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

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| upon anotherw
At this those present, always with
the exception Of the knight of Ehren-
burg, sprang to their feet, shouting:
Imperial troops or no, we stand by
the Count of Winneburg!"
Some one flashed forth a sword, and
instantly a glitter of blades was in the
| air, and cheer after cheer rang to the
rafters. When the uproar had some
what subsided, the knight of Ehren-
burg said calmly:
"My castle stands nearest to the cap
ital and will be the first to fall, but
nevertheless, hoping to do my shouting
when the war is ended, join my
| forces with those of the rest of you"
And amid this unanimity and much
emptying of flagons the assemblage
dissolved. each man with his escort
taking his way to his own stronghold,
to con more soberly perhaps the next
day the problem that confronted them.
| They were fighters all and would not
| finch when the pinch came, whatever
| was the outcome
Day followed day, with no sign from
| Treves. Winneburg employed the time
| in setting his house in order, to be
ready for whatever CHANGED, and just
as the count was beginning to congrat-
| ulate himself that his deed was to be
without consequences there rode up to
his castle gates a horseman, accom-
panied by two lancers, and on the new.
| comer's breast was emblazoned the i'm
perial arms. Giving voice to his horn,
the gates were at once thrown open to
him. and, entering, he demanded in
slant speech with the count.
"My lord, Count Winneburg," he
said when that giant had presented
himself. "his majesty the emperor COM
mands me to summon you to the court
at Frankfort"
"Do you take me as prisoner, thenT
asked the count.
Nothing was said to me of arrest.
l was merely commissioned to deliver
to you the message of the emperor"
what are your orders IL refuse to
go?"
A hundred armed men stood behind
the count. A thousand more were
within call Of the castle bell. Two
lances only were at the back Of the
messenger. but the strength Of the
empire was betokened by the symbol
on his breast. "My orders are to take
back your answer to his imperial mai
esty." replied the messenger calmly.
The count. though hot headed, was no
fool and he stood for moment pom
dering on the words which the knight
of Ehrenburg had spoken on taking
his leave:
"Let not the crafty archbishop en-
broil you with the emperor"
This warning had been the cautious
warriors parting advice to him.
IF you will honor my humble roof"
said the count slowly. "by taking re-
your company afterward to Frankfort
in obedience to his majesty's COM
mands."
The messenger bowed low, accepted
the hospitality. and together they
made way across the Moselle and
along the Roman road to the capital.
Within the walls of Frankfort the
count was lodged in rooms near the
palace. to which his conductor guided
him. and, although 1t was still held
that he was not prisoner, an armed
man paced to and fro before his door
all night. The day following his ar
rival Count Winneburg was summoned
to the court and in large anteroom
found himself one of a numerous
throng, conspicuous among them all
by reason Of his great height and bulk.
The huge hall was hung with tapestry
and at the farther end were great cur
tains, at each edge Of which stood
half dozen armored men, the detach-
ments being under command of two
gayly uniformed officers. Occasional
ly the curtains were parted by menials,
who stood there to perform that duty,
and high mobiles entered or came out
singly and in groups. Down the sides
Of the hall were packed some hun
dreds Of people. chattering together
for the most part and gazing at those
who passed up and down the open
space In the center.
The count surmised that the en-
peror held his court in whatever apart
ment was behind the crimson curtains.
He felt the eyes of the multitude upon
him and shifted uneasily from one foot
to another. cursing his ungainliness,
ashamed of the tingling Of the blood
In his cheeks. He was out of place in
this laughing. talking crowd, expert
encing the sensations Of an uncouth
rustic suddenly thrust into the tur-
moil of metropolis. resenting bitterly
the supposed sneers that were flung at
him. He suspected that the whisper
Ing and the giggllng were directed to-
ward himself and burned to draw his
sword and let these popinjays know
for once what a man could do. AS a
matter OF fact. 1t was a buzz of ad-
miration at his stature which went
up when he entered. but the count had
SO little of self conceit In his soul that
he never even guessed the truth. Two
mobiles passing near him. he heard one
Of them say distinctly:
''That Is the fellow who threw the
archbishop over his head" while the
other, glancing at him. said:
"By the coat. he seems capable Of
upsetting the three Of them. and I
for one wish more power to his muscle
should he attempt it."
The count shrank against the tapes
tried walls. hot with anger wishing
himself a dwarf that he might escape
the gaze Of SO many inquiring eyes.
Just as the scrutiny was becoming
,1phao ra tNla hio o0v,0o rgoy. "A htv,,