The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-11
THE COUNT S APOL OGY.
BY ROBERT BARR.

NCOpyrl2bC, 1898, 13y Robert Barr
The fifteen mobiles who formed the
council Of state for the Moselle valley
stood in little groups in the rittersaal
Of Winneburg's castle, situated on a
hilltop in the Ender valley, a league
or so from the water of the Moselle.
The mobiles spoke in low tones together,
foR a greater than they were present,
NO other than their over-lord, the arch
bishop Of Treves, who, in his stately
robes of office, paced up and down the
long room, glancing now and then
through the narrow windows which
gave view down the Ender valley.
There was trace of Impotence in his
lordship's bearing, and well there might
be, for here was the council of state in
aSSemblages yet their chairman was ab-
sent, and the mobiles stood there help
lessly, like a flock of sheep whose Shep-
herd is missing. The chairman was no
other than the Count of Winneburg
himself, in whose castle they were now
collected, and his lack OF Dunctuality
was thus a double discourtesy, for lie
was host as well as president.
Each in turn had tried to soothe the
anger of the archbishop, for all liked
the Count of Winneburg, a bluff and
generous hearted giant, who would
stand by his friends against all corners,
was the quarrel his own or no. In truth
little cared the stalwart count of WIN
neburg whose quarrel it was so long as
his arm got opportunity of welding a
blow in it. His lordship of Treves had
not taken this championship OF the
absent man with good grace, and now
STROBE apart from the group, holding
himself haughtily, muttering, perhaps
prayers, perhaps something else.
When one by one the mobiles had ar
rived at Winneburg's castle, they were
informed that its master had gone
hunting that morning, saying he
would return in time for the midday
meal, but nothing had been heard of
him since. although mounted messen-
gers had been sent forth, and the great
bell in the southern tower had been set
ringing when the archbishop arrived.
1t was the general opinion that Count
Wlnneburg, becoming interested in the
chase, had forgotten all about the
meeting, for it was well known that the
counts body was better suited for ath-
letc sports or warfare than was his
Amind fer the consideration of questions
vi state, and the mobiles, themselves of
Similar caliber. probably liked him none
the less on that account.
Presently the archbishop stopped in
his walk and faced the assemblage.
My lords, he SAID, I'VE have already
waited longer than the utmost stretch
of courtesy demands. The esteem in
which Count Winneburg holds our de-
alterations is indicated by his ineXcuS-
able neglect OF a duty conferred upon
him by you, and voluntarily accepted
by him. / shall, therefore, take my
place in his chair, and 1 call upon You
to seat yourselves at the council
table"
Saying which, the archbishop strobe
to the vacant chair and seated himself
in it at the head of the board. The
mobiles looked one at the other with
some dismay for it was never their in
tention that the archbishop should pre-
side over their meeting, the object of
which was rather TO curb that high
prelate's ambition, than to confirm still
further the power he already had over
them. When year before these coun-
ellis Of state had been inaugurated, the
archbishop had opposed them; but,
finding that the emperor was inclined
to defer TO the wishes of his mobiles, the
lord of Treves had insisted upon his
right TO be present during the delbeTa-
tons, and this right the emperor had
conceded. He further proposed that the
meeting should be held at his own
castle OF Cochem, as being conveniently
situated midway between Coblentz and
TreVes; but to this the mobiles had, with
fervent unanimity. objected. Cochem
castle, they remembered, possessed
strong walls and deep dungeons, and
they had no desire to trust themselves
within the lions jaws, having little
faith in his lordship's benevolent inten-
tons toward them. The emperor seem
ed favorable to the selection of Cochem
as convenient place OF meeting, and
IAs mobiles were nonplussed, because
fIey could not give their real reason
for wishing to avoid it, and the arch
bishop continued to press the claims OF
Cochem as being of equal advantage tc
al
1t is not as though I asked them tc
come to TreVeS,' said the archbishop
for that would entail long journey
upon those living near the Rhine, and
in going TO COchem / shall myself have
from Coblentz
The emperor said:
1t seems q. most reasonable selec-
ton, and unless some strong objection
be urged. shall confirm the choice OF
Cochem.
The mobiles were all struck with ap-
prehension at these words, and knew
not what to say, when suddenly, tc
their great delight. up spoke the stall
wart count Of Winneburg.
Your majesty he said my castle
stands but a short league from Coch-
EN-, and has a Rittersaal as large as
that in the Pinnacled palace owned by
the archbishop. 1t is equally convent
eat TO all concerned, and every gentle
man is right welcome to its hospitality
nv cellars are well filled with goo6
wine, and my larders are stocked will
abundance of food All that can bG
urged in favor of Cochem applies with
equal truth to the Schloss Winneburg
If. therefore, the council viii accept
of my roof, il is theirs