Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-26
thought. with the blessing of God upon

my poor effortsr'
for an instant on the lips of the countess,
that might have been ikened to the mo-
mentary passing Of a gieam of sunshine
over the placid waters of the river far be-
that 1t was the habit of the fighting arch
bishop to ismite sturdily first and ask
whatever blessing might be needed on the
blow afterward.
THE permission being given. what fol-
lows?" u
That you will promise not to modest me
during the building, nor aeterward.''
"A natural corollary. 'Twould be little
worth to give permission and then bring up
10000 men to disturb the building. That
granted, remains there anything mcre::
rear trespass on your lordslip's pa
tience, but this is now the end A strong
house is never built with a weak purse.
do entreat your lordship to cause to be
sent to me from your treasury in Treves
LOU pieces of gold. that the castle may be
a worthy addition to your province
The archbishop arose, with scowl on
his face. and paced the narrow limits of
the room like Gagged lion. The hot anger
mounted to his brow and Redeemed it. but
he strobe up and down until he resained
control of himself, then spoke, with a
touch of hardness in his voice.
"A good fighter, madam, holds his
strongest reserves to the last. You have
called me prince Of the church, and
You rate me too high. The founder of our
church. when betrayed. was sold for silver,
and for lesser number of pieces than
you ask in gold.'
The lady, now standing, answered MOTH
Ing to his taunt, but the color flushed her
pale cheeks.
Il am then prisoner, and you hold me
for ransom, but it will avail you little. You
may close your gates and prevent my poor
dozen of followers from escaping. but the
news of this outrage will reach Treves, and
then your walls shall smoke for it,
Ifere will be meme of the Starken-
burgs left, either to kidnaD or to murder
future archbishops." Still the lady stood
silent and motioness as marble statue.
The elector paced up and down for time.
muttering to himself, and then smoce his
open palm against a pillar of the balcony
and stood gazing on the fair landscape of
the river and rounded hill spread below
and around him. Suddenly he turned and
looked at the countess. meeting her clear,
fearless gray eye, noticing for the first
time the resoute contour Of her finely
nodded chin.
Madame he said, with admiration in
his tone, you are brave woman
Il am not so brave as you think me, my
lord" she answered. coldly. There is one
thing l dare not do l am not brave
enough to allow your lordship to go free
If you refuse what / ask
and should not relent at first, there
are dungeons in Starkenburg where this
proud spirit, with which my enemies say
cursed, will doubtless be humbled."
Not so, my lord. You will be treated
with that consideration which should be
shown to one of your exalted statioi.'
Indeed! And melted thus by kindness.
how long, think you, will the process
take?
1T will be of the shortest, my lord, for If,
as you surmise, rumor should get abroad
and falsely proclaim that the archbishop
lodges here against his will, there's not a
flying baron or beggared knight in all the
land but would turn him in his tracks and
cry to Starkenburg, In Gods name, hold
him. widow, till We get our own again"
Willingly would they make the sum 1 beg
of you an annual tribute, so they might be
certain your lordship were well housed in
this castle"
widow, there is truth in what you say,
even If a woman hath spoken it, replied
the archbisho with a grim smile on his
from his dark eyes. This cowardly world
is given to taking advantage of a man
when opportunity offers. But there Is one
point you have not reckoned on. What of
my stout army living at Treves? What of
the arch when the keystone is withdrawn?
What of the sheep when the shepherd dis
aIpears?"
military gifts wrong. Through my deep
regard for you, gave strict command that
not even the meanest of your train should
be allowed to wander till all were safe
within these gates, tor l well knew that
your graoiots acceptance of the same reach
Treves, it might De misconstrued. and al
though some sturdy fellows would be true
ard beat their stupid heads against these
walls, the rest would scatter like a sheaf Of
arrows suddenly unlooged and seek the
strongest arm upraised in the melee sure to
follow. Against your army, leaderless,
would myself march out at the head of my
two score men without a tremor at my
heart; before that leader. alone and army
less, l bow my head with something more
akin to fear than have ever known before,
and crave his generous pardon for my bold
request"
The archbishop took her unressting hand,
and bending raised 1t to his lips with that
dignified courtesy which, despite his dis
claimer. he knew how well. upon occasion,
to display:
Madame" he said. II ask you to believe
that your request was granted even be-
fore you marshaled such unanswerable ar
guments to stand, like armored men,
around 1t. There is a stern and stringent
law of our church which forbids it's ser
wants suing for lady's hand. Countess, 1
never felt the grasp of that iron fetter until
row.
Thus came the strong castle above Trar-
bach to be builded, and that not at the ex-
pense of it's owners.