The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-28
New York Sum-
Old Twenty Flasks.
CHAPTER I.

many other admirable qualities. He was q
genial, whole-souled, public-spirited gentle-
man, and robbed, murdered, burned, pilaged,
and drove up the steep sides of the Weinslein
his neighbors' cattle, wives and sisters, with
nearly bonhomie that won for him the I'M
affected esteem OF his contemporaries.
j.. One evening the good Baron sat alone in
Inc great hall o1Weinstein. in particularly
happy mood. He had dined well, as was his
habit, and twenty empty bottles stood be-
lore him IN a row upon the table, like train
OF dellghtful memories of the recent past,
But the Baron had another reason 10 be sat
isfied with himself and with the world. The
conciousness that he had that day become
parent Lit up his counteDance with a tender
glow that mere wine cannot lmpart.
what hol without! Hi Seneschalp' he
presently shouted in tone that made the
twenty empty bottles ring as if they were
musical glasses, while score of suits of bis
ancestors amor banging around the walls
gave out IN accompaniment a deep metallic
bass. The Seneschal was speedily at his
side.
"Seneschal," said Old Twenty Fiasks.
"you gave me to understand that the BaIon-
ness was doing finely.' ..s
81 am told" replied the Seneschal, "that
her la6yship is doing as well as could be ex-
pected."
q, Tue Baron unused in silence for a moment,
abseDtly regarding the empty bottles. "Yon
also gave me to understand he continued,
"that there were-'
am crediby informed that there are four, all
boys" - Ell sFf
THAT" exclaimed the Baron, with an hon
est pride, bringing brawny fist down upon
the table, THAT, in these days, when the
abominable doctrines of Nautilus are gaining
ground among upper classes, is what I call
credltabe, by Saint Christopher,
if do say itP' His eyes rested upon the
empty bottles. 81 think, Seneschal," be added
after. brief pause, shat under the
circumstances we may venture"
"NothDg could be more eminently prop
err" rejolDed Seneschal. 81 will fetch an
otherfask forthwith, and one of the best.
What say your Excelency to the vintage of
1904, the year of the comet?"
But" .hesitated the Baron, toying with
his moustache, II understood you to say,
that there were four of ,em,-four boys?''
"True, my lord" replied the Seneschal,
catching the idea with the readiness of a
wetralned domestic; 81 will fetch four
more TASKS"
AS the excellent retainer deposited four
bottles upon the. table within the radius of the
Baron's -eacb, he casually remarked:
"A pious old man, traveller, is in the
castle yard. my lord, seeking shelter and a
supper. He comes from beyond the Alps,
and fares toward Cologne"
~ presume" said the Baron, with an air
of Indifference, ''that he has been duly
searched for plunder.''
He passed this morning." replied the re-
tainer, Through the domain of your well.
born cousin, Count Conrad of Sch Wipkenfels.
Your lordship will readily understand that he
has nothing now save few beggarly Swiss
coins of "copper""
"My worthy cousin ConIadr exclaimed
the Baron affectionately. SIT is one of the
great misfortunes of my life that 1 live to the
leeward of Schwnkenfels. But you re leved
the pious man of his "copper""
My lord" said the Seneschal, with an
apolegesic smile, sit was not worth the TAX
ing"
''Now by my soulv' roared the Baron,
"you exasperate me. Coin, and not worth
the taking. Perhaps not for its intrinsic
value, but you should have cleaned him ut
as matter of principle, you foolP'
The Seneschal hung his head and muttered
an explanation. At the same time he op-
ened the twenty-frst bottle.
"Never," continued the Baron, less
violently but still severely, "ify you value my
esteem and your own paltry skin, suffer your
self to be swerved hairs breadth from prin-
ciple by the apparent insignifcance of the
loot. A conscientious attention to details is
one ofthe fundamental elements of a pros
porous career-in fact, it underlies all politi-
cal economy"
The withdrawal of the cork from the twen-
ty-secCnd bottle emphasized this sentiment.
However," the Baron went on, somewhat
Modified, "this is not day on which I can
consistently make fuss over trifle. Four,
and all boys! This is a glorious dav for
Weinstein. Open the two remaining TASKS,
Seneschal, and show the pious stranger in.
fain would amuse myself with him."
CHAPTER II.
Viewed through the Baron's twenty-odd
bottles the stranger appeared to be an aged
man 80 years, if day. He wore shabby
gray cloak, and carried palmer's staff, and
seemed an innocuous old fellow, cast in too
commonplace mold to furnish even few
minutes diversion. The Baron regretted
sending for him, but being person of un-
falling politeness, when not upon the RAM
page, he babe his guest be seated, and filled
him beaker of the comet wide.
After an obeisance, profound yet not SER
vile, the pilgrim took the glass and critically
tasted the wine. He held the beaker IN
athwart the light, with trembling hand. and
then tasted again. The trial seemed to afford
him great satisfaction, and he stroked his
long white beard.
"Perhaps you are connoisseur. 1t
peases your palate, eh ?" said the Baron.
winking at the full-length portrait of one Of
his ancestors.
it is trife syrupy from too long keeping.
BY the bouquet and the tint should pro-
nounce it OF the vintage of 1904, grown on
the steep slope south southeast of the castle,
in the fork OF the two pathways that lead
to under the hill. The SUMS RAYS reflected
from the turret give peculiar excellence to
the growth OF that particular spot. But your
rascaliy varlets have shelved the bottle on
the wrong side of the cellar. 1t should have
been put on the dry side, near where YOUR
doughty grandsre, Weinstein, the Hairy
Handed, walled up bis third wife in prepare
ton TOR a fourth"
The Baron regarded his guest with look
of amazement. Upon my liteE said he.
shut you appear to be familiar with the ms
and outs of this tablisLment.''
'It do" reioined the stranger, compos-
eddy slipping his wine, ''tis no more than
natural, for l lived more than sixty wears
under this roof and know its every leak. I
happen to be Won Weinstein myself"
The Baron crossed himself and pulled his
chair little further away from the bottles
duu JIG SlIduSeIs
30 no!' SAID the pilgrim, laughing; "quiet
your fears. l am aware that every well reg
nlated castle has an ancestral ghost, but nv
flesh and blood are honest. | was Lord of
Weinstein till went, twelve years ago, to
study metaphysics in the Arabic schools, and
the cursed scriveners wrote me out of the
estate. Why, know this hall from infancy
Yonder is the fire place at which used to
warm my baby toes. There is the identical
suit of armor into which I crawed when
boy of and hid till my santed mother
heaven rest her!-nigh died of fright. 1t
seems but yesterday. There on the wall
hangs the sharp two-handed sword of our
ancestor, Franz, the One-Eared, with which
L cut off the mustaches of my tipsy sire as he
sat muddled over his twentieth bottle.
Ine!e is the very casque-but perhaps these
"reminiscences weary you. You must pardon
Inc garrullty Of an old man who has come to
revisit the home of his childhood and prime"
Inc baron pressed his hand to his fore
head. Il have lived in this castle myself for
half a century, said he, ''and am tolerablv
familiar with the history Of nv immediatee
progenitors. But 1 can't say that l ever had
The pleasure of your acquaintance. How
ever, permit me 10 fill your glass;"
ut is good wine," said the pilgrim, hold
ing out his glass. Except, perhaps, the
vintage OF 1902, when the grapes -"