The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04

then if you can Ride for Treves as you
never rode before. Stop not TO fight
with any; everything depends on out
stripping pursuit. Take what horses
yon need wherever you find them, and
kill them all if necessary, but stop for
nothing. This ring will be warrant for
whatever you do.
Tell my general to invest this castle
| instantly with 10000 men, and to press
I forward the siege, regardless of my
! fate. Tell him to leave not one stone
! standing upon another and to hang the
widow of Starkenburg from her own
blazing tirnbers. Succeed, and knight
hood and the command of thousand
men awaits you
Il will succeed or die, my lord
Succeed and live said the arch
/ bishop shortly.
AS the horses slowly labored up the
zig-zagging road the view along the
silvery Moselle widened and extended,
J and at last the strong gray walls OF the
castle came into sight, with the ample
gates wide open. The horsemen in front
drew up in two lines on each side OF
the gates without entering, and thus
the archbishop at the head Of mis- little
band. slowly rode first under the arch
way into the courtyard of the castle.
On the stone steps that led to the
principal entrance of the castle stood a
tall, graceful lady with her women pc
hind her She was robed in black, ana
the head dress on her snow-Wnlte halr
gave her the appearance OF dlSnlneu
abbess at her convent door. Her serene
and PLACID face had undoubtedly once
been beautiful. and age, which had left
her form as straight and slender as one
OF her own forest pines, forgetting to
place its customary burden upon her
graceful shoulders, had touched her
countenance with a loving hand. With
all her womanliness there was never
theless. a certain firmness in the timely
nodded chin that gave evidence CT q
line Of ancestry that had net been any
too deferential to those in authority
the stern archbishop refined in his
black charger when he reached the
middle of the courtyard. but made no
motion to dismount. The lady came
slowly down the bread stone steps, fol-
lowed by her feminine train, and, ap-
preaching the elector, placed her white
hand upon his stirrup, in mute ac-
acknowledgement of her vassalage.
welcome, prince of the church and
protector of our faith. 1t IS loo years
since my poor house has sheltered so
august a guest"
The tones were smooth and soothing
as the scarcely audible plash of dis
tant fountain, but the incident she
cited struck ominOusly on the arch
bishops recollection. rousiaS memory
and causing him to dart quick glance
at the coun tess, in which was blended
sharp inquiry and awakened forebod-
ing, but the lady. unconscious OF his
scrutiny, stood with dropping head and
downcast eyes, her Shapely hand still
on his stirrup iron.
If I remember rightly, madam, my
august predecessor slept well beneath
this roof"
Alas, yes murmured the lady
sadly: we have ever accounted it the
greatest misfortune of our line that he
should have died mysteTiOuSly here,
peace be 20 his soul.
Not so mysteriously, madam, but
that there were some shrewd guesses
concerning his malady."
That is true, my lord replied the
countess. simply. 1t was supposed
that in his camp upon the low lands
by the river he contracted fever from
which he died.
my journey by the Moselle has
been of the briefest. l trust, therefore,
have not within me the seeds OF his
fatal distemDer.
Il most devoutly echo that trust, my
lord, and pray that Cod, who watches
over US all, may guard your health
while sojourning here"
Forgive, me madame, If within the
shadow of these walls l say Amen TO
your prayer with some emphasis
The Countess Laurette contented
herself with bowling low and humbly
crossing herself making no verbal re-
ply TO his lOrdship's remark. She then
beseeched the archbishop 10 dismount,S
saying something of his need Of rest
and refreshment. begging him to allow
her TO be mis- guide TO the Ritter Saale. /
When the archbishop reached the
topmcst step that led to the castle
door. he cast an eve, not devoid of
anxiety, over the courtyard to see how
his following had Jared. The gates
were now fast closed and 40 horses were
ranged with their tails to the wall and
silent riders on their saddles. Rapid
as was his glance, it showed him mis-
guard huddled together in the center
of the court. his own black charger
with empty saddle the only living thing
among them that showed no signs of
disinav. Between two of the hostile
horsemen stood his captain, with Z
doublet torn and his headgear awry, !
evidently a discounted prisoner. The /
entered the gloomy castle /
with a sense of defeat Juggling down /
his heart TO a lower level than he had /
ever known it to reach before, for in I
days gone by when fate had seemed /
to press against him. he had been in
the LICK VI bdNliC anu AAN I'll al /
exultation in rallying his half-dis
followers, who had never
failed to respond to the call of a born /
leader of men. But here ne had to en-
counter silence, with semi-darkness
over his head, cold stone under foot and |
round him the unaccustomed hiss of /
skirts. e.
The countess conducted her guest +
the lofty knights hall. in /
which his lordship saw preparations for
a banquet going forward. An arched I
passage led them to a small room that
seemed to be within a turret hanging
over a precipice. as if it were an eagles
nest. This room gave an admirable
and extended view over the winding