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


"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
siong"
For n moment there was no answer
to this query, the delegates looking at
one another speechless. But at last
Baron Beilsteln, Struggling bis shoul-
der. said dryly:
Indeed. my lord count, 1 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
Trcves. 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 |, and |, and I. and IT, 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 10 speak first
and think afterward.
"My good friends" cried their pre-
siding officer. quite evidently deeply
moved by this token OF their fealty.
"what have done have done, be II
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. IL
he comes, let him come. | shall give
him as hearty a welcome as II Is In
my power to render. All ] ask Is fair
play. and those who stand aside shall
see q good fight II Is not right that a
hasty act OF mine should embroil the
peaceful countryside. so II Treyes
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. II 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 tiagon
sat. Now he looked up and spoke
slowly.
81 made no proffer Of help" he said.
because none will be needed. | oe-
lieve, 50 far as the archbishop Of
Treyes Is concerned. The count 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 II 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. II we refuse.
we are rebels. who have broken our
oaths."
"what. then, Is there left for me to
DOR asked the count. dismayed at the
coil In which he had involved himself.
Nothing" advised the knight OF
Ehrenburg. except apologize abjectly
to the archbishop. and that not too
soon, for his lordship may not accept
II. But when he formally demands II
should render II TO him on his own
terms and think myself well out OF an
awkward position"
The Count Of Winneburg rose from
his seat and. lifting bis cllnched fist
high above his head, shook II at the
timbers Of the roof.
That" he cried, "will l never do
while one stone Of Winneburg stands
upon another"
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 sword, and
instantly a glitter Of blades was in the
| air. aud 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 fagons 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 lighters 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 bt
ready for whatever chanced, and just
as the count was beginning to congrat
ulate himself that his deed was to bt
without consequences there rode up tc
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 bis horn
the gates were at once thrown open t.
him. and. entering. he demanded In
slant speech with the count
my lord. Count Winneburg." h
said when that giant had presented
himself, Ibis majesty the emperor com
mands me to summon you to the cour
at Frankfort"
"Do you take me - prisoner, then 2
asked the count
i Nothing was said to me Of arrest
II was merely commissioned to delive'
to you the message Of the emperor"
| "what are your orders II refuse 4
soY'
] A hundred armed men stood behint