The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-29
sHtsreMang.
AN UNCOMMON SPECTRE.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The ancient castle Of Weinstein, on the
upper Rhine, was, as everybody knows,
inhabited in the autumn of 1852, by the
powerful Baron Kalbsbraten, better known
~ Old Twenty Flasks, soubriquet de-
rived from his reputed daily capacity for
the product of the vineyard. The Baron
had many other admirable qualities. He
was genial, whole-souled, public-spirit-
ed gentleman, and robbed, murdered,
burned, pilla2ed, and drove up the steep
sides of the Weinstein his neighbors' cat
tie, wives, and sisters, with hearty bon
hommie that won for him the unaffected
esteem Of his contemporaries.
One evening the good Baron sat alone
in the great hall OF Weinstein, in par
ticularlv happy mood Hehad dined well,
as was his habit, and twenty empty bot
ties stood before him in row upon the
table, like train of delightful memories
of the past. But the Baron had another
reason to be satisfied with himself and the
world. The consciousness that he had
that day become a low rent lit up his
countenance with tender cape that mere
wine can not impart.
"What no! without! Hi! Seneschal!"
he presently shouted IN a tone that made
the twenty bottles ring as if they were
musical glasses, while score of suits of
his ancestors armor hanging around the
walls gave out in accompaniment a deep
metallic bass. The Seneschal was speed
lily at his side.
''Senesceal," said Old Twenty Flasks,
''you gave me to understand that the Ba-
roness was doing finely?"
81 am told" replied the Seneschal,
''that her ladyship is doing as well as
could be expected"
The Baron unused in silence for a mo-
ment, absently regarding the empty bot
ties, you gave me to understand" he
continued. that there were
Four" said the Seneschal, gravely.
81 am credibly informed that there are
four. all boys"
That" exclaimed the Baron. with a
glow Of honest pride, bringing brawny
fist down upon the table-''That, in these
days, when the abominable doctrines of
Nautilus are gaining ground among the
upper classes, is what | call creditable-
creditable, by st. christopher, if l do say
it," His eyes rested again on the empty
bottles. 81 think, Seneschal," he added,
after brief pause, that under the cir
cumstances we may venture"
Nothing could be more eminently
proper" rejoined the Seneschal. 81 viii
fetch another flask forthwith, and of the
best. What says your Excellency to the
vintage of l30T, the year of the comet 2"
But" hesitated the Baron, toying
with his mustache, Il understood You to
say that there were four of 'em-four
boys?"
catching the idea with the readiness of
well traired domestic; II will fetch four
more TASKS"
As the excellent retainer deposited four
fresh bottles upon the table within the "a
dius of the Baron's reach, he casually re-
marked:
"A pious old man, a traveller, is in the
castle yard, my lord. seeking shelter and
a supper. He comes from beyond the Alps,
and fares toward Cologne"
81 presume" said the Baron, with an
air Of indifference, ''tnat he has been duly
searched for plumber"
HE passed this morning." replied the
retainer, through the domain of your
well-born cousin, Count Conrad Of Schwin-
kenfels. Your lordship will readily I'M
derstand that he has nothing now save a
few beggarly Swiss coins of copper"
my worthy cousin Conrad!" exclaimed
tie Baron. affectionately. at is the one
great misfortune of my life that live to
the leeward of Schwinkenfels. But you
relieved the pious man of his copper"
my lord, said the Ssneschal, with an
apolegetic smile, 1T was not worth the
taking"
Now. by my SOUL" roared the Baron.
'you exasperate me. Coin. and not worth
the taking! Perhaps not for its intrinsic
value, but you should have cleaned him
out as a matter OF principle, you fool"
The Seaeschal hung his head and NUT
tered an explanation. At the same time
he oponed the twenty-first bottle.
Never. continued the Baron, less vio-
lently but still severely, ''if You value my
esteem and your own paltry skin, suffer
yourself to be swerved hairs breadth
from principle by the apparent insignii-
canoe Of the boot A Conscientious atten-
ton to details is one of the fundamental
elements Of prosperous caHeer-in fact,
sndeslies Ill political asonomy."