The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-12-03

a hint by the count.
LET me know what YOU would like
to read, and | will help you,' suggest
cd Count Minsterhavcn. The old SER
want protested.
He would not dare to touch the
smallest of the counts books, he de-
clared When night came, he was
much too tired to read more than his
prayers and say his beads. Christian,
of whom he had expected so much, was
no help to him whatever. He was a
stupid, lazy lout and tried his good ma
ture beyond endurance.
"You must be patient, Marriott" adj
viscd the count. "The poor fellow is
unused to his surroundings and cannot
shake off his embarrassment"
The old butler shook his head. He
could not understsnd the lad at all.
That Afternoon Countess Ida came
storming into the room of her father.
She shrieked with laughter.
Papa, grandmamma, what do you
think / saw just now in the stable?
Oh, it is too funny! l went there to
treat Oleander to lump of suger.
When called for Christian, there was
no reply. l climbed the ladder to the
hay loft. There he sat close to rift
in the wall through which the sunlight
came like a narrow golden band. In
his clumsy hands he held my Shake
speare, half reading, half spelling the
words, and following the lines with his
fat, red fingers. 1t was such a comical
sight!''
The count and the dowager countess
| were almost as much amused as Ida
Minsterhaven. The count sent for
Christian and ordered him to go to his
study. There the new groom confessed
that he had appropriated from time to
time the missing books-books on ar
titicial irrigation, national economy,
| Greek scnlp pi urc and French novels.
He had read them all in the hay loft
over the stable.
But you did not understand Il word
of them!' said his master
"No, not word" admitted Christian.
The count became interested in the
rank, unsophisticated youth, who was
far from good looking.
"What did you think when you read
all this stuff
"That some day l might learn to
understand it ALL"
Yes, it is possible answered the
aristocrat loftily, somewhat impressed
with this young and stubborn giant
before him, who with eager, misguided
hands reached out for the treasures of
education and culture. "What good
will all this understanding do you:"
The groom was silent and the inter-
view came to an end.
One winter evening not long after
this occurrence the Rev Mr.. Feinmann,
who presided over the village church,
spoke of strange new scholar, to
whom he gave private lessons in both
German and Latin. Christian, the
groom, was applying his Christmas
gift, sum of money which Count Min
sterhavcn was in the habit of bestow-
ing upon all his servants, to the pay
ment for these lessons
The aristocratic family OF the Min
sterhavens pointed out their groom as
something of freak to their visitors
and acquaintance.
Old Marriott was deeply distressed
over this state of affairs, and it would
| have Jared hard with Christian had not
Countess Lida taken his part with the
oit Sti 'ait. 'oHc 'phlhl Tue Ile" groom
an interesting personage-all but his
hands. They were too red and I'M
shapely.
| When Christian had been in the
counts service for year, he asked for
his dismissal.
Are you dissatisfied, Christian?"
asked Count Minsterhaven.
No, the lad had no complaint to
make. He merely wanted to 90 to the
city.
Getty pleasures and city ways-ah,
sec!' laughed the count. "You
young fellows are all alike"
Il am going to college, count"
"To college! What for?''
''To study
My dear boy remarked the count
afably, 'y' III have an erroneous i'm
preston about studying What are
you going to stndy?"
Christian was deeply embarrassed
lie rubbed his clumsy hands up and
down his leather brecches.
Il am going to be a scientist
''lou'll have Il hard row to hoe,
Christian. Better stay here, where
you can earn your daily bread and Il
little more. You may succeed in reach
ing the strange goal, but You may
starve in doing it"
Il have starved before"
"What plans have YOU made for
your future:'
Christian referred the count to the
Rev. Mr. Feinmann, who had conduct
ed his preliminary studies From him
his master learned that Christian ha n