, 1888-03-25
THE SOIHAK'S CATTLE.

'A'A AAAaAA AAhAH -
audacity for their basis and all Europe
for their narrators; the roaming ground
for unnumbered Gypsies; the origin of
handsome women and good wine.
l have just returned from the Pussta,
this great territory of which Buda-
Pesth is the commercial center. l went
there seeking novelty, and incidentally TO
make a visit, and l return with admira-
ton of the shrewd and brilliant resources
of the quick witted and sharp people
who make prey of the world outside
their ownselves.
The visit | had in contemplation when
/ left Vienna was interfered with by an
accident 50 remarkable that believe it
stands unique among the queer happen
ings of the world.
Three years ago | visited Hungary for
the first time, and was entertained at my
uncle's castle, an enormous structure of
medieval build and impressive proper
tons. complete with everything to make
Life comfortable; and the addition of my
three charming young lady cousins made
life agreeable.
My uncle, Baron Paul Won Rovac, is a
whole souled relation with n desire to do
the proper thing in the way of entertain
ing, and II hospitality that makes his
salons the most popular in this rather
wild country. He c%ultivates his property
with the most studious and ~painstaking
care, his crops are reputed to be the most
prolific thereabout, his vaults are well
warmed with governments and. consols,
while his wine cellar is tested to its
fullest capacity with casks of the richest
Hungarian clarcts and the %clearest Tokav.
The first day of my visit was marked
by the arrival of another guest-one of
the opposite sex, however, vigorous,
healthy fellow with a fierce mustache
and II loud yUice-a fellow who enioyed
the distinction of using two ''vons'' in
his name-Vou Glyenke and Won Boroth.
A natural leader in everything that per
tanned to sports, he was the best fencer,
the most daring rider, the luckiest card
player, the heaviest drinker and the most
entertaining ''masher.' lie played well
and sang well. Whether or not he knew
of the 10000 guldens each daughter
would receive directly on the death of
my uncle, | am unable to say; yet true
it is that within one week of his coming
he had made love to all three Of the girls
and engaged himself to Emma, the eldest.
The etiquette of Hungary does not
permit too close an inquiry into the mon
ctary affairs of another, yet my uncle
NlAaAAt III w atn1AAlt HE
OF the future his daughter might expect
and the possibility Of the same easy life
continuing that she was then accustomed
to. So, with the d~clicacy and act born
of gentle surroundings and an elevated
soul, my uncle got around the question
and asked Carl where he lived, which,
Icing omitted in the note of Introduction
that opened the castle gate to the gentle
man, gave an excuse for the query.
Il live in Castle Boroth. " Carl replied,
'Tat PustZa GCrclv, near Kassa. Ny
halls are spacious, and my salons show
the faces of twenty generations of mobiles,
my stables have accommodations for
forty horses, and he who joins my hunts
has sport unlimited and n wealth of ex-
element. My mounts are the best in the
country ~thereabout, and nothing would
give me greater pleasure than to wei.
come you 10 my board and satisfy you by
the evidence of your own ewes that | can
provide a worthy home for your lovely
daughter"
This fluent and fowery description
went far toward satisfying my uncle, and
lie replied in that gracious and courtly
manner distinctively his own:
My dear Carl, | know what you say
must be SO, and l sincerely believe my
child will be happy with you. Kassa is
some distance from here, but, as l must
journey that way shortly, | will take adj
vantage of the trip and mike a stop at
your castle"
With much noise and godspeed and
laughter Carl took his departure the day
following this conversation, and turned
his hOrss heals toward the east and his
own preserves. The following week my
1,n11a NM - - F.lI.-- Ia -. -
while /, who had always been possessed
of the l~iveliest desire to see more Of Hun
gary. had arranged to accompany him.
Arriving at Kassa at dusk, we put up
at theH Hotel de IEtoile du Nord, where
we enjoyed a delicious supper and the
society of a loquacious landlord, with
whom my uncle labored long and earn
estly to learn something concerning the
Baron Carl. The g%arrulous old man told
of the castle, but was totally ignorant of
its occupants, nor could any information
be had of Others in the house. This Gre
ated some anxiety in my good uncle's
mind, and, when the landlord had with
drawn, he asked me in a startled and
mysterious voice:
do you think Carl can be n Soihak?'
"And what is n Soihak2r / reioined.
They are sons of impoverished baron
ial families who ave no means of sup
port other than their wits, and carry on
the high sounding and equally highly dis
honorable career Of the chevaliers de
lindustrie. l hope Carl is none such"
And my uncle for some moments was
deep in thought.
The next morning we engaged n guide
who knew the Castle Boroth well. and
agreed to conduct us thither. After a
ride of more than three hours we entered
the grounds of n vast estate, and our
guide, turning to us, said: ''You are
now on the property of the Baron
Boroth."
My uncle gazed about him upon every
side; he stood erect in the carriage. the
better to take in a wide prospect, and
after a silent and studious contemplation
he resumed his seat, saying: ''The and
is dry, no cultivation, no vegetation. no
care for anything, no crops. Even
though he has a castle, Carl seems not to
be a practical farmer"
Presently a urn in the road brought
us in view of n building of such magnif-
cent extent rs quite to silence my uncle's