The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-06-22

tleIs lidl III OuG Ok bu0
corridors of your castle at midnight
you met q white robed. transparent
figure. through whose form your sword
passed scathlessly-what would you
DO, my lord?
'Indeed. your majesty would take
to my heels and bestoW myself else
where as speedily as possible"
"aIost wisely spoken, and you, who
are no coward. who would face willing
ly in combat anything natural, would
in certain circumstances trust to swift
flight for your protection. Very well,
my lord: you are now confronted with
something against which your stout
arm is as unavailing as 1t would be IL
an apparition stood in your path. There
is before you the specter of subtlety.
Use arm instead of brain, and you are
lost man. The archbishop expects no
apology. He looks for stalwart, stub
born man. defying himself and the en-
pire combined. You think perhaps that
the imperial troops will surround your
castle and that you may stand siege.
Now, the emperor would rather have
yOu light Win ullA lIhn dSdiASL Aal1Is
but in truth there will be no contest.
Hold to your refusal. and you will be
arrested before you leave the precincts
of this palace. You will be thrown into
q dungeon. your castle and your lands
sequestered. and call your attention
to the fact that your estate adjoins the
possessions of the archbishop at Co
chem. and heaven fend me for hint,
ing that his lordship casts covetous
eyes over his boundary, yet neverthe-
less he will probably not refuse to &C.
cept your possessions In reparation for
the insult bestowed upon 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 me well If you
promise to apologize to his lordship the
archbishop of Treves. That his lord
ship will be equally pleased very
much doubt"
"Will your majesty command me In
open court to apologize?"
Il shall request you to do so. must
uphold the feudal law"
''Then | beseech your majesty to
command me, for am a loyal subject
and will obey"
''God give me many such." said the
emperor fervently. land bestow upon
me the wisdom to deserve them!'
He extended his hand to the count.
then touched 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 crimson curtains
were now looped up. giving a view
of the noble interior of the room be.
yond. thronged with the great of the
empire. The hall leading to 1t was
almost deserted. and the count. under
convoy of two lancemen. being nearly
as tall as their weapons. passed in to
the throneroom and found all eyes
turned upon him. He was brought to
stand before an elevated dais, the
center Of which was occupied by
lofty throne. which at the moment
was empty. Near It on the elevation
Cologne and Mayence on the other
side the count palatlne of the Rhine
with the remaining three electors. The
mobiles Of the realm occupied places
according to their degree. AS the stal
wart count came In buzz of conver-
sation swept over the hall like breeze
among the leaves of a forest ma
lignant scowl darkened the counte-
nance of the archbishop of Treves, but
the faces of Cologne and Mayence ex-
pressed certain Christian resigna-
tion regarding the contumely that had
been endured by their colleague. The
count stood stolidly where he was
placed and gazed at the vacant throne.
turning his eyes neither to the right
nor the left. Suddenly there was a
fanfare of trumpets. and instant ST.
lence smote the assembly. First came
officers of the imperial guard In shin
Ing armor. then the Immediate ad-
visers and councillors of his majesty
and last of all the emperor himself, a
robe of great richness clasped at his
throat and trailing behind him. the
crown Of the empire upon his head
His face was pale and stern, looking
what he was, monarch and a man.
The count rubbed his eyes and could
scarcely believe that he stood now In
the presence of one who had chatted
amiably with him but few moments
before
The emperor sat on his throne, and
one of his councillors whispered for
some moments to him. Then the em-
peror said In low. clear voice that
penetrated to the farthest corner of
the vast apartment:
lis the Count of Winneburg hereY'
"Yes. your majesty"
"Let him stand forward"
The count strode two long steps to
the front and stood there. red faced
and abashed. The officer at bis side
whispered:
"Kneel. you fool. kneel."
And the count got himself somewhat
clumsily down upon his knees, like an
elephant preparing to receive its bur-
den. The face of the emperor remain
ed impassiye, and he said harshly:
"Stand upF'
The count once more upon his feet,
breathed deep sigh Of satisfaction at