Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-07


Peter Bloch did not cara a straw for
music. nor, in fact, know anything about it
beyond K.trina's hand organ, Inherited
from her father, on which. N the quiet
evenings VIII n their work Was done,
she was accustomed to grind ex.
traordinsry sounds 70 marvellous tunes,
Peter rather liked this organ; it
soothed him and gave him q pleasant,
dFowsy, home-feeling; and now, when ne
heard harp skillfully played upon by the
castle minstrel IN al adj )ining apartment,
he thought it greatly lack d the Charm oil
K4trina's hand-organ.
81 don't care for music" quoth the
Count, indifferently, "uniess a bright
idea occurred 10 him" unless the LAZY
Hildegarde Adelberga kosalinden Will
play"
in privatei My LADY Is not accustomed to
show herself at all times -nelthfr To en-
terrain suitors, save on suitable occasions.
I pray you, my Lord Count reflect"
But the Lord Count wouldn't reflect.
All that he knew was that he was Count
Won sch altZschofcnsburgh, and that he
as in his own castle, where every one was
bound to obey him wherefore he sent his
page with message demanding the pres
ence of the Lady Hildegarde. In fact, he
remembered her beauty, and that she was
his bethrothed; and his heart began to
warm toward her, insomuch that he re-
fused to listen 10 any excuse OF the
Lady, 80 earnestly did he desire her pres
eDce, and to gaze upon the lovli-
ness Of which he had hitherto been ia
vored with but distant glimpse.
SO the Lady HiIdegarde Adelberga
Rosalinden came, flushed and naughty,
followed by her maideDs bearing harpsi.
chord. Count Peter Bloch felt little in
awe of her magnificence, until rejecting
that he was a rich and handsome Count,
and the future lord Of the naughty beauty,
he gradually gathered courage to com.
mence love making. This he did in his
own way, as be had been accustomed with
Katrina He stole to seat by the lady's
side, put his arm around her waist, pinched
her cheek, and bestowed upon her rosy
lips resounding smack, designed TO ex-
press admiration and respectful homage
The Lady Hildegarde Adelberga sprang
TO her feet with Shrek, whereat every
body within hearing rushed into the
apartment. Her relative, the old
Baron Bluffenburg, on being informed
of what had occurred, half drew his
sword, but put il up again. For was not
the Count in his own castley And was
not the fair lady his betrothed? And,
most of all, was not the Count more pow
erful than he' Wherefore, though highly
indignant, the burly Baron prudensly re-
strained himself.
"The Count Is brute y" said the Baron
10 the other guests who had been invited
TO the feast. And they all agreed with
him.
AS to the Count himself, he concluded
that the Lady Hildegarle was excessively
silly and absurd and that he would prefer
KatIina's simple good sense and honest af-
lection any day.
In due time the feast was announced to
be Ia readiness and the noble Count and
his guests were ushered into the banquet
ing hall. The Counts appetite had par
italy returned, but he looked with dis
favor on the drink and food before him.
"To what shall have the honor of as
listing my Lord Count! p inquired the head
steward, humbly.
Beer" said the Lord Count. Whereat
the butler stood sghast.
1.-THE Count is fool" said the butler
to the chief henchman, who nodded as
sent.
"Cheese," continued his highness;
"and sauerkraut!" And the steward
turned pale.
"There IS no question Of it," he com
municated in confidence 10 the chief cook.
1.-THE Lord Count is undoubtedly mad"
mad as March hare" assented the
chief cook, licking the boar head fat
from his fingers. And all the turn-spits
and solutions looked at each other and
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 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 Standardization to i'm
mediate and mortal combat; by reason of
the still unsettled feud that had existed be-
tween the said Baron Breckienech and
the late Count Won Schwalizschoffens
burgh. And unless this challenge were i'm
mediately and promptly responded to, he,
the said valiant Baron Breckisnech, would
straightway assault the castle, hang the
Count from the highest tower, cut of the
heads of the seneschal and the
warder thereof, and with those bloody
trophies adorn the bastions of the main
gateway. $50 mought it be concluded
the herald, solemnly.
The whole castle was now in dismay
and confusion. All looked to the valor of
the Count for salvation, and no time
was lost in bringing his armor and buck
ling 1t upon his trembling limbs,
"I-I am not well enough to fight"
gasped the Count feebly. Whereupon his
highness's medical advisers were sum
moned
1.-THE Lord Count is perfectly WE'LL"
said the chief physician, feeling his pulse.
Perfectly well," echoed the assistant
physician, 0 examining his tongue.
=" But IL can't fight" said the Count,
grasping the huge sword as thought were
charcoal rake.
my Lord must try said the master-at.
arms, sternly.
"The Lord Count is coward" said all
the men-at arms and retainers, in disgust
whilst the seneschal and the warder, rub
bing their threats, earnestly urged upon
the Count expedition. But the Count
wouldn't hurry.