The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-28
New Series-VoI. XIV. No. Is.

time had certain heavy claims upon the
house of Wolfsteinberg. Theses claims
are now paid of, and it is;my painful
duty to charge you with an act OF au-
dacity which has determined our sove-
reign to expel you from his dominions. y
A quiet smile stole over Heinrich's
face as he said:. '.Go On, baron. Pray
60 on.
eve are not 50 blind, sir, as to be
unaware Of thef fact that you have taken
advantage Of your position as the court
tailor
.I note your sarcasm, baron. Pray go
on.'
sTaken advantage, I say, Of your po-
sition to try to win the affections Of
the Lady Gertrude, an act Of insolence
and audacity which is beyond pardon.
I have only to say, therefore, in the
name of his serene highness, that with
out days delay you must leave the
grand duchy and never venture to show
your face here again. hope you under
stand me. Wewill now say good even
ing.
"Yes,' chimed in the grand duke,
s.you are detected intriguer, and l
give you fair warning that if you re-
main in my capital more than four and
twenty hours viii order my officers to
expel you by force. .
With another twirl Of his mustache
the grand duke marched toward the
door, followed by his prime minister,
leaving Heinrich standing by the table.
'Stayl'' cried out Heinrich, still
quiet and collected, but with strange
light in his gray eyes. ''Your serene
highness has been good enough to ex-
press your views to me. I have now
few views to express to you" Saying
this, he stepped forward quickly and
placed himself between his sovereign
and the door. ssYou will have to hear
me, and you may as well hear me at
once.
IF all the German heroes who were
painted on the wall had jumped down
into the room, the grand duke and his
minister could not have appeared more
thunderstruck.
ssDonner und Blitz!'' shouted the
grand duke, laying his hand upon his
sword. .What does this mean?''
s'It means, your highness, that in the
last half hour you and I have changed
places. Do you know who am?"
ssWhat in the name Of heaven do you
moan9s, stammered the old baron.
'sDo you know, ask, who am, and
do you know the feudal laws OF Ger
many? But see you are hopelessly IN,
the dark. Look yonder to that fresco on
the wall and tell me if you remember
the deed of my great ancestor, Fritz,
the miller?''
.sWhat do you mean, base born var
1et?'' cried the duke. ''What has that
old legend to do with us?''
ttI am no longer base born, :" replied
Heinrich. 81 am noble, with the patent
of nobility in my possession, and not
only all who come after me, but all who
went before in my house, are noble.
Yonder hero, who slew the wolves on
this very spot, was roble, and being
noble this land and all that stands on
it are his, and in mis- right I claim it
This is no madness, sire This is the old
law of the empire, and will enforce
it.
tGreat Cod cried the grand duke
as the gravity Of the situation dawned
upon him, ''can this be true, OF is it all
hideous dream?'
"Nay, more, p" continued Heinrich, Il
have searched the feudal statutes OF
the last 400 years, and I find that, by
solemn decree issued at the time when
the old castle Of the margraves was de-
stroyed and this schloss was erected IN
it's stead. the margravate of Wolfsteln-
berg was attached forever as fief to
the owner of this castle, SO that, If I am
the owner of Wolfsteinberg, as owner I
surely am, / am also by that very fact
margrave and grand duke I claim,
therefore, that by my becoming noble
man the only bar has been removed that
stood between me and the throne, and
that it is no longer you, but | who am
the master here.
The grand duke stood like statue.
He was simply thunderstruck. Even
the old baron's diplomacy was at fault,
and he was at loss for words, when
suddenly the door by which they were
all grouped was opened, and in walked
the Princess Gertrude.
ST have come to congratulate you,
she said, with a beaming smile, "oa
your new rank. I hope am the first to
Go so. -
This was an awkward speech, for
what Heinrich's rank at that moment
precisely was perhaps no one was quite
sure-not even the great Schlippenham-
per.
However, Heinrich accepted her prof
! fered hand, and saluting it respectfully
thanked her gravely for her good wishes.
..Gertrude,' said the grand duke (if
we may still give him this title), Eve
are engaged cn serious business. We
have discovered some unexpected diff
culties in our way.
''Then, papa, replied the maiden,
with a smile, perhaps can help to