Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-20


in his work of ensnaring the Young
heiress, and finally in direct terms
asked her to elope with him. He wrote
note proposinga clandestine meeting
at an hour when her father was in the
habit OF gong 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 rs a sign of consent.
Count Christian, having intercepted the
letter, took occasion soon after to ap-
proach Helen, and then asked her TO
go out with him, at the same time
handing her flower, remarking: "Put
this in your belt as an ornament" She
smilingly obeyed. In course of their
walk they met Carl, who bowed, and
was oyerjoyed 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 hcr. This done, he re-
turned to the house he occupied in
Baden. He rad 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 rs. With pleasuraole
excitement he FASTENED toward Helen's
apartments, but great was his astonish-
ment to find her father armed with
brace OF pistols. The count closed the
door, and said to the miserable cheva-
| lier:
Carl M, | 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, Il am not
robber."
mot robber!" exclaimed Count
Christian. "What are you, then? You
have come to steal my daughter, to
steal an heiress and fortune. have
your criminal letter. | sail show you
no mercy. II you refuse to obey ME
will Stay you'll"
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 l
will give you. 10000 francs"
Carl endeavored to speak.
"Silencel' said the count in voice
of thunder. you must obey. In
that secretary is the money; take it.
The chevaler 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, them" returned the
count, and with his pistol in his hand
he repeated, Break it, or I'll blow
Your brains out"
Carl obeyed.
1T is WE'LL" said the old gentleman,
"those bank notes are yours. Have
you pocket-book, with anything iden-
tifying as belonging TO you?'
"Yes."
"rhen let it fail in front Of the secre-
tary which you have broken open.
what, sir?'
81 must have proof which will con-
vlct you. L mean To have all the EVIL
dence Of burglary. Robber or death
Choose All, l see your choice is made.
Now go before me. | do not quit you
until you are a league from Baden. |
return late, and enter no complaint
against you till tomorrow noon. Be
gomez
Chevaler 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