The morning call., 1890-11-06
A REVELATION.

A REVELATION.
fNyOUNT HERTZMANN was rolling in
/ sSE riches. What could surpass the mag
An1J nifcence of his castle. situated as 1t
was on the banks of The Rhine, in full view
of the rugged snow-tipped Alps. The gar
den itself was one dream of loneliness.
Reckless extravaganza was shown every
where, from the proiusion of outdoor plants
TO the priceless exotics preserved under
almost mile of glass.
Leaning on a sun-dial, er black hair ar
ranged in coils al the back of her head, her
stately figure draped in white, relieved only
by knot of scarlet ribbons at tue throat,
was CarIotta, Count Hertzmann's wife and
mistress of all this eXpanse or wealth. Every
line of the beautiful face betrayed marks of
unsubdued passions, the tightly pressed lips
showed resolution of purpose. The cold gray
eyes did not take in the surrounding beauty
for they were fixed with anxiety on certain
path, which, even as she gaZed, was dark
ened by a man : shadow.
Carlotta hasten d to the newcomer With
outstretched hands, eXclaiming at the same
time:
You are late, Paulw
Before answering, he pressed her hand to
his lips, and then SAID, IN low, sweet voice:
'Carl0lta you know well that 1t is only
the most urgent business that could keep me
from you; but how is the Count-Stroug as
ever?" the latter with sneering smile.
Yes" replied she, 'only too strong for
our purposes"
Never" replied Paul; love must and
shall find out a way"
"Hush! hushr' said Carotta. You
sound as if you intend some harm"
We'll, and why not?' he answered, care
lessly. "Al?s fair in love and war. they
say. The old Count once out OF the way We
can marry"
But my son Max?' interrupted the
Countess.
He is of no consequence" replied Paul.
Not for many years can he inherit his
fathers possessions; in the meantime this
wealth will be yours. As to the Count, |
will settle him, or you must"
The conversation lasted long, and was
only interrupted by Max, who, running
across the green, velvety lawn, exclaimed:
Mamma, mammal papa wants you"
Come too, Carlotta said to her COM
panion, and then III an undertOne, adding
"Our meetings will not then arouse his
suspicious"
Before the Count Carotta's manner
changed entirely. She was gentle and ac-
quieScent. and any stranger would have
thought that all her being was wrapt up in
her husband.
Two days passed. Twas evening, and
the air. Which had been all day extremely
hot. seemed even now NOR. close and opnres
siye The night was dark. and Carlotta.
standing at her bedroom window. was almost
blinded by vivid flash of lightning. which
illunined for moment the whole garden
and lighted M the distant Aims. AMI then
the storm burst Peal after peal of thunder
br oke overhead. and lightning flashed
across the sky, while the rain came down in
then Iulled again. only 10 break forth with
renewed y,10r as thr castle clock struck
twelve Lille Max law awake sha[,iuG win
fear: he jried to stop his ears 70 shmt off the
awful sounds. but il was of no use: and at
Iast snmmonin,r mn ali bis conraTIe ba nront
ont of he'd To % 10 his mother. Rnnni q rs
last as he could along the dark. still corridor,
he reached fhp door of CarIorta's drnssing'
room and went in. II Was Gnite dark save
for n faint glimmer cau,ed Inv a shaded
lann. the hedroom door was mar md max
Ing his way towards it lie Was suddenly
trapsfynd With horror for . vivid AaSb ri
jGhtninU fnodpd ina room with Iight OnIv
Tor a m1ment: Int il was pnoreh IN sInw
the calm face Of his father. wranf in sleen
whilst standing near him. her white face
looking CHASTITY and haepard her ieweIIed
hand holding over the unconscious sIrenar
a dagger stood his mother Carlorta His
piercing shrek was drowned in the av fuI
elan of thunder that followed and then ali
WAS SILL.
Fifteen years had passed, and the gossip
occaSioned by the sudden death of Count
Hertzmann had been forgotten. His wife,
the beautiful Carlotta, had married again,
and his son, now of age, had come into all
his fathers wealth. The Scandal-mongers
had made nine days wonder of the Counts
DEATH Why had he committed suicide?
Plenty OF money, wife and an heir-what
more could man want? Some, with
knowing wink, had suggested it was not
suicide, and then that unfortunate being
had been verWheimed with questions:
" no had done 1T? why had they done ii?
what had been their reasons for doing it?
aud, How had they done 1t? But, notwith-
standing all TINS DO one got nearer the truth.
been entirely forgotten by him on recover
lug from severe attack OF lever, caused, so
people saia, Dy The shock OF his fathers
death; and SO the past held the secret,
known only by Carlotta and her husband
Paul; but 1t was not always to be so-nay,
1t had been SAID to the wicked. " Be sure
your SIN viii ma you out.
Young Max had an artists soul within
him; he was always studying the beautiful,
and sal Tor hours transno5ing to canvas the
surrounding scenery. He was engaged in
moonlit scene, and sat up for many hours
III The nlght To study the subject, and as he
sat one niSht III the library absorbed in his
self-!mposeo task, he was startled by loud
pedi VI lluiiucl SolhS nearer the WINDOW,
he watched with awe the grandeur Of the
storm; and then, wishing to see what effect
it had on the opposite side of the house, he
went along the broad corridor. when he was
again startled, THIS time by vivid flash of
lightning, aud suddenly feeling of having
been there before under the same circum-
stances rushed across his mind. and then
anu then-he saw himself, little boy, gazing
through half-open door at his mother
holding dagger over the sleeping form of
his father. What did it all mean? he asked
himself. The verdict on his fathers death
had been suicide, not murder. and yet
But the thoughts that thronged his brain
we're too horrible, and he tried in vain
to smut them out. For days he was unable
to do anything, as the suspicious aroused
length lie formed plan to ind out the