The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-04-16

At den Bsstiala, about: tNeistp yea
ago, a Hung gariaa count. Christian, ". 4,
! his daughter Helen, came to pass the ae
son. The young countess, charming ii
| beautiful, and heiress to q large fortul
bequeathcd her By her mother, was sot
i surrounded by host of admirers. 81
speedily became captivated by one of Il
I most worthless of her suitors, Carl M., /,
cause he had handsome face and lor
black hair, was gifted with fascinatir
manner, dressed with exquisite taste, dan
ed marvellously, and possessed rare powe
ASA singer. Carl was a noted gambler an
given to dissipation, and Count Cflristia
became possessed of information that tt
young chevalier had quilted Naples in cor
sequence of some scandalous adventure i
which he had been implicated.
| Helen was so completely infatuated wit
| Carl that she gave no heed to the advice
the prayers, or the orders of even he
father. She would not believe the report
of the disgraceflll antecedents of her vii
lover. The condition of affairs brought tn
Eold count, possessed Of remarkable de
gree of firmncss, to the determination 0
originating some plan whereby he couls
ef1ectually overcome the persistent effort
OF Carl to secure his daughter, as well a
convince Helen that to save her from sucl
an unprincipled man was deed of paterna
tenderness and care.
his work Of eisnafIhg ffit sBb1gs il
and finally in direct terms asked her te
elopc with him. He wrote a note propos.
ing clandestine meeting at al hour when
her father was i'll the habit of goingfout to
play whist with some gentlemen Of his
acquaintance, and in it made the sugges-
ton that, if she favored the proposition,
she wear in her belt a rose lis Il sign OF
consent.
Count Christian, having intercepted the
letter. took occasion soon after to approach
Helen, and asked her to 60 out with him,
at the same time handing her flower, re-
marking, s'Put this in your belt as an
ornament" She slnilingly obeycd. In
the course of their walk they met Carl,
who bowed, and vas overjoyed to notice
that Helen had carried o,t his request.
The count conducted his daughter to the
residence of one of their acquaintanecs, and
requested her to wait until he called for
her This done, he returned to the house
he occupied on the outskirts of Baden. He
had sent away his servants, and was alone.
At the appointed hour Carl arrived, and
leaped over the garden wall. Finding the
door securely closed, he entered the house
one of the windows. With pleas
urable excitement he hastened toward
Helcn's apartment, but great was his as
constituent to find her father armed with q
brace &C pistols. The count closed the
door, and said to the miserable ch ,ier:
ssCarl NJ, could kill you; i the
right to do so. You have entered my
house at night; YOU have.broken into it, l
could treat you like Il felon-nothiEg could
be more natural"
ssBut, sir" said Carl, trembling, and in
an almost inaudible tone, II am not IL rob-
ber."
fsNot Il robberi' exclaimed Count
Christian. "What are you, then? You
have come to steal my daughter, to steal
an heiress and fortune. I have your
criminal letter. shall show you no mercy.
II you refuse to obey me, l will slay you =
'sWhat is your will, sir?''
ssYou must leave Baden this instant:
you must put at least two hundred leagues
between it and you, and never come into
the presence of my daughter. For your
travelling expenses will give you twenty
thousand francs.'
Carl endcayored to speak.
ssSilence." said the count, i'll voice OF
thunder. ''You must obey. In thatsec-
retary is the money. Take it,
The chevalier ventured the remark:
'sPermit me to decline your Offer
The false modesty Of the young man was
overcome by the imperious gesture of the
old man.
'sBut,' said Carl, ''the secretary is lock-
ed"
'sBreak the lock, then," returned the
count; and with his pistol in hand he re.
peated, Break it, or I'll blow your brains
out!"
Carl obcyed.
E'It is well,' said the old gentleman
ssthose bank-notes are yours. Have you q
pocket-book, with any thing identifying il
as belonging to you?"
ssYes.''
s'Then let it fall in front of the secretary
which you have broken OPEN"
-'sWhat, sir?'
ssI must have proof which will conYie
you. l mean to have all the evidences OF
burglary. Robbery or death! Choose
An, see your choice is made. Now gt
before me. L do not quit you until you art
a league from Baden. I1eturn late, ans
enter no complaint against you till to-nor
row noon. Begone!''
Chevalier Carl could not resist the com
pulsory order, and Count Christians plaa
was carried out to the very letter. The .af
fair created great noise and excitement
Helen could no longer doubt as to Carl
character, and it was not long before hi
image was banished from her heart, AM
that was in due time surrendered to one Q
her cousins, a captain of an Austrian
cavalry regiment.