Evening star., 1898-12-10
Copyright. 1898. by Rober. Barr

81
ta1ity? What, Not a single fagon of wine
IN the room. This makes my deep regret
almost unbearable. Surely, Beilstein you
might have amended that, if only for the
sake Of an old and constant comrade.
ruin. gentlemen. until | heard the bell of
me castle toll. had no thought that this
was the day of our meeting, and them to
my despair found myself an hour away
and have ridden hard to be among YOU
ihen noticing there was something omin-
Gus in the air. and an unaccustomed silence
TO greet his words. he looked from one to
the other. and his eye, travelling up the
table, rested finally upon the archbishop IN
hls chair Count Winneburg drew himself
up, MS ruddy face coloring like fire. Then
BEFORE any person could reach out hand TO
check him or move lip In counsel the
count, with a fer. oath. strobe to th,.
tsurper. grasped him by the shoulders
y .trted n 5 hee.s high above his head ana
nGng him like Il sack of corn to the smooth
Ecor, where the unfortunate archbishop
huddied In helpless heap, slid along the
poLshed surface as if he were on ice. The
EIttch MOBILES stood stock still, appalled, at
this unexpected outrage upon their over
ICrd Winneburg seated himself in the
Chalr with an emphasis that made even
the SOLID table rattle. and bringing down
him. shouted:
Let no man occupy my chair unless he
mas weight enough to remain there"
baron Beilstein and one or two others
assisted him to his feet
count Winneburg." said Beilstein, you
can tAPect no sympathy from US for such
d course OF violence in your own hail.
Il want none of your sympathy roared
the angry count. "Bestow it on the man
now IN your hands who needs it, If you
want the archbishop of Treyes to act as
your chairman. elect him to the position in
welcome l snail have no usurpaton in
my castle. While am chairman | sit in
the chalr, and none other"
Ihere was murUur of approval at this
Ior one and all were deeply suspicious OF
ihe archp-shops continued encroachmentg.
His lordship of Treves. once more on his
rect, his lips palid and his face coiorIess
looked with undisgused hatred at his as
saitant. 'Winneburg." he said slowly,
you will apo.o oglze abjectly for this m,
SUIT, and that in the presence of the mob es
OF TINS empire, or | shall see TO il that moi
one stone of this castle remains upon an
other"
Indeed" said the count. nonchalantiv.
Il shall apologize to you. my lord when
you nave apologiZed to me for taking my
place AS 10 the castle, it is said that the
ueNll assisted in the building of it. and it IS
quite Lheiy that through 1renuship tor YOU
ne may preside over It's destruction"
Ihe archbishop made no reply out bow
Ing haughtiiy 10 the rest of the companv
who looked on glum enough. well kroyyiuy
that the episode they had Witnessed meant
IN all probability, red war let loose down
me smlling valley of the Moselie, left the
Ritter-SeIe. "
Now that the council is duly convened
IN regular order" said Count Winneburg,
when the others had seated themselves
around ms table, what questions of state
come up for discussIon?"
for moment there was no answer to
tlIS query. the deIega tes looking at one
another speeches.. But at last Baron
beIsteln, Struggling his shoulder, said,
dryIy: ''
Indeed, my lord count l think the time
lot fatk !
look ciosely 10 the STRENGTHENING of olIr
"aLs, which are like to be tested before
!ohg pY the Lion of Treves 1t NAV have
been unwlse. Winneburg to have ussd tho
archDlshop so roughly. ne beng upaccus.
toned to athletic exercise: but. Iet Tha
consequences be what they may, L for one
will stand by you"
And |, and l, and I, and l." cried the
olherS, with the exception of the Knisht
OF Ehretourg. who, hvIBg as he did ne3r
the town OF CobIentz, was learned in the
Jaw ana not so ready as some of his COM
raues To speak first and think afterward
Wy souu lfienus, cried their presiding
oHlcer, quite evidently deeply moved bv
TINS token OF their fealIy. what | have
tiohe' nave done, be 1t wise or the re-
seIse' ana lhe results must fall On my
mead alone No words Of mIne can rpo1ya
the aust OF the floor from the archbis mons
ctodh' so II he comes, let him come /
ShaI give him as hearty a welcome as n ts
IN my power to render All esk ia eair
pay, and those who stand sside sbslI on on
good night. 1t is not right that a hesv
act OF mine should cmbroil the peacef,i,
countryside; SO If Treves comes or | sba,
meet nm alone, here in nv csstIa D.
nevertheless, / thank you all for vou- -
1CFS 0l htip. Thai Is al, except the Knight
VI Ehrehpufg' whose tender of asslstancn
II made, has escaped my ear
Ihe hnight of Enrenburg had I'M ,o ,h,,
moment oeen studying the textura nf ~
oakeh table on which mis- hagou sat NJ
ne looked up and spoke slowly.
mace no proner of help" he said "he
cause none Will be needed 1 heiiave g.,
lar as the archbishop of Treves ia con,.. ~
ed. ne count, d moment ago said thar q /,
ne wanted was far play, but that is insf
what ne mas no right to expect from ms
present antagonist. The archbIshln vii,
make no attempt on this caste; he Will arr
iaucn more subtly than that The scch
plshop VIII lay the redress of his quarrel
upon the shoulders of the emperor ,na II
Is the Oncnming of the imperial troops Won
nave 10 rear, and not an INVASION from
IreFes. Against the forces of the ernperor
we are powerIess. united or divided In
deed MS majesty may call upon us To in
vest this castle. whereupon, If we ref,se
We are rebels, who have broken our oaths.
hat. then, is there left for me To do?"
asked the count. dIsmayed at the coil in
Wnich ne had involved himself
Notmug. advised the knight Of Ehren-
Dufs, except apologize abjectly to the
archbishop, and that not too soon. for his
Iorushlp may not accept II. But when he
formally demands 1t / should render 1t TO
hlm on his own terms. and think myself
Well out of an awkward position"
Inc Count OF Ninneburg rose from his
seat, and. lifting his clinched fist high
above his head, shook it at the timbers { f
the roof.
That" he cried. will never do. while
| one stone of Winneburg stands upon an
other
Al this those present, always with the
exception Of the Knight of Ehrenburg
| sprang to their feet, shouting:
imperial troops or no. we stand bY the
| Count OF Winneburg"'
Some one flashed forth a sword, aud in
stantiy Il glitter of blades was in ths air
| ana cheer after cheer rang to the rafters
| W hen the uproar had somewhat subsidized
| the Knight of Ehrenburg said calmly;
My castle stands nearest 20 the can
= ital and will be the first to fall but never
| theless, hoping to do my shouting when the
war Is ended. l Join nay forces with those
| of the rest OF your
| And amidst this unanimity and much
emptying OF fagons. the aSsemblage dis
| solved. each man with his escort taking his
| way to his own stronghold, to con more
| soberly. perhaps. next day the problem
| that confronted them. They We're
hphr hrpra nl1 o,,d IA