The morning call., 1892-11-13
CHAPTER I.

from the DOMAIN OF truth. There are times
when everything happens or one might al
most say, when everything has happened
If this story seems improbable to-day, it
may not seem so tomorrow, thanks TO the
advancement of scier se-that child of the
future-so that no one will be inclined TO
class it with legends. Besides legends are
not in process of formation at the tail end
of this practical ana matter of-fact nine
teenth century.
. At the foot OF the Retyezat which over
looks fertile Pennsylvania valley, there is
q high plateau, which in winter is CON-
pletely exposed 10 the northwesters. They
shear IL as with a razor, give 1t a shaving, as
they say In that country, and close shave,
too. On the edge of this plateau one day in
May. IS. shepherd, Erik by name. sat
watching his flock.
To what type did Herdsman Erik belong?
Was he a degenerate son of the ancient
Dacians? Possibly; and yet his unkempt
hair. his begrimed face, his stubby beard
his eyebrows, thick as two brushes of red
dish brlstles, his greenish-blue eyes. whose
wateTy surfaces displayed the old mans
ring, made it hard 10 say what he was. At
any rate, he was about 65 years of age.
fall. spare and straight beneath the yellow
ish far coat that showed less hair than his
reached him through the break in the west,
Erik turned around and, shading his eyes
with his hand, looked long and steadily.
Standing there in bold-outine against the
western sky, but somewhat softened by the
distance. for it was a good mile away, ap-
peared a mountain citadel. This old castle
occupied position on an isolated crest of
the Vulkan range, being the highest point
of the Orgal plateau.
"Ah. old castle, old castle, thy proud
position up there Will do thee no good, for
three years more will be the last of thee
since there are only three branches left on
thy beech tree"
Growing as it did at the end Of ore of the
bsstlOns of the castle, this beech tree was
outlined sharply against the sky like dark
tracing on white paper.
Yes" he repeated, there are only three
branches now. There was fourth yester-
day, but ii went down last night; there's
only the stump of it left. Now can only
count three at the crotch-only three, old
castle. only three"
Take the ideal side Of q shepherds char
scter and you find that he is a dreamer, a
deep thinker. He talks TO the planets, he
has interviews with the stars. The heavens
are his books. In reality he Is generally
ignorant and Teticent ami little above the
brutss be tends.
Fix had the reputation of being a sor-
ceref. of having the power to call up spirits
None will be SURPRISED, therefore, that he
was so quick to draw this horoscope con-
corning the approaching disappearance Of
the old citadel. since the beech tree has now
emily three branches left, nor that he should
have made haste to carry the news TO
WeTst a ueighburing hamlet
After calling his flock together by blow
Ing with all his might through a long white
wooden horn Erik set out for the village
His dogs. two mongrel mastiffs, fierce and
ill-tempeEed, apparently better fitted 10 de-
your the sheep than to guard them. worried
the stragglers into line. The flock belonged
% Koltz, the village justice OF ''bro" of
Werst who valued Frik's services very
highly. for he knew him to be not only very
skillful in shearing but also in treating the
various diseases TO which the sheep were
subject.
On leaving the pasture, Erik directed his
course toward the Sill, on the bank of which
the sheep ard dogs halted to slake their
thirst. At this hour of tie day there was
none abroad, for 1t was too early for the
feldhands to turn their faces homeward.
Hence. up TO this moment Frick had not
with; but just as his sheep had finished
drinking, aud he was about TO make another
start, man came into sight around the
curve of the stream.
Hello, friendp' he cried out to the herds
man.
He was one of those outside hawkers who
haunt the markets of the district
81 hope you're In good health, friend"
he added.
YES" replied Erik; sit depends upon
the weather"
We'll, you must be all right to-day, for
the weather's fine"
But shan't be to-mo rroT. for it's going
to rain."
"Going to rain" replied the peddler.
docs it rain without clouds In your coun-
''They will come to- night from over there,
from the east side OF the mountain"
How can you tell that, friendf"
From the coats OF my sheep their wool
is as harsh and dry as tanned leather"
$50 much the worse for those who must
tramp these highways" added the hawker.
There Is something very peculiar about
these hawkers of Thermometers, baron eters
and wea!her-glasses. They are unlike other
peddlers. They have something uncanny
and fantastic about them. This comes from
their calling. They sell you the weather in
all forms, as Ii Is. and as it will be. They
might br called the travellers of the house
Of Saturn & Co., at the sign of the golden
bourglass. And no doubt such was the
effect which the Jew produced on old Erik.
who cried out:
II say. pedaler, what d'you do with all
those machines which rattle at your belt
like so many dry bonesp"
s'Those2. Oh, they are very valuable
things: very useful to everybody. Here's
4 nice clock. / suppose / can't sell it to
yon?" said the peddler.
o'clock ?" replied Erik, 1.-The suns my
paak
noon, and when he looks across Egelt Hole
It's 6. My sheep know this. You may keep
ali such rubbish. But tell me. peddler,
what's that bit of pipe for?"
That's spyglass," answered the
hawker.
"A spyglass?" said Erik. as he took 1t in :
bis hands and turned it over and over, pull
ing II out and pushing ii In.
Yes, and good one, friend" added the
peddler. You can see very far with it,"
''Oh. my eyes are of the best" cried Erik
with chuckle. They can't be improved
On clear day can see every rock up to
the very top Of Retyezat."
but try the glass all the same friend"
1T wont cost anything, willit?" asked the
suspicious peasant.
Nothing. friend. unless you make up your
mind TO buy it,"
Erik felt perfectly easy on this point, SO
after the glass had been adjusted by the
peddler he raised IL to his eyes. First he
looked in the direction Of the distant noun
tain peaks. then he lowered The glass until it
rested upon the village of Werst
''Ha! Ye're right, peddler," he ejacu-
lated. why, there's the main street, and
there's Nick Deck. the forester. just coming
In from his tour, knarsack on his back and
rife over his shoulder"
Erik now turned the glass toward the
Orgall plateau. following the dark line Of
forests on the slopes of the Pesa, when sud-
denly the object glass encountered the dim
outlines of the old castle,
"Yes." be muttered to himself. "the