The mountain Democrat., 1863-06-27

4 knew how it would be; if had heard
only one side | should have had no diff
Guilty in deciding, but now | am amazing
ly perplexed.
He pished and pshawcd; he looked up
to the ceiling and INwN 20 ~" a~e% IA
shook his weighty head and laid his tight
fOrefingar alongside of his enormous nose
But it was all in vain. His embarrassment
seemed to increase.
At last his glance rested upon Hugo,
who was endeavoring to screen himself
behind another servant. As he looked.
his pcrplexity vanished, and a cheerful
smile spread over his features.
Put Hugo in the stocks, he said.
But the steward ventured to say,
now can Hugo be wrong
Right or wrong, put Hugo in the
stocks
This happy thought satisfied the Ba-
ron's craving for punishment, and permit
ted the cold water Of prudence to extin
guiSh his desire Of intlctinS punishment
on the real culprit. The steward would
have still interceied for Hugo, but observ-
ing that his masters head was buried in
the tankard, he desiSted, knowing that the
Baron always sealed his acts as irreversi-
bic by draught Of ale.
Hugo was therefore conducted to the
stocks, and Albert dc Chose was allowed
to depart unmolested.
Long did the Baron cogitate as 10 what
was the cause of Abert'S intrusion into
his castle, but hour after hour elapsed
without his having gained an idea on the
subject. There was one person who could
have given him information, but of her he
did not think.
The Lady Isolda had been caused some
trepidation by the tilingS Of the capture
Of Albert. When, however, she heard
that lie had been allowed to leave the cas-
tie, she gave sigh Of relief, and proceed
cd to dress for dinner.
On that day the Baron and his daughter
dined together. During the first part Of
the meal they were silent At length the
Lady Isolda gently exclaimed:
MY fatherr
MY daughter = replied the Baron in a
voice hollow-nOt with emotion, but from
his mouth being then enveloped in the
tankard he had just empted.
i am sorry you let that inSolent Albert
dc Chose 90 this morning. DO you know
that he is one of nv lovers 2
'Isolda! said the Baron, pianissimo, in
a tone Of gentle reprOach.
Il dareSav You are at loss to discover
why he came here last night. He came
in order to sereuadc me-
'Isolda.!' exclaimed the Baron, Gre
sccndo.
Il have told him to meet me a: the
chapel, near the castle, this evening at
dusk
'Ioolda y roared the Baron, furioso.
Il need not tell you that do not intend
to keep the appointment
But why did you not inform me Of all
this before!
'MlilenIy reserve prevented me-
'Maidcnly fddic>tick!' exclaimed the
Baron, bouncing up aud kicking ser
want who happened to be in the room out
OF It.
Nov, papa said Tsoda, qretly, if you
won't be 50 extremely violent | will in
form you Of plan of mine which, | think,
is a good one. should like this Albert
dc Chose to be punished for his presump-
ton. You shall 60 to this place o! meet
ing instead of me. You shall rccapture
Albert. and Put him il your stocks. or
your dungeon, or do anything else you
Ike with him
The idea is not bad one, said the Ba
ron, much modified i will do as you
propose.
A. soon, therefore, as he had finished
hi, afternoon nap, he put on his armor,
snmInoucd lis retaiNcrS, amongst whom
was the unfortunate Hugo, released for the
occasion from the stocks, aud set ont,
chuckIinS at the ilea Of the unpleasant
surprise which he was about to give the
ainorouS Albert.
At the chapel waited Yeaux de Gro
SeilieS, leaning against the wall, with his
eyes shut and his arms folded. Had the
Baron put on his Spert1clcS As well AS his
armor, he would have seen that he had
made mistake in his man. As it was
he concluded tfat it was Albert that he
saw, and proceeded to recapturc him.
Ordering his retainers to di>per>e aud
gradually surround and approach the un
conscious man, he himself, accompanied
only by Hugo, walked steathily up to
hun. As soon AS he reached him hc ut
tered two exclamations expressive of sur
prise The first was:
why, he is asleep!
TIE second was:
WHY, it is YeauX de GroSeillee =
The second exclamation reused Yraux
de- Groseilles from his slumbers Not re-
cognizing the Baron, he made hostile
rush at him. The Baron prudently re-
treated, but in avoiding Charybdis he fell
into ScylIa.
Hugo, who was in the rear, burning
with resi- ntmcnt at the treatment he had
received that morning, was ntiicting ina
aginary castigation on his master by -four
| iShin. his foot within an iHch of the most
prominent part exposed TO him. The re-
treat of the Baron, to his diScomposure,
/ and the horror Of Hugo, made the casti
CATION real.
| The Baron, asSailed thus strenuouSly in
the rear, jumped forward, and Yeaux de
GroSeiles seized him by the nose.
why, this noSe,' CALCULATED Yeaux de
Groseiles, giving it a tweak in order to
satisfy himself Of its identity, must be-
long to the Baron de GrandmaraiS.'
Let it gon roared the Baron.
Yeaux de Groseilles accordingly releas-
ed it.
What brings you here p inquired the
! Baron.
We'll, to tell you the truth, answered
! Noonxy 10 GrAy.,lla.- tx.ifh onDffI,nfiol a.
nod. Il came to meet your pretty daugh-
ter
And Albert de Chose is not here-ha
an idea-let me think
The Baron cogitated profoundly for