Evening star., 1898-12-10

castle. situated on i hilltop in the Finder
valley O. league or SO from the water of the
ATo-+lle. The ncb-rs spoke in low tones to-
gether Tor a greater than they was pres
eut uu other than thsir Over-lOrd, the arch-
hisucT, of Treves. VINO, in his stately robes
uf nffir. paced up and down the long room
giaucirc now and then through the narrow
Windows which gave d view down the En-
asf valley There was trace of impatience
IN his IrIdship's bearing. and well there
might he for here was the council of state
Ia assgmblage yet their chairman was ab-
saut and the mobiles stood there helplessly,
,ik- a fock of sheen whose shepherd Is
missing The chairman was no other than
fhs Count of Winneburg himself, in whose
castle they were now collected, and his
lack nf punctuaHty was thus double dis
cOlJrte~y for he was host well as presi-
don't
Each in turn had tried to soothe the anger
OF th" archbishop. for all liked the Count of
WiuuabIrs. a bluff and generous-hearted
giant who would stand by his friends
sK,iirSr al Comers was the quarrel h4s own
or H"- In truth title cared the staiwart
Count NJ WinnebuTg whose quarrel it was
- long a. ms arm got opportunity of WELD
i'm. 20 blow in IT.. His lOrdship Of Treves had
not taken this championship of the absent
man with good grace. and now Strode apart
from Tia" group. holding himself haushtI!y.
Thing .Sc.
when one by one. the mobiles had arrived
AZ WiuIeburg's castle, they were informed
that lis master had gone hunting that
morning. saying he would return in time
tor tn midday meal. but nothing had been
heard "f him since. a though mounted mes
seUSerS had been sent forth. and the great
bell ~ the southern tower had been set
ringing when the archbishop arrived. Ii
was the general opinion that Count Winnie
burg becoming interested in the chase. had
forgotten al about the meeting, for II was
Well known that the counts body was bet
Ter suited for athletic sports or warfare
than was his mind for the consideration Of
questions Of state. and the mob es. them
selves OF similar ca iber. probably liked
him non" the less on that account.
Presently the archbishop stopped in his
wIlk and faced the assembiage- My lords
he said. we have already waited longer
;hHE The utmost stretch of courtesy de-
inaHdS. The esteem in which Count Win
I.ehurE GJi,ls our de iberatiOns is indicated
by iis ineXcusable neglect of duty con-
ferTed upon him by you. and voluntarily ac-
Cepted hy him. l shall therefore take my
place in his chair. and | call upon You to
seat yourselves at the council table.
Saying which. the archbishop strobe to
the vacant ChSdr and seated himself in 1t
-. the head OF the board. The mobiles looked
one AT the other with some dismay for 1t
Was never their intention that the arch
bishop should preside over their meeting.
the object Of which was rather to curb that
high Prr.ate ambition, than to confirm still
further the power he already had over
them When year before these councils
~ state had been inausurated. the arch
hiSn0p 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 riPht 10 hs present during
the deliberations. and this right the en-
perOr had conceded. He further proposed
that the meeting should be held at his own
castl" OF COchem. a. being COnsen entity sit
natet midway between Cob entz and TreN es;
hut 10 this the nvBIpS al vi n fsryt nj
TnaLjn' ~ object ed. Cochenl castle hey re
nenThered. possessed strong walls ana deep
dungeons. and they rad no desire to trust
themselves within the lions jaws having
little faith ia his lOrdships benevolent in
renttOHs toward them. The emperor seemed
favorable TO the selection of COchem as
convenient place of meeting and the mobiles
were noHplusSed- because they could not
give their real reason for wishing 10 avoid
u. and fhc archbishop continued TO press
the claims of Cochem as being of equal ad-
f6utdgt 10 all
1t j. not as though I asked them to
come % Treves. said the archbishop "for
TGat would entail long journey upon those
living near the Rhine, and in going to
t"chcm ! shall myself have to travel as
isT ss those who come from Coblentz."
The emperor said:
l. seems most reasonable selection. and
unless some strong objection be urged. L
shall confirm the choice Of Cochem.'
Tn" mobiles were all struck with apprc-
he!.stoC AZ these words, and knew not what
10 say when suddenly, to their great de-
light, up spoke the stalwart Count of Win
IehUrs.
Your majesty" he said, my castle stands
out & short league from COchem. and has a
RttterSaal as large as tnat in the Pinnacled
palace owned by the archbishop. 1t is
equally convenient to all concerned, and
every gentleman is right welcome to it's
hospitality. My cellars are well filed with
good wine. and my larders aye stocked with
abundance of food All that can be urged
-
to the SchIOss Winneburg. IT, therefore
the council Will accept Of my roof, it Is
theirs
The mobiles with universal enthusiasm
cried
Yes. yes. Winneburg is the spot"
The emperor smiled, for he well knew
that hIs lOrdship of TTeves was somewhat t
pltSerly IN the dispensing of his hospitality.
lis preferred 10 see his guests drink the
win. OF . poor vintage rather than tap the
bottle which contained the wine of yield
d a good year. His majesty smilzd be-
cause ne Imagined his mobiles thought of the
Fepieri=hiug Of their StUmat hs, whereas
they were concerned for the safety of their
LEcks hut seeing them unanimous in their
choice hc nominated SchlOss Winnaburg
Fs the place Of meeting. and so il remained.
When. therefore, the archbishop Of
Trrves set himself down in the ample chair,
% which those present had, without q dis
seaJiug vote. elected Count WinneDurg, dis
tCUSt at once took hold of them. 1Cr they
Nere ever jealous OF the encroachments of
thsiT Over-lOrd. The archbishop garsd
enErily around him, but no man moved
from where he stood.
Il ask You to be seated. The council Is
called To- order"
Baron BeiIstein cleared his throat md
spoke. seemingly with some hesitation, Jut
nevertheless with a touch of obstiuttcy III
/ Is voice:
May We beg a little more time for Count
Winneburg? He has doubtless gone far
tEer ateld than he intended when he SET
out I myself knew something of the fa5-
cinatiOn OF the chase. and can easily under
stand that II wipes out all remembrance oi
lesser things"
"CsH YOU this council lesser thIng?" de.
banded the archbishop. I'VE have waited
gI nour already, and 1 shall not give the
l6Egerd a moment more"
Indeed my lord. then ] am sorry to heaI
H. l would not willingly be the man who
ats IN Winneburg's chair, should he come
suddenly upon US
Is that threat?" asked the archbishop
frowuing
1t - not threat, but rather q warming
am a DeighbOr of the count and know
him well. and whatever his virtues Etay be
calm patience is not one Of them If time
hangs heavily. may 1 venture TO suggest
that your l"rdship remove the prohiDit ION