The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-02-26

advice, the prayers, or even the orders
of her father. She would not believe
the reports of the disgraceful anteced-
ents of her willy lover. The condition
of affairs broug ght the count, possessed
of a remarkable degree of frmness, to
the determination of originating some
plan whereby he could efectual]y over
come the persistent efforts of Carl to
secure his daughter, as well as convince
Helen that to save her from such an
unprincipled man was deed of pater-
nal tenderness and care.
The chevalier had continued adroitlv
in his work of ensnaring the young
heiress, and finally in direct terms
asked her to elope with him. He wrote
a note proposing clandestine meeting
at an hour when her father was in the
habit of going out to play. whist with
some gentlemen of his acquaintance,
and in it made the suggestions that, if
she favor the proposition, she wear
in her belt rose as a sign of consent.
Count Christian, having intercepted the
letter, took occasion soon after to ap-
proach Helen, and then asked her to
60 out with him, at the same time
handing her a flower, remarking: "Put
this in your belt as an ornament" She
smilingIy obeyed. In course of their
walk they met Carl, who bowed. and
was overjoyed to notice that Helen had
carried out his request.
| The count conducted his daughter to
the residence of one of his acquaint-
ances and requested her to wait until
he called for her. This done, he re-
turned to the house he occupied in
Baden. He had sent away his servants
and was alone. At the appointed hour
Carl arrived and leaped over the gar
den wall. Finding the door securely
closed, he entered the house through
one of the windo VS.. With pleasurable
exciteme ent he fastened toward Helen's
apartments, but great was his astonish-
ment to find her father armed with q
brace OF pistols. The count closed the
door, and said to the miserable cheva-
lier:
"Carl NJ, could kill you; have
the right to do so. You have entered
my house at night; you have broken
into it. could treat you as felon-
nothing could be more natural"
"But sir" said Carl, trembling, and
in almost an inaudible tone, II am not
a robber."
mot robber!" 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. l slall show You
no mercy. If Il you refuse to obey me I
will slay youp
"What is it you will, slr?"
''You 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 daugh-
ter. For your travelling expenses I
will give you 10000 francs.''
Carl endeavored to speak.
"Silence!" said the count in voice
of thunder. "You must obey. In
that secretary is the money; take it."
The chevalier ventured the remark:
"Permit me to decline your Offer"
The false modesty of the young man
was overcome by the imperious gesture
of the old man.
But" said Carl, "the secretary is
locked"
"Break the lock, then," returned the
count, and with his pistol in his hand
he repeated, "Break it, or I'll blow
your brains out"
Carl obeyed.
lit is WE'LL" said the old gentleman,
Uthoeo honk notos ora vo,,re uoro
you a pocket-book, with ANYTHING iden-
tifying as belonging to your"
"Yes."
"Then let it fail in front of the secre-
tary which you have broken open."
"What, sir?'
81 must have proof which will con-
vict you. I mean to have all the evil
dence of a burglary. Robber or death!
Choose! All, see your choice is made.
Now go before me. I do not quit you
until you are q league from Baden. I
return late, and enter no complaint
against you till tomorrow noou. Be-
gone!'
Chevalier Carl could not resist the
compulsory order, and Count Christi
ans plan was carried out to the very
letter. The affair created great noise
and excitement. Helen could no longer
doubt as to Carl's character, and it was
not long before his image was banished
from her heart, and that was in due
time surrendered to one of her cousins,
captain of an Austrian cavalry regi-
ment.
The waters have gone over me, but