The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-06-15

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 fierce oath, strobe
to the usurper, grasped him by the
shoulders, whirled his heels high above
his head and flung him like a sack Of
corn to the smooth 6oor, where the
unfortunate archbishop, huddled in O
helpless heap, slid along the polished
surface as If he were on ice. The Is
mobiles stood stock still, appalled, at this
unexpected outrage upon their over
lord. Winneburg seated himself in the
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
therev'
Baron Beilstein and one or two 9TH
ers hurried to the PROSTATE archbishop
and assisted him to his feet.
"Count Winneburg," said Beilstein,
"you can expect no sympathy from us
for such a course Of violence in your
own hall"
II want none Of your sympathyy'
roared the angry count. "Bestow it
on the man now in your hands, who
needs it. If you want the archbishop
Of Treves to act as your chairman,
elect him to the position in welcome.
shall have no usurpation In my castle.
While am chairman l sit in the chair
and none other"
There was murmur of approval at
this, for one and all were deeply sus-
picious of the archbishop's continued
| encroachments.
His lordship of Treves, once more on
his feet, his lips pallid and his face
colorless, looked with undisguised
hatred at his assailant. "Winneburg,"
he said slowly, you will apologize alb
! jectly for this insult and that in the
presence of the mobiles of this empire,
or shall see to it that not one stone
Of this castle remains upon another"
| Indeed" said the count nonchalant-
ly. 81 shall apologize to you. my lord,
when you apologize to me for taking
my place. AS to the castle. 1t is said
that the devil assisted In the building
of it, and it is quite likely that through
friendship for you he may preside over
| its destruction"
| The archbishop made no reply, but,
bowling haughtily to the rest Of the
company, who looked glum enough,
well knowing that the episode they
had witnessed meant in all probability
red war let loose down the smiling val
| ley of the Moselle. left the rittersaal.
"Now that the council Is duly con-
vened in regular ORDER" said Count
Winneburg when the others had seat
ed themselves round his table, what
| questions of state come up for discus
| sion?"
For moment there was no answer
to this query. the delegates looking at
| one another speechless. But at last
Baron Beilsteln, struggling his shoul-
der, said dryly:
Indeed, my lord count, think the
time for talk is past, and / suggest
that we all look closely to the strength
ening Of our walls, which are likely to
be tested before long by the lion Of
| Treves. 1t may have been unwise,
| Winneburg, to have used the archbish-
| op so roughly. he being unaccustomed
| to athletic exercise; but, let the conse-
quences be what they nay, for one
| will stand by you."
"And l. and l, and l, and Ip' cried
| the others, with the exception of the
knight of Ehrenburg, who, living as
he did near the town of Coblentz, was
learned in the law and not so ready as
some of his comrades to speak first
| and think afterward.
"My good friends" cried their pre-
siding officer, quite evidently deeply
moved by this token of their fealty,
what l have done l have done, be 1t
wise or the reverse. and the results
must fall on my head alone. No words
of mine can remove the dust of the
| floor from the archbishop's cloak, so, If
he comes, let him come. shall give
him as hearty a welcome as it is in
| my power to render. All I ask Is fair
| play. and those who stand aside shall
see good fight 1t Is not right that q
| hasty act of mine should embroil the
| peaceful countryside, so II Treves
| comes on | shall meet him alone, here
in my castle. But nevertheless thank
| you all for your offers of help; that is,
all except the knight of Ehrenburg,
whose tender of assistance, IL made,
has escaped my ear"
The knight OF Ehrenburg had up to
that moment been studying the texture
| of the oaken table on which his flagon
sat Now he looked up and spoke
slowly.
81 made no proffer of help" he said,
because none will be needed, l be-
| lieve, so far as the archbishop of
Treves is concerned. The count a mo-
ment ago said that all he wanted was
fair play. but that is just what he has
no right to expect from his present an
tagonist. The archbishop will make
no attempt on this castle. He will act
much more subtly than that. The
archbishop will lay the redress Of his
quarrel upon the shoulders of the en-
peror, and 1t is the oncoming of the
imperial troops you have to fear and
] not an invasion from Treves. Against
the forces of the emperor we are pow
| erless. united or divided. Indeed, his
majesty may call upon us to invest
this castle, whereupon. If we refuse,
we are rebels, who have broken our
| oaths."
"What. then. is there left for me to
| do?' asked the count. dismayed at the
| coil in which he had involved himself.
"Nothing" advised the knight of