Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-06-05

The count Hung him like n sack 0f corn 70
the smooth floor.
Winneburg. distrust at once took hold
Of them. for they were ever Jealous OF
the encroachments Of their overload.
The archbishop glared angrily around
him. but no man moved from where
he stood.
II ask you to be seated. The council
Is called to order"
Baron Beilstein cleared his throat
and spoke. seemingly with some hesl-
tation. but nevertheless with a touch
Of obstinacy In his voice:
"May we beg little more time for
Count winneburg? He has doubtless
gone farther afield than he intended
when he set out. myself know some.
thing Of the fascination Of the chase
and can easily understand that 1t
wipes out all remembrance Of lesser
things"
"Call you this council lesser thingT
demanded the archbishop. Eve have
waited an hour already, and shall not
give the laggard moment more"
Indeed, my lord, then I am sorry to
hear It. would not willingly be the
man who sits In Winneburgs chair
should he come suddenly upon u.s."
"Is that a threatT asked the arch.
bishop, frowning.
warning. ! am a nelghbor Of the
count and know him well, and what
ever his virtues may be calm patience
Is not one Of them. II time hangs
heavily. may I venture to suggest that
your lordship remove the prohibition
| you proclaimed when the counts serv-
ants offered us wine and allow me TO
act temporarily as host and order the
fiagons to be filed. which. think, will
please winneburg better when he
comes than finding another In bis
chair"
This Is no drunken revel, but q
council Of state" said the archbishop
sternly. "and I drink no wine when
the host is not here to profrer IT,"
Indeed, my lord" said Beilstein.
with a shrug Of the shoulders, "some
Of us are SO thirsty that we care not
who makes the offer 80 long as the
wine be sound"
What reply the archbishop would
have made can only be conjectured.
for at that moment the door burst
open. and In came Count Winneburg.
a head and shoulders above any man
In that room and huge In proportion.
my lords. my lords" he cried. bis
loud voice booming to the rafters. how
can ask you to excuse such q breach
of hospitality? What! Not single
fagon Of wine In the room! This
makes my deep regret almost unbeara-
BILE. Surely. Beilstein. you might have
amended that. II only for the sake OF
an old and constant comrade. Truth.
gentlemen. until heard the bell OF the
castle toll I had no thought that this
was the day of our meeting. and then,
to my despair. I found myself an hour
away and have ridden hard to be
among you"
Then. noticing there was something
ominous In the air and an unaccus-
toned silence to greet his words. he
.oked from one to the other, and bis
eye, travelling up the table, rested final
" upon the archbishop In his chair.
Count winneburg drew himself up,
his ruddy face coloring like fire. Then
before any person could reach out
hand to check him or move lip In coun'
sci, the count, with a fierce oath, strobe
to the usurper, grasped him by the
shoulders. whirled his heels high above
his head and flung him like sack OF
corn to the smooth 6oor. where the
unfortunate archbishop, huddled In q
helpless heap. slid along the polished
surface as II he were on Ice. The IL
mobiles stood stock still. appalled, at thIi
unexpected outrage upon their over
lord. Winneburg seated himself In the
chair with an emphasis that made
even the solid table rattle and. bring
ing down his huge fist crashing on the
board before him. shouted:
"Let no man occupy my chair unless
he has weight enough to remain
thereP'
Baron BeIlstein and one or two 9th
ers hurried to the PROSTATE archbishoT
and annigted him t0 hia feet.