The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-09-15

I
he ate and drank his fill, until with
the last mouthful of pie a deadly
sickness came over him, and he was
compelled, with tAe assistance Of the
servants, to effect a hasty retreat
from the table. And then he fell on
his bed and slept the sleep of him who
has drank too freely.
The steward and butler elevated
the whites of their little eyes and the
pinks oftheir little hands and looked
at each other.
"My lord is a gluttonp gasped
the steward.
"My lord count is a drunkard,
wheezed the butler.
And all the henchmen and pages
agreed with those two.
AS for the Lord Counts own fol-
lowers, they did not know what to
think. Never before had they seen
his temperate highness eat and drink
like this.
In about two hours Peter Bloch
that is, the Count Won SWaltzchof-
ensburgh-aWoke, feeling dull and
heavy.
81 don't like this" muttered the
Count. "Inever felt like this when
1 was Peter Bloch" And he sighed.
"What would my noble Lord
CountF' queried the page of the
chamber, bowing low before him.
The Count scratched his head and
reflected. He had enough to eat
and drink-also sleep sufficient;
and he was at loss what more to de-
sire.
"Will it please my Lord to take a
bathY'
The Count Peter submitted. He
was not in the habit of taking baths,
and now thought it very unnecessary
and disagreeable, and when it was
over, made up his mind to take no
more. Then he yawned, and won
dered what else he would do. He
felt very much inclined to step out
and take look at his pigs and cab
bages-a thing which had always af-
fOrded him a certain pleasure and
satisfaction. But he remembered
with a half sigh, that there were no
pigs and cabbages.
"Wil it please my Lords highness
to have musicp' suggested the atten-
tive page, observing his lords air of
eRR1i.
Peter Bloch. did not care a straw
for music, OF, in fact, know anything
about it, except on Katrina's hand
organ, inherited from her father, on
which, in the quiet evenings, when
their work was done, she was accus-
toned to grind extraordinary sounds
to marvellous tunes. Peter rather
liked this organ; it soothed him, and
gave him a pleasant, drowsy home
feeling; and now, when he heard the
harp skilfully played upon by the
castle minstrel in an adjoining apart
ment, he thought it greatly lacked
the charm of Katrina's hand organ.
81 don't care for music" quoth
the Count, indiferently, "unless-
q bright idea occurred to him-"un-
less the Lady Hildegarde Adelber-
ga Rosalinden will play"
"But my Lord Count, at this
hour-and in private! My lady is
not accustomed to show herself at
all times-neither to entertain suit
ors, save on suitable occasions. I
pray you, my Lord Count, reflect"
But the Lord Count wouldn't re-
fleet. All that he knew was, that he
was Count Won Schwaltzchofens-
burgh, and that he was in his own
castle, where every one was bound
to obey him; wherefore he sent his
page with a message demanding the
presence of the Lady Hildegrade.
In fact, he remembered her beauty
and that she was his betrothed; and
his heart began to warm toward her,
insomuch that he refused to listen
to any excuse of the Lady, so earn
estly did he desire her presence, and
to gaze upon the loYelinesss of
which he had hitherto been favored
with but a distant glimpse.
So the Lady Hildegarde Adel-
berga Rosalinden came, flushed and
naughty, followed by her maidens
bearing a harpsichord. Count Pc
ter Bloch felt little in awe of her
magnifcance, until rejecting that he
was 8 rich and handsome Count,
and the future lord of the naughty
beauty, he gradually gathered cour-
age to commence loYe-making.
This he did in his own way, as he
had been accustomed with Katrina.
He stole seat by the Lady's side,
put his arm around her waist,
pinched her cheek, and bestowed
upon her rosy lips a resounding
smack, designed to express admira-
tion and respectful homage.
The Lady Hildegard Adelberga
sprang to her feet with a shrek
whereat everybody within hearing
rushed into the apartment. Her rel
ative, the old Baron Blufenburg, on
being informed of what had occur
red, half drew his sword, but put it
up again. For was not the Count
in his own castle? And was not the
fair Lady his betrothed? And, most
of all, was not the Count more pow
erful than he2 Wherefore, though
highly indignant, the burly Baron
prudently restrained himself.
'The Count is a brute!" said the
Baron to the other guests who had
been invited to the feast. And they
all agreed with him.
As to the Count himself, he con
cluded that the Lady Hildegarde
was excessively silly and absurd
and that he would prefer Katrina'i
simple good sense and honest affec.
tion any day.
In due time the feast was an
nounced to be in readiness, and the
noble Count and his guests were
ushered into the banqueting hall
The Counts appetite had partially
returned, but he looked with dlsia-
vor on the drink and food before
him.
aTo what shall I have the honor
of assisting my Lord Countr in
ouired the head steward, humbly.
'BeerY' said the Lord Count
Wbereat the butler stood aghast.
aThe Count is foo" said the
Ibutler to the chief henchman, who
nodded assent.
@Cbeeser' continued his bighness; ;