South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-01

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!. As to the Count himself, he concluded
that the. Lady Hildegarie was excessively
silly and absurd; and that he would prefer
} Katrina's simple good sense and honest af-
fiction any day.
! l. In due time the feast was announced to
be il readiness, and the noble Count and
his guests were ushered into the banquet
ing-hall. The Counts appetite had spar
TALLY returned, but he looked with dis
favor on the drink and food before him.
ITO what shall have the honor of as
6 sting my Lord.C Count inquired the head
steward, humbly.
"Beeri" said the Lord Count. Whereat
the butler stood aghast.
"The Count is fool" said the butler
to the chief henchman, who nodded as
sent.
"Cheese" continued his highness; /;
"and sauerkrautp And the steward
turned pale.
"There is no question of IT," he com
municated in confidence 10 the chief cook.
"The Lord Count is undoubtedly mad" :
"Msd as March hare" assented tie
chief cook, licking the boar's-head fat
from his fingers. And all the turn-spits
shook their heads.
The banquet was but half over, when
suddenly the loud blast Of a trumpet
sounded without, and the whole company
sprang from their seats and rushed upon
the battlements.
| There, in front of the portcullis, appear
ed gigantic horseman, clad in complete
armor, with a large armed retinue behind,
and in front a herald, who trumpeted
forth, in the name of the valiant Baron
Breckisnech, naughty defiance to the
Count Won Schwaltzschoffensbu to i'm
mediate and mortal combat; by reason of
the still unsettled feud that had existed be-
tween the said Baron Breckisnech and
the late Count Won SchwaltZschofens-
burgh. And unless this challenge were i'm
mediately and promptly responded to, he,
the said valiant Baron Breckisnech, would
stTaightway assault the castle, hang the
Count from the highest tower, cut off the
heads of the seneschal and the
warder thereof, and with those bloody
trophies adorn the bastiOns of the main
gateway. $50 mought it bel" concluded
the herald, solemnly.
The whole castle was now in dismsy
and confusion. All looked to the valor of
the Count for salvation, and no time
ling it upon his trembling limbs.
I'll am not well enough to fight"
gasped the Count, feebly. Whereupon his
highness's medical advisers were sum-
moned.
"The Lord Count is perfectly WELL"
said the chief physician, feeling his pulse. |
Perfectly WELL" echoed the assistant |
physician, examining his tongue.
But IL can't fight" said the Count, |
grasping the huge sword as though it were |
a charcoal rake.
any Lord must try" said the master-at-
arms, sternly.
"The Lord Count is a coward" said all
the men-at-srms and retainers, in disgust;
whilst the seneschal and the warder, rub.
bing their throats, earnestly urged upon
the Count expedition. But the Count
wouldn't hurry.
al can't fight" he said. "My health
won't allow of it."
"You must fight" said the Baron Bluff
fenburg. "Your honor demands it."
81 won't fight" said the Count, desper-
ately.
"You shall fight" said the Baron, reso-
lutely.
So the Baron took him by the arm ard
led him toward the gates, and when he
resisted, the master alarms took his other
arm, and the seneschal and the warden
pushed behind, and SO they dragged and
pushed him out at the gateway and across
the draw-bridge, until he stood face to face
with the valiant Baron Breckisnech, who
advanced, sword in hand, to the encoun-
ter.
The next moment Peter Bloch felt
sharp burning pain in his breast as the
Baron's blade went through him He
grew blind, and dizzy, grasped wildly at
his own sword, and fell.
Consciousness returned slowly to Peter
Bloch.
He looked around and saw, to his great
surprise and joy, that he was in his own
little cottage in the forest He smelled
the fresh resinous Odor of the fr-trees, he
heard the grunting of the pigs in the sty,
and he saw from the open window the
charcoal -kilns and the cabbage garden;
and sweeter than these to his delighted
eyes was the plump, rosy face of Katrina,
who, close behind him, was making a
goat'smilk posset, into which her tears
slowly fell.
"Ach himnlel p said Katrina, kissing him
tenderly on either cheek; "but he knows
me now; he is wellp
"How was it ?" asked Peter, heartily re-
turning the salute and staring around.
1--WE found you lying senseless under
the fir-tree, where | left you sitting when
you refused your dinner" answered Ka-
trina, soberly.
Like the fool I was" muttered Peter.
"And you have been so strange ever
since, naeiR Peter: asking for a little wine,
and inquiring about the Lady Hide
garde.'"
"Ahi" muttered Peter Bloch to him
self, "that was the Count Won Schwaltz-
schofensburgh. He was here in my body
whilst | occupied his, or-or have / been
l wonder?"
"HOw did it happen ?" inquired Katrina,
in her turn. There was an awful smell
of birthstone about the fir-tree, so old
Gottlieb just now thought it best to brand
the cross upon your breast, to preserve
you from the power of the Evil One. ..
Here is the mark, yOd see. Did you feel
the burn? 1t was that which aroused
you"
"And it was that which also saved !
me-" said Peter. "That Baron Breckis-
mech, in his black armor, was the very
man saw beneath the fir-tree this morn /:
ing. l knew him before he let down his
visor and rushed upon me. He thought
to have me, did he, body and soul? But )
the cross saved me; aeh, Got! the cross
saved me-"
hdIIlHd tnOugnI Nun dreaming SILL. :
And whether or not it was dream, Peter
Bloch was never to his dying day, able to
decide. OF one thing only was he posi- :
lively sure-and that was that he was ! !
much happier as Peter Bloch, the char
coal burner, with his wife Katrina, than he
could ever have been as the Count Won I
Schwaltzschofensburgh and the husband !
Of the Lady Hildegarde. Probably Ma
ture, of whom he had complained, knew
this when she chose for his soul a cor
body and station in life. She
knows what is best for us, after ALL :
Scribner's Monthly.
A NEW York wholesale grocer who has {
become rich in his business, lately gave !
One of his fundamental rules of action. 1
When he sold bill of goods on credit it y
was his custom to Immediately subscribe l
Tor the local paper of his debtor. So long |
IS his customer advertised literally and v
he rested, but as soon as he be- T
gan to contract his advertising space he '
.ook the fact as evidence that there was {
.rouble ahead, and he invariably went for ;