The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-24

 looking man. who seemed the superior officer of the two took much delight in conversing with Consuelo and Por pora. The maestro drank rather too much of the counts generous wine. The Baron de Kreutz, as the senior Prus sion officer called himself, asked some questions as to how the Porpora would treat a royal pupil should a royal pupil chance to make a false note. He replied: q would pardon Fritz a few false notes, even though he had tho impotence to make them in my pres ence, on condition that he would at once correct them"
 But .- he would not?" asked the count.
 Then l would wash my hands of him, even though he cut off my head, replied Porpora. And in this strain he rambled on in spite of the attempts of Consuelo to stop him, and greatly to the amusement of the Prussian, who kept spurring him on to wilder flights om imperial and royal disregard.
 That night the Prussians took their de- parture, and as they rode away the count said to Porpora and Consuelo: "Dld you not know who he was? It is Fritz hiin- self. I knew it all along. But he flies into a rage if you let him see that you
 
 Consuelo was troubled for the frank manner in which the maestro had ex-
 pressed himself, but Porpora felt no con-
 eern. Frederick might be King of Prus-
 sia, but he himself was king of song.
 They resumed their journey the next day.
 The cold was intense and night was
 closing in as they came to Prague. When
 they reached the great bridge over the
 Moldaw, the bridge where the great
 70 InIan NannrnI1pl< Gf1ndq of the horses slipped and fell before the
 statue Holy Virgin! cried the pos tilion, "an evil sign" Just then, as Por- pora and Consuelo alighted from the tray cling carriage to see how serious was tho
 accident a horsemanerode up and looked carefully at them. What was their sur
 prise to recognize in this newcomer the
 Baron Frederick of Rudolstadt.
 q was told to meet you here,' he said.
 "Come with me- I will explain. It is Al
 bert He waits for you" Then, rapidly
 as he could he told them that after the
 departure of Consuelo, Albert had grown
 ill and feeble with watching and waiting
 for her return. Now he was dying; and
 in a vision some days before he had seen the horse fall before the statue. and all that had now taken place. He mad writ ten his uncle to be upon the bridge at a certain hour and to bring Consuelo to him.
 All was ready for the journey, and by daybreak the next morning Consuelo saw again the turrets of the Castle of the Giants They found Albert seated in a chair in the hall, where for 30 days he had sat waiting and dying. The canoness opened the door and said to Consnelo: 'Fly to him. You need not fear to sur prise him, for he expects you and nas , seen you coming an hour ago" Consuelo tz n,,A fa11 at
 was no longer a man but a spectacle she beheld.
 q am happy now" said Albert as he let his withered hand fall upon the head of his beloved. "I believed you had aban- doned me and l gave myself up to de- spalr But during the last eight days l have regained my reason, which they call my madness. l have read hearts as oth- CTS read books. l have read at one
 glance the past, the present and the fu- ture. I learned. in short, that you were faithful Consuelo; that you tried to love me, and had for a time succeeded. Con
 sent now to a marriage of the church since It Is the only one that holds It's place in the estimation of men. This l must carry with me to the tomb Thus the dying Albert and Consuelo were wed-and with his head upon her breast he died sitting there in his anees- tral hall the last of the Kudolstadts. After it was all over and the body of Albert had been placed in the chapel the
 austehe Canoness sought an interview
 with Consuelo. "All Is In order" sald she with cold severity. As Albert's widow
 the title deeds to my nephew's estate
 shall be at once placed in your hands. You are also, as you are aware, the heir of all that the house of Rudolstadt now possesses"
 Pardon me. madame" replied Con
 suelo, T am rich enough. l have simple
 tastes and a love of labor The Baroness Amelia Is the heiress of the Rudolstadts, and I must beg permission to resume my journey at once. l am engaged to sing in Berlin"
 What" cried the Canoness. ''rhe Countess of Rudolstadt appear upon the stage"
 "There is no Countess of Rudolstad' other than yourself. madame" replied Consuelo.
 "Consuelo, my daughter" sobbed the Canoness breaking down completely "Reman with us. You have lofty soul and a great heart Do not leave us again." But Consuelo kissed the aged lady and was firm In her resolve. That night q traveling carriage bore her and Porpora again toward the Prus- sian frontier Meantime the great Fred , erick was taking snuff and recalling his adventures at the castle of Count Hoditz "Buddenbrock," said the King to his aide what think you of our maestro, the great Porpora?
 "He seems to me to be foolish, self | satisfied and il-tempered,' replied the l obsequious officer
 And I tell you" retorted Frederick | "that he Is a man of superior acquire | ments, full of wit and with most anus | ing irony When he arrives with his l pupil at the frontier you will send 2 1 comfortabl carriage to meet him. Anc l you are to hand him into 1t alone. You 1 understand? But at the same time you will treat him with every respect