Evening star., 1898-12-10

Couht OF alnneburg, said the emperor
slowly, lit Is alleged that upon the occa-
sion of the last meeting of the council of
state for the Moselie valley you. in
presence Of the mobiles there assembled,
cast slight upon your over-lord. the arch
bishop of Treves. Do you question the
statement? The count cleared his throat
several times, which in the Stiffness of that
vauited room sounded like the distant
booming of cannon.
l. IF to cast the archbishop half the dis
tance of this room is 10 cast a slight upon
him, | did so. your majesty"
There was Simultaneous ripple of laugh
ter at this instantly suppressed when the
searching eye of the emperor swept the
room.
Sir count said the emperor severely,
the particulars of your outrage are not
required of you; only your admission there
Of Hear then my commands Betake
yourself to your castle of Wiuneburg and
hold yourself there in readiness to proceed
to Ireves on a day appointed by his lord
ship the archbishop. eector of this
pre-, there to humble yourself before him,
and crave his pardon for the offense you
nave committed. Disobey at your peril"
Once or twice the count moistened his
dry lips. then hs said:
Your majesty, / will obey any command
you place upon me-
I'm that case" continued the emperor.
his severity vsiby relaxing, Il can prom
Use that your over-lord will not hold this
Incident against you such. 1 understand,
Is your intention. my lord archbishop"
Prince of Treves.
The archbishop bowed low, and thus
yelled the malignant hatred in his eyes.
Yes, your majesty" he replied. pro
Vlding the apology Is given as publicly
was the insult, in presence of those who
We're witnesses of the counts foo.ishness.
That Is but Just condition. said the
emperor. Remember, that the council will
be summoned to Treves to hear the counts
apology And now, Count of Winneburg,
You are at liberty to withdraw"
The count drew his mammoth hand across
his brow and scattered to the floor the
moisture that had collected there. He tried
to speak, but apparently could not; then
turned and walked resolutely toward the
door. There was instant outcry at this,
the chamberlain of the court standing in
stupefied amazement at a breach of eti-
quette which exhibited any mans back to
| the emperor, but a smile relaxed the en-
perors lips and he held up his hand.
DO not est him. he said. as the
count disappeared. He Is unused to the
artificial manners of a court. In truth. l
take it as friendly act. for am sure the
foe" which imperial witticism was well re-
ceived, for the sayings of an emperor rarely
lack applause.
The count. vending his long way home
by the route he had come, spent the first
half of the journey in cursing the arch
bishop, and the latter half In thinking over
the situation. BY the time he had reached
his castle he had foTmu ated a plan and
this plan he proceeded to put into execution
on receiving the summons of the archbish-
| op to come to Treyes on the first day of the
following month and make his apology, the
archbishop. with characteristic penuriouS-
ness. leaving the inviting of the fifteen no.
| bes who formed the council to Winneburg.
and thus his lordship of Treves was saved
| the expense of sending special messengers
| tc each. In case Winneburg neglected to
summon the whole council. the archbishop
added to his message, that he would refuse
| to receive the apology if any of the mobiles
ont
| first to Beistein, asking him to attend at
Treves on the second day of the month. and
bring with him an escort of at least 1850
men. Another he asked for the third, an
other for the fourth, another for the fifth,
and so on, resolved that before complete
quorum was present half of the month
would be gone and with it most of the
archbishop's proyender, for his lordship. ac
cording to the law Of hospitality, was bound
| 10 entertain free of all charge to them
selves the various mobiles and their escorts.
On the first day of the month Winneburg
entered the northern gate OF IreVe5, ac-
companied by 200 horsemen and 500 foot
| soldiers. At first the officers of the arch
bishop thought that an invasion was con-
templated. but Winneburg suaVely eX-
platned that If q thing was worth doing
| at all 1t worth doing well, and he was
| not going to make any hole and corner af-
| fair of his apology. Next day Belstein
came along, accompanied by 500 cavalry
and 800 foot soldiers. The chamberlain of
the archbishop was in despair at having TO
find quarters for SO many. but he did the
best he could, while the archbishop was
enraged to find that the mobiles did not
assemble In greater haste, but each as he
| came had plausible excuse for his delay.
Some had to build bridges. sickness had
| broken out in another camp, while third
expedition had lost its way and wandered
| in the forest. The streets of TreVes each
night resounded with songs Of revelry, va
| ried by the clash of swords, when party
of the newcomers fell foul of a party of
the town soldiers, and the officers on
either side had much ado to keep the
peace among their men. The archbishops
wine cups We're running dry, and the price
of provisions had risen, the whole surround
| ing country being placed under contribu-
ton for provender and drink. When
week had elapsed the archbishop relaxed
his dignity and sent for Count Winneburg.
we will not wait for the Others lie
said. Il have no desire to humiliate you
unnecessarily. Those who are here wll
bear witness that you have apologized, and
SO l shall not insist the presence of the
| aggards, but will receive your apology to-
morrow at high noon IN the great council
| chamber
All there speaks a noble heart. ever
| thinking generously of those who despite
| fully use you, my lord archbishop" said
Count Winneburg. But no. no, L cannot
| accept such a sacrifice. The emperor
showed me plainly the enormity of my
offense In the presence of all / insulted
| You. wretch that 1 am. and in the pres
But | do not seek your abasement," pro-
tested the archbishop. frowning.
The more honor, then, to your benevo-
| lent nature answered the count "and the
more shameful would 1t be of me to take
| advantage of it. As I stood short time
| since on the walls | saw coming up the
| river the banners of the Knight of Ehren.
| burg. His castle is the farthest removed
| from Treves, and the others cannot
| surely delay long. We will wait my lord
archbishop, until all are here. But thank
| you just as much for your generosity as
| If ] were craven enough to shield myself
| behind it,
| The Knight of Ehrenburg in due time
| arrived, and behind him his thousand men
| many of whom were compelled to sleep in
| the public buildings, for all the rooms in
| Treves were occupied Next day the arch
| bishop summoned the assembled mobiles ard
| said he would hear the apology In their
presence. If the others missed it, it was
! their own fault; they should have been in
| time.
| Il cannot apologize" said the count "un
| til all are here. 1t was the emperors order
| and who am | to disobey-1ny emperor? We
must await their coming with patience and
| indeed Treves is a goodly town, in which
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