Evening star., 1898-12-10

combat anything natural, would, In certain
circumstances, trust to swift fight for your
protection. Very We'll. my lord, YOU are
now confronted with som thing against
which your stout arm is as unavailing as it
"onlo be II an appariton stood in YOUR
pain There is before you the specter of
suothtty. Use arm instead of brain. and
you are a lost man. The archbishop ex-
pectS no apology. He looks for stalwart
STUBBORN man. defying himself and the en-
plfa combined. You think perhaps that the
| imperial troops Will surround your castle
ana that you may stand siege Now the
einperor would rather have you fight with
him than against him. but in truth there
VIII be no contest. Hold to Your refusal
ana you Will be arrested before you laaya
the precincts of this palace. You will he
tnro"h INTO / dungeon. your castle and
your lands. sequestered, and l call your at
! tentfon to the fact that your estate adioins
tht possessions of the archbishop at co-
| chem and heaven fend me for limiting that
MS lordshfp casts covetous eyes over his
boundary, yet, nevertheless he will prob
| ably not refuse to accept your possessions
| In reparatiOn for the insult bestowed unon
| him Put 1t this way, if you like: Would
you rather pleasure me or pleasure the
| archbishop of Treves?"
There is no question as to that" an
sWered the count.
Then it will please m> we'll If You prom
ise TO apologize to his lordship, the arch
| bishop of Treves. That his Iordshjn will he.
! equally pleased, very much doubt
VIII your majesty command me in omen
| court TO apologiZe?"
Il shall request you to do So I must nm
mold the fsudal law"
| Then / beseech your majesty to COM
| mand me, for l am loyal subject and will
obey
| God give me many such" said the en-
| peror, fervently and bestow upon me the
wisdom TO deserve them
| He extended his hand to the count, then
! touched a bell on the table beside him.
The officer who had conducted Winneburg
! entered silently and acted as his guide
| back to the thronged apartment they had
| left. The count saw that the great Grim
| son curtains were now looped up. giving a
| view of the noble interior of the room be
yond, thrOnged with the great of the en-
] plrs. The hall leading to it was almost de-
| serted. and the count, under convoy of two
| lancemen, being nearly as tall as their
| weapons, passed into the throne room and
| found all eyes turned upon him. He was
| brought to a stand before an elevated dais
| the center of which was occupied by a
! lofty throne, which at the moment was
| empty. Near 1T on the elevation stood the
| three archbishops of Treves, Cologne and
| Mayence, on the other side the Count PaIa-
| tine of the Rhine with the remaining three
| electors.
The mobiles of the realm occupied places
according to their degree. As the stall
| Wart count came in, a buzz of conyersa-
ton swept over the hall like a breeze
| among the leaves Of a forest. A malig-
| nant scowl darkened the countenance of
| the archbishop of Treyes but the faces
| OF Cologne and Mayence expressed q car
| tain Christian resignation regarding the
| contumely that had been endured by their
| colleague. The count stood stolidly where
| he was placed and sazed at the vacant
| throne, turning his eyes neither to the
| right nor the left. Suddenly there was a
| fanfare of trumpets, and instant silence
| smote the assembly First came officers OF
! the imperial guard in shining armor, then
I'm r1a1f Ix-trn and
| his majesty and last of all the emperor
| himself, a robe of great richness ciasped
| at his thoat and trailing behind him, the
| crown of the empire upon his head. His face
| was pale and stern, looking what he was
| a monarch and q man. The count rubbed
| his eyes and could scarcely believe that
| ne stood now in presence of one who had
! chatted aniably with him but a few mo-
| ments before.
| The emperor sat on his throne and one
| of his councillors whispered for some mo-
/ ments to him, then the emperor said in n
| low, clear voice that penetrated to tho
| farthest corner of the vast apartment:
| rs the Count of Winneburg hero?"
| Yes, your majesty.
| Let him stand forward.
! The count strobe two long steps to tho
| front and stood there, red-faced and abash-
! ed. The officer at his side whisnered.
! "kneel, you fool, kneel.'
| And the count got himself somewhat
| clunsily down upon his knees, like an ele-
| phant preparing to receive its burden The
| face of the emperor remained impassiye
| and he said harshly:
| stand up!'
The count onos moro upon his feet