Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-05-12

| DEAD man ]!
| looked down. About fifty feet belo,
me stood the Baron, with candle in ont
hand and double barrelled pistol in tn
other
"Why, my dear sir, you are crazy
Please put up your pistol; do not lik
such practical jokes p cried I, with
forced laugh.
practical joke, ha ha hal It's MOI
a practical joke, but stern reality. Pv
got you in trap, sir % answered he, fas
tening the candle to the railing.
quickly passed my hand into my Goa
pocket. A cry ofterror escaped my lips
my bowie-knife and revolver were gone
The Englishman perceived my motions
4" made sure of that" cried he, in a tri
umphant tone; 81 took your weapon
! while you looked through my telescope
1t was my only means of preventing yoi
| from killing yourself We have to fiy
hy-yes, fly, my man Gc.ss = -7e
| What did he mean by the word " fly ~
i / knew that had to deal with mailman
and the best way to deceive such peopl,
| was by ehumoring them. So l said, al
calmly as was able:
Baron, you promised to relate to me 6
story"
he loudly; "but first will prepare ouI
With these words he took q glass box
from the basketand placed it in niche
close to the. foot of the stairs; then he
took out hammer, which he laid beside
it. . With his left hand he kept hold of his
pistol. Now is my time, thought 1, as he
was bending down. 1 jumped down
three steps at the time, but ere could
reach him he had risen and fired.
The bullet grazed my temple, rendering
me insensible.
When 1 awoke was lying upon the
third step, nearthe top of the first stair
case, .
"Ah, you have slept P' were the first
words that struck upon my ear.
/ looked down. Part of the lower steps
were gone, showing only a black chasm,
into which the feeble rays of the candle
could not penetrate.
Near by the aperture stood the Baron,
with iendish delight depicted upon his
face.
Look at this candle, sirl Do you see
anything unusual ~ "a
nodded my head up and down-my
tongue seemed to refuse to utter the word
" yes" i'sJi2 Ae 2" ~ $50
Idistinctly saw three black rings around
the transparent wax-candle. They were
at equal distance from each other. f" This
candle viii go out at the expiration of
forty five minutes. Each ring represents
fifteen minutes. I have plenty of time
left to relate to you the tale of faithful
woman. Will you promise to listen ?"
What else could dop Ipromised.
Perhaps some one might be attracted by
the light and release me from my perilous
position. Besides, I had q hope that when
the candle went out could find some
means to elude his vigilance.
/" After have related my true story, we
will fly, yes, fiyl" continued he with a
chuekle.s fn
Again. he mentioned the word " fly"
What could he mean?
" But first have to get seat feel
tired, /" muttered he. Yet the tones Of his |
voice came distinctly to my, ears
He put his hands into the chasm and !
irew from it a black, oblong box, that |
o0ked like coffin, upon which he seated |
aimself The pistol was within his reach, |
or I saw the glitter Of the polished steel
1afrel. q eitu'J -
He looked straight at me, and the light |
If the candle shone full upon his distorted |
ace as he began his narrative.
z s. About two years ago I attended a /
grand reception in the king's palace in
Munich. There I became, acquainted with |
Eleanor, the daughter of General 1t |
q not necessary to describe her beauty, |
tor you know, her welln
He paused. ,-..f
l.
If ..t 1s- r1.r4
"Silence p interrupted he +; !" do not |
mention her name. You know her well; /; |
hats sufficient for the present. Now |
listen. became her slave; I followed |
ler everywhere; asked her to marry |
ne She scorned my ofer-she loved an
other. He'll and turies that other was a
ooor miserable student. You know his
name p
-. .1a-..l.o5 IA, ha,ds T |
Jared not to contradict him : I only shook |
my head in the negative. 80 y2a5
Yes, you know him WE'LL / sent one |
If my agents to him with the offer of a |
arge sum ofmoney if he would leave Bava-
ia and never write to her except what l /
would dictate to him. He scornfully re-
used my offer, and threw, my agent out |
# the window. / caused the arrest of the
can do almost every
hing. The student was tried and SEN
eneed to ten years in the penitentiary.
boldly refused to give anv reason why
he had thrown the agent out of the |
window. He. said that he only resented
in insult.
ga few days before the time appointed
% remove the prisoner to the penitentia-
y Irsent another well paid agent of mine
o visit the convict. Prison diet and
lose confinement had tanned the fiery
CLpcI Ol buC SbUuCAbs AlC pAOAAASCU w
write letter to the Generals daughter,
eleasing her from her promise to be-
.ome his wife Next day had the letter
n my hand, and on the following evening
he student was free and on his way 10
,arts unknown. My money had
riumphed over prison bars; gold had
Melted the convict's iron fetters.7
81 caused the letter to be sent to her.
Five days after I called and again
sked her to become my wife. She looked.
,ale, she trembled, yet she gave her con-
ent. The General had not the least OBJ
ection to our union, for was Baron,
vas rich, and. consequently able and
Wiling to pay his debts, in which Ito use
common expression) he was stuck over
lead and ears.
We were married. During our we'd
ing tour she scarcely spoke a word. I
sked her the reason Of her silence.
"' My body belongs to you. My actions
re under your control, but my thoughts
re free = These were her very words.
"One day we arrived at Bruckenau.
The landlord of the Red Lions Inn told
ne about a Roman tower. am very fond
# relics of the past. Therefore made
Up my mind to visit the tower. My wife
at the hotel. She said she had
headache. l4 tEct o
"The view from the tower justified
he praise of the landlord; it was mag
lificent
UOn NV retrrnT 7 found NV xpifa with