The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-16
CHAPTER TX.
The Castle of Sagan.

Inc broadly HOWlHS holh AOAhio
part of the northeastern boundary of
the state of Nassau. Its dark waters
rush unanimously from the gorge be-
low the castle of Sagan, and fling a
vast inclosing arm about the bleak
pains and marshes of which the wastes
Of the frontier consists.
1t is a land where even summer
dwellS coldly.
To the north a chain of hills rises
black against the sky, and there, set
upon a boldly jutting spur, the castle
Of Sagan dominates the inhospitable
landscape like a frown upon a sinister
face.
The whole spur and the hill behind
II are rough with ragged pine woods,
and, below, the banks shelve to the
river with a broken scattering of de-
ciduous trees, that leave on the eye
the chill impression of leafiesS branches
tangled against a background of gray
and stony slopes.
Some two or three miles south of the
castle the river breaks across a step
like outcrop of rock, and thus forms
that famous ford, across which the
counts of Sagan used in the old days
to lead their foraging expeditions over
the border
Simon of Sagan, the present count,
inherited in an unmodified degree the
more predatory and uncivilized IN
stincts of his forefathers. Illiterate,
brutal. and cunning, the thin veneer
laid by the nineteenth century upon
his coarse grained nature was apt to
rub off on the very slightest friction,
bringing the original savage to the
surface.
He was at once the terror and the
bride of the stolid, silent peasantry
that lived under his rule. A fierce and
fearless sportsman, his dependents de-
lighted in boasting of the prowesS OF
a master whose capricious cruelties
they never dreamed of resenting. With
Sagan, throughout life, to desire was
to have. and in his pursuit OF the
wished-for object, he was hampered by
no new-fangled sentiments of honor,
truth or loyalty. Like other saVages,
he quickly tired of his fancies when
once gratified. Not four years ago ne
had been possessed by a frantic pas
sion for the beautiful young wife
whom he had now come to regard with
something dangerously near hate.
In dealing with such a temperament
as this both Elmur and Selpdorf were
we'll aware that they were handling
an explosive that might at any mo-
ment wreck their most careful laid
plans. They would very (luch have
reigning duke, but Selpdorf, who had
been plving him for more than a
month with a ceaselesS and exhaustive
course of innuendo, Encouragement
and yelled temptation, was at length
convinced, by the dukes reply on the
day of the review that nothing further
was to be hoped for in that direction
For this reason the German party
was Obliged to fall back on Count
10 was mira mmeled DV
principle, and was, moreover, prepared
TO meet them half way, rendered their
schemes no whit safer. The only
hone of security lay in clinching the
matter as quickly as it was possible TO
do so. Once the German grasp had
been fairly laid upon the state. the,
nominal sovereign might struggle as
he liked; he could hurt no one but NM
self.
NJ. Selpdorf's chief contribution to-
ward the new plot!r-hich was to be
carried out at the counts own fortress,
the castle of Sagan-consiSted in send
ing an urgent letter after his daughter,
begging her 10 fall in with Won ElmurS
wishes.
Valerie received the letter in Nine. de
Sagan's apartments. The countess lay
on a couch. reading a French novel,
and yawning.
What a devoted papa,' she ex-
claimed. slancing up.
Valerie did not Immediately reply.
She was standing at the deep embayed
window that looked out toward the
river and the apparently endless desc
Iation beyond. She only moved very
slightly, thereby turning her back even
more completely upon her companion.
The girl had not lived so long in an
atmosphere of diplomacy without learn
ing the wisdom of keeping her own
counsel
She had for some time been aware of
Baron Won Elmurs admiration, but
only of late had he seemed anxious to
make his aspirations manifest to the
public-a much more significant fact.
For the German wdS in one way a uni
versal admirer; ne made qualified love
to most of the good looking ladies aboN
The court, and also, perhaps, more
pointedly to some who were not so good
looking. thus gaining much profit and
some pleasure. His high-shouldered,
portly, personable figure, his handsome
face. with its close-set, narrow eyes,
rose before Valerie's mental eye. Her
future husband? How absurd; how inn
possible, and she suddenly laughed a
soft, throaty ripple of laughter.
Isolde moved noiselessly, and coming
behind Valerie, caught her by the Shout
ders and swung her half round.
What are you laughing at?" she
asked over the girls shoulder.
Valerie moved away gently from I'M
der the slender hands.
Can you imagine yourself in love
with Baron Won Elmur?" she asked.
Were you laughing at that?' in
quired the other. incredulously.
Yes" with another little laugh.
"Ah, the devoted papa has been writ
ing of Baron Won Elmur?" said the
countess, with a arch smile. But 1
can understand being in love with
Won Elmur, He is-difficult Men no
longer in their first youth are much
the most interesting. The love of a
Young man is simple, he says what he
means, but when he grows older it is
not so. By that time he has gathered
memories, enlightenment. experiences:
and he begins by thinking he knows
one through and through. And why?-
because he knows other wonderland
them how imperfectly, AS if we were
not as various as the colors in the old
Sagan diademi Each woman is made
and each reflects her own
color. To teach man-old enough TO
it-this little fact about our
selves, is, / assure you. never dull
amusement"