The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-13

comDanv. who looked glum enough. wen
knowing that the episode they had VII
messed meant. in MI probability. rcd War
Inf loose down the smiling valley OF the
NoSclIc. left the Ititter-seilc.
Now that the council is duly con
yened in regular order. said COUNT
Winnehur-: when the others had seated
themselves round the table, what CUES
tinns of state come mp for discussion:
For i moment there was no answer 10
this query. the delegates looking AZ one
another SpeechIes~. But 1T last Baron
Beil.tein Struggling his shoulder san
dryly: -. ~
.Indcc!. my lord count. | think the
time for talk is past, and suggested
thar wp al look closely to the strengthen
mo Of our walls. which are like to be
tested before long by the Lion OF 1reVcS-
II may have been UnWiSe. lnnebur@-
10 have U<ed the archbishop 50 roughly
he being unaccustomed to athletic eNer-
else hut. let the consequences be WHAT
thcy may. | for one will stand by YOU.
And /. and |. and |. and l.. cried the
others. with the exception Of the knight
of Ehrcnbur@. who. living as he did
near the town Of Coblentz. was learned
in the law. and not 30 ready as some OF
his comrades to speak first and think
afterwards,
" GOOD friends" cried their presid-
ing officer. quite evidently deeply moved
ly his token Of their fealty. what |
have done. | have done. be it wise. or
ther reverse. and the results must fall on
nv head alone. No words of mine can
rpmoyc the dust of the floor from the
archbiShoD's cloak. so. if he comes. LET
him come. / shall give him aS hearty a
welcome as it is i'll my power TO render.
All | ask is fair play. and those who
stand aside shall see i good fight. 1t IS
not RIGHT that Il haSty act of mine
should cmbroil the peaceful countryside.
so if Treyes comes on | shall meet him
alone. here in my castle. But, neverthe-
less, | thank YOU ali for your offers of
help: that is all except the knight Of
Ehrenburg. whose tender Of assistance.
il made. has escaped my ear.
The knight Of Ehrenburg had up to
that moment been studying the texture
Of the Oakcn table on which his tlaGOn
sat. Now he looked up and spoke slowly:
Il made no prOffcr Of help. he said.
because none will be needed. | believe,
so far as the archbishop Of Ireves IS
concerned. The count. a moment ago.
said that all he wanted was fair play.
but that is just what he has no right
TO expect from his present antagonist.
The archbishop will make no attempt on
this castle: he will act much more subtly
than that. The archbishop Will lay the
redress of his quarrel upon the should
crs of the emperor. and it is the oncOm-
ing OF the impcarial troops you have to
fear. and not an invasion from Ircves.
Against the forces Of the emperor we
are powcrless. united or divided. In
deed, his majesty may call upon rs to
invest this castle. Whercupon. if we re-
fuse. we are rebels, who have broken
our oathS.'
'NNhaf. then. is there left for me to
do:' asked the count. dismaycd at the
coil in which he had involved himself.
Nothing. advised the knight Of
~Fhrenbur@. Except apologiZing ahjectly
to the archbishop. and that not too soon.
for his lordship may not accept it, But
when he formally demands it | should
render it to hin on his own terms. and