The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-12
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In tho days Of Rudolph tho Third
there stood On the bill opposite the
Castle Of ZshdA and on tho other eide
Of tho valley in which tho town lies, on
tho 'Ils where tho Chateau Of Taren.
helm now IL situated, fine and strong
cattle belonging 10 Count Nikolal Of
FesIsnbaTg. lie was . noble Of very
old ami high family and had great ss-
tatoSi HE hou,S being. indeed, second
only to the royal mouse in rank and
reputation. lie himself was young
man Of great accomplishments, Of a
dOgalnsSFinR temper and Of much ambi.
.lon; and he had gained distinction in
the wars that marked the closing years
Of the reign Of King Henry the Lion,
With King Rudolph he was not on
terms oil cordial friendship, for he de.
SpISsd tho king'a easy manners and
eaEelelaaela OF dignity, while the
king had no lore for gentle
man whose one object seemed to
be TO GurpRss and OutIhine him in tho
eyes OF his people, and who never r0ited
from extending aud terrifying HE castle
Until 1t threatened 10 RuTpaSs Xsnda
itself both in strength aud mRgniAcsnce.
Moreover NikolaS, although maintain
ing q state ample and suitable TO his
rank, was yet careful and prudent, while
Rudolph spent oil that he received and
more besides, 90 that tho count grew
richer and tho king poorer. But In
spite OF these causes OF difference, tho
count was received at court with Ap.
parent graciousnOis. and no open out
burst Of enmi.y had yet occurred, the
pair being; on tho contrary, often 10.
gsther and sharing their sports and
pRstimss with one another
Now most OF these diversions were
harmless or indeed becoming and
proper, but there was ono among them
full OF danger to n man OF hot head and
ungovsrned impulse such as King Ru'
dolph was. And this one was dicing,
in which the king took great delight,
aud in which Count NikOlas was very
ready to encourage him. The king, who
was generous and hated to win from
poor men or those who might be playing
beyond their meanA in order togive him
pleasure, was delighted 10 find an opp0.
nent whose purse was as long or longer
than his own, aud thus came gradually
TO pass many evenings with the boxes
in Nikolas' company. And the more
evenings he passed the deeper no fell
into the counts debt; for tho king
drank wine. while the count was con.
tent with small beer, aud when tho
king was losing he doubled his stakes,
whereas the count took in sail ii tho
wind seemed adverse. Thus always
and steadily the debt grew; till at last
Rudolph dared not reckon how large it
had become. nor did he dare to diSctosO
1t to his advisers. For there were great
public burdens already imposed by rea.
sou OF King Honry's wars, and the citi.
IONS OF Slrelsau we're not In mood to
bear fresh exRCtions nor to give their
hard earnings for the payment OF tho
kings gambling debts; In tine, although
they loved tho Elphbergs we'll enough,
thoy loved their money more. Thus
the king had no resource. except In his
pTlVNlD pOdatbalousi anu AHVsu ""iu VI
no great value, saving the castle and es-
tate OF Zenda.
AT length, when thOy had sat late one
night and tho THROWS had gone all tho
evening against the king and for Nike.
las, tho king flung himself back IN his
chair, drained his glass;, and said impn'
tiently:
~ am weary OF tho game! Como, my
lord, lot us end it,
"a would not urge you, sire, a moment
beyond what you desire. l play butIor
your pleasure"
Chen my pleasure las been your
profit" said the king with vexod
laugh, "for believe am stripped Of
my lust crown. What is my Gebt?"
Tho count. who had the whole sum
reCkonOd on his tablets, took them out
and showed the king the amount Of the
debt,
81 cannot pay IT," said Rudolph. ~
would play yon again TO doublOthe debt,
or wipe 1t ont, but | have nothing OF
vaino enough to stake."
Tho desire which had been nursed
for long in the counts heart, now saw
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