the eyes of the Chief. "Thou art not an Allemann," he said; "from thy speech thou art one of the children of our gods, who dwell far in the east."

"A Vandal from the Oder," replied the stranger, hastily.

"It is a far way from thy native land to the battlefield on the Rhine, wanderer. Have thy people sent any warriors to the fight?"

"I came to the Rhine without any of my countrymen. A bitter fate has driven me from the halls of my home."

"A bitter fate is the work of God, or of the perversity of man. May thy heart not be oppressed by what has caused thee to leave thy home!"

The stranger bowed his head gratefully. "The anxiety of the guest is to please his host; forgive me if I seek to learn what makes thee so familiar with the stranger. I have heard in my home, from a song of the minstrels, that in my father's time a hero from Thuringia fought among the warriors of my people against the Romans, far south by the Danube: Irmfried was his name."

The Prince drew himself up in his seat, and said: "His hand lay with a blessing on my head; he was my father."

"He became a blood-brother to a warrior of my people. When the Prince departed from my home, he with powerful hand broke in two a Roman gold piece, and left the half behind, that it might be a token of friendship for later generations. If the half of the gold piece is thine, the other is mine."

He held the bright bit of gold toward the Prince, who rose eagerly from his seat, and examined the piece at the light.

"Keep silence!" he exclaimed, imploringly. "Let no one speak a word. Go, Hildebrand, and carry to thy mistress this token, that she may put it to the other half, and tell her to be alone when I bring the stranger to her."

Hildebrand hastened out; the host drew near to the guest, and regarded him with astonishment from head to foot.

"Who art thou, man, that bringest so high a greeting to our house?" then, joyfulling continuing, "There is no need to seek for a token; ever since thou hast passed the threshold thou hast stirred my heart. Come with me, thou hero, that thou mayest tell me thy name, where both halves of the secret token will be joined." He stepped hastily forward; the stranger followed.

<< Previous Page | Back | Next Page >>