The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-14

gossip, and q 5me :Hyauon, destined
by the hostess to disgust Leopold with
his chaneerorss matrimonial projects
did not advance by leaps and bounds
it was certainly not the fault of Baron.
ess Won ESndal. 80 8.
"Egon has been told to use his eyes
and ears for all they're worth at1Lyn.
dalberg. and now he's called upon to
hand in his first report" she said to
herself when the younger Won Brett.
stein was of on bis mission across the
lake. 80
But for once, at least, the "chan-
cellors jackal" was wronged by un-
Just suspicion. He arrived at Schloss
Breitstein ignorant of his brothers mo-
tive in sending for him: though he
shrewdly suspected 1t to be something
quite different from the one alleged.
The chancellor was.:in his study, a
deep windowed tower room. with
walls book lined nearly to the cross
beamed ceiling. He sat reading a
budget Of letters when Egon was an
nounced, and If he were really Ill he
did not betray his suffering. The
square face, with its beetling brows.
eyes of somber fire and forehead i'm
pressive as cathedral dome, showed
no new lines craven by pain.
"Sit down. Egon," be said abruptly,
tearing in half an envelope stamped
with the head Of Hungaria's king.
"I1l be ready for you in moment
The young man look the least un-
comfortable chair in the room. which
from his point of view was to say lit
tie in its favor. because the newest
piece of furniture there had been made
hundred years before the world un-
dersrood tnat lounglng was not
crime. Over the high stone mantel
hung shield. so brightly polished as
70 fulfill the Office of mirror. and
from where Egon sat. perforce upright
and rigid, he could see himself vi
gnetted in reelection.
He admired his fresh color. which
was like a girls, pointed the waXed
ends of his mustache with nervous
cigarette stained fingers, and, thinking
of many. agreeable things, from ba2-
carat to roulette from roulette to races
and races to pretty women. he wonder
ed which he had to thank for this sum-
mons to the chancellor. Unfortunately
Brother Lorenz knew everything
Ones pleasant peccadillos buzzed to
his ears like flies. There was little
hope Of deceiving him.
Egon sighed. and his eyes turned me-
chanically from his own visage on
shining steel to the letter held in an
old hand so veined that it reminded the
young man of q rock netted with the
sprawling roots of ancient trees. He
had just time to recognize the writing
as that of Adalbert,, crown prince OF
Hungaria, whom he knew slightly,
when keen eyes curtained with furled
and wrinkled lids glanced up from the
letter.
"Its coming" thought Egon. what
can the old chap have found out?"
But. to his surprise, the chanccllor's
first words had NO connection with him
or his misdeeds.
$50 our emperor is amusing himself
at Lyndalberg?
Egon's face frightened. He could
be cunning in emergencies, but he was
not clever, and always he felt himself
at disadvantage with the old states
man. Unless he had special favor to
ask he generally preferred discussing
the affairs of others with the chancel-
lor rather than allowing attention to be
attracted to his own. "Oh. yes" he
brightly. "His majesty is
amusing himself uncommonly we'll. /
never saw him in as brilliant spirits.
But you, dear Lorenz-tell me about
yourself. Is your gout''-
"The devil take my gout!
Egon started. "a good thing if he
did. provided he left you behind he
retorted, meaning exactly the opposite, 1
as he often did when trying to measure
wits with the chancellor. But you
sent for me-
Don't tell me you supposed ! sent
for you because l wanted consolation
or condolence?"
"No-o," laughed Egon uneasily. Il
fancied there was some other more
pressing reason. But I'm bound in
common courtesy to take your SIN
cerity for granted until you undeceive
me-"
Hang common courtesy between
you and me" returned the bear. i've
nothing to conceal l sent for you to
fell me what mischief that witch cat
Mechtilde von Lyndal is plotting.
You're On the spot. Trust you for
seeing everything that goes on-the
one thing would trust you to Co."
-"Thanks." said Egon.
Don't thank me yet, however CRATE
full you may be. But don't mind