, 1879-04-08
OLD TWENTY FLASKS.
CHATTER I.

Rhtnct was, hA everybody knOWst lnhaDltcu Ill
the autumn or 1853 bY the powerful Baron
Kalb.braton, better known Ia those parts as
Old Twenty Flasks a sobEQuot derived from
Its scp,,cd daily capacity for the product OF the
VINEYARD. The Baron lad inany other admir-
able qualities. liz wns genial, wholc-soulcd,
publtc-spiritcd gentleman, aud robbed murder
cd, burned, pllaged, and drove III the s.ccn
sit1rs Of tho Welnsteth his neighbcra' cattle,
wives, nn,l sisters, with 4 hearty bonhomie
that won for Inn the unaffected esteem Of Ills
contemporaries.
Ono evening the good Baron sat alone In tic
great hall Of Wcinstci,l, Il, particularly happy
uood lie Ind dncd well. rs was hls lah!t,
and twenty ctipty bottlcs stood before hln in n
| row upon thu table, like traiu of delightful
| memories OF the recent past. hut the Bason
| had another rcason to be satisfied with himself
utd with the world. Tie concousrcss that he
| hal tlut day bccusnc narcnt lit up his cnun-
truancc with tender glow tsat nero wlnc ca''-
aWhat hoi without! Hi scncschal ;" l,o
presently shouted In a TONG thut tnaue TIC
twcnty empty Iottlcs ring ns II they xcr: lnl1sl-
cal glasses, whtle seoru oi suits 81 hts ances-
! tors armor hanging around tue waIls gave nut
| In acgn,npalI'ment a t1crp metallic bass. The
Scncscl,al wis speedily nt his side.
..Sercscha," said Old Twenty Flasks, "you'
gave ulu TO understand that tie Barorsss wns
III am fold," replied tic soueschal, +" that
her her*d le,lY'h'p is doing as well us could 0' ex
Tie Baron unused In silence for moment, alb
sently regarding tile empty bottle. You also
rave mo to understand" ho continued, "that
"Fuur. u sa,l tbc scucschal, graye,y. ~ nm
crcdibIy informed ttat there arc four, all boys.n
"T!lat," exclaimed the Baron, Will, glow Of
nonest pE'oet grsE etaSas nas ao~m ,M1.a en, ~.
nno,n;""bc osn ,,,ctrincs of Mn,h,.s orn TainimT
ground among tic upper elnsscs ia what cntl
credltablc, blc,--crcditaofe, BY saint Christopher IL
10 Soy X Ais eyss Iesten nGa'h al1on il's
| empty eostics. tu'I,N. oemese!a', ~ luaea
alter bt!of pausc, .tt"t under tho clrcum-
| stances w nlas sGltutc :,
"Nothiis Gonltl ne more c@ninenuy @ proper"
rc1oireu tle ss1'csela'. VII teteM ano:ler
MASK lortnwn, nnn u tnc oes.. " Ioo, ti nv sass
y9ur Exeelleh,cY 10 LUG F'htaRo OIL loo8' tne year
ol tis comctf' a., :,
"hut, - hest9scd nc hafon' toying Will ais
moustnche, ~ arlsrstood you fo soy that
thsfa woro toar ol ,eisn'-!3nr ooyss W. ,,,.,
catching The idca with tls readiness Of 4 we'll
trained domestic; VI WILL ictctl four more
faaks."
AZ Tue excellent retainer , asposlsed s1, foar irss
Baron's reach. nc casually Remarked:
:" pious OLD nlan, traveller, as n tho castle
yard, my lord, seeking shelter "nd ? suppcr
lie comes from bryond the Alps, mud fares to-
ward Cologne."..
!" presume,n said tho Baron, with m nlr Of
indifference, "tlsat he has been duly searched
for pauder." ~,
tllu passed this morntng,h replied tho re-
talner. ;. Through the doma!u OF your. wclt;born
cousin, Count Conrad OF Schwinkcnfcss. Your
loNlshIp will readily understand that he Inns
copper"
"Aly worthy Cousin Conrad" !" exclaimed tho
Baron, atect!onatsy H.; 1T Is TIC on ons great is;
l .h,rtr fnje 11ut thnp I,ua