The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-09-08

had partially returned, but he looked
with disfavor on the drink and food
before him.
"To what shall have the honor of
assisting my Lord Count ?" inquired the
head steward, humbly.
Beer?" said the Lord Count. Where
at the butler stood aghast.
"The Count is FOOL" said the butler
to the chief henchman, who nodded
assent.
"Cheese ~ continued his highness /;
land sauerkraut ~ And the the stew
ard turned pale.
"There is no question Of it," he COM
municated in confidence to the chief
cook, "The Lord Count is undoubtedly
mad"
"Mad as a 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 trumpet
sounded without, and the whole COM
pany sprang from their seats and rushed
upon the battlements.
There in front of the portcullis, APP
peared a 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, a
naughty defiance to the Count Won
Observation-Disclosures to immediate
and mortal combat; by reason of the
still unsettled feud that had existed
between the said Baron Breckisnech
and the late Count Won Schwaltzschof.
fensburgh. And unless this challenge
were Immediately and promptly res,
pended to, he, the said valiant Baron
Breckisnech, would straightway 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 dsmay
and confusion. All looked to the valor
of the Count for salvation, and no time
was lost in bringing his armor and
buckling it upon his trembling limbs.
CT am not we'll enough to fight
gasped the Count, feebly. Whereupon
his highness's medical advisers were
summoned.
"The Lord Count is perfectly WE'LL"
said the chief physician, feeling his
pulse.
Perfectly WE'LL" echoed the assistant
physician, examining his tongue.
"But II can't fight" said the
Count, grasping the huge sword as
though it were charcoal rake.
My lord must try" said the master
alarms, sternly.
"The Lord Count is coward" said
all the menat-arms and retainers, in
disgust whilst the seneschal and the
warder, rubbed their threats, earnestly
urged upon the Count expedition. But
the Count wouldn't hurry.
" | can't fight" he said. My health
won't allow it.
You must fight" said the Baron
Bluffenburg. "Your honor demands it."
" won't fight" said the Count des-
perately.
You shall fight" said the Baron,
Jesolutely.
So the Baron took him by the arm
and led him towards the gates, and
when he resisted, the master-at- arms
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 adj.
vanced, 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 retired 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
fir-trees, he heard the grunting of the
pigs in the sty, and he saw from an
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 beside
him was making a goat's-milk posset,
lHtO WHICH neT tears SLOWLY ItlI.
Ach, himmelW said Katrina, kissing
him tenderly on either cheek E" but he
knows me now he is well y
"How was it? asked Peter, heartily
returning the salute and staring around
" We found you lying senscless under
the fir-tree, where l left you sitting
when you refused your dinner" an
swered Katrina, soberly.
Like the fool | was" muttered
Peter.
"And you have been so strange ever
since, mem Peter; asking for a little
wine, and inquiring about the Lady
Hildegarde."
All y muttered Peter Bloch to him.
self, 60 that was the Count Won Schwaltz-
schoffensburgh He was here in my body
whilst | occupied his, or-or have been
dreaming, wonder p
g How did it happen ?" inquired Kat.
rina, in her turn. "There was an aw.
full smell of birthstone about the fir
tree, so old Gottlieb just now thought
it best to brand the mark of the cross
upon your breast, to preserve you from
the power Of the Evil One. Here is the
mark, you see. Did you feel the burn?
| Iot MI, IL,