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

Et' mtf fS<IE onIory OVERLOOKING
kSE sssasy lake seven or eigh
X, Jsa1 miles to the south O!
Ga u the, Rhaetian capital
8 The castle is comparatively modern
with pointed turrets and fretted nina
rets, and, being built of white Carrars
marble, throws a reflection snowy as
submerged swan into the clear green
water Of the Mommelsee. An the sur
roundings Of the palace, from its broad
terraces to its jeweled fountains and
we'll nigh tropical gardens, suggest
luxury. gayety, pleasure.
But on the opposite bank of the
Mommelsee is huddled the dark shape
Of an ancient fortified stronghold, be
gun no one knows how many centuries
ago by the first Count Won Breitstein
Generation following generation the
men Of that family completed the work
until nowadays it is difficult to know
where the rock ends and the castle be-
gins. There. like dragon squa ttine
on the coils of its own tail. the dark
mass is poised, its deep set window
eyes glarinS across the bright water
at the white splendor Of Lyndalberg
like the malevolent stare of the mon.
ster waiting to spring upon and devouT
fair young maiden.
The. moods of Baroness Won Lyndal
concerning grim old Schloss Breitstein
had varied many times during her
years of residence by the lake. Some
times she pleased herself by rejecting
that the great man who had sighted
her lived in less luxury than she had
attained by her excellent marriage.
Again. the thought of the ancient line
age Of the present Count Won Breitsteln
filed her with envy, and oftener than
all the feeling that the "old grizzly
bear" could crouch in his den and
watch sneeringly everything which
happened at Lyndalberg got upon the
lady's nerves. She could have scream
ed and shaken her fist at the dark mass
of rock and stone across the water,
but after the birthday ball and during
the first days Of Leopold's visit at her
house she often threw whimsical
glance at the grim silhouette against
the northern sky and smiled.
"Can you see. old bear?' she would
ask gayly. Are you spying over thcret
Do you think yourself all wise and all
powerful? Do you see what's in my
mind now. and do you guess partly
why I'VE taken al! this trouble? Are
you raclling your brain for some way
Of spelling my little plans? But you
can't do it. you know. It's too late,
There's nothing you can do except sit
still and growl and glare at your own
claws. which a woman has clipped.
How do you like the outlook. old bear?
Do you lie awake at night and study
how to save your scheme for the en-
peror's marriage? All your grumpy old
life you've despised women. but now
you're beginning at last to find out
that, powerful as you are, there are
some things a woman with tact and
money. nice houses and good natured
husband can do which the highest
statesman in the land can't undo.
How soon shall make you admit that.
Chancellor Bear?"
Thus the baroness. standing at her
drawing room window, would amuse
herself in odd moments when she was
not arranging original and elaborate
entertainments for her guests. And
she congratulated herself particularly
on having had the forethought to in
vite Egon von Rreitstein, the chancel-
lors half brother.
There was barrier Of thirty-siX
years difference in age between the
two, and they>had never been friends
in the true sense of the word. for the
old man was tenlpera mentally unable
to sympathiZe with the tastes or un-
derstand the temptations of the young
er brother, and the younger man was
mentally unable to appreciate the quail
tiles of the elder.
Nevertheless it was rumored at court
that Iron Heart had more than once
used the gay and good looking captain
of cavalry for catspaw in pulling
some very big and hot chestnuts out of
the fire At all events, Handsome
Egon" (so known among his followers),
"the chancellor's jackal" tthus nick
named by his enemies), would have.
found difficulty in keeping up appear
ances without the allowance granted
by his powerful half brother. The i'll
assorted pair were often in communi-
cation. and the baroness liked to think
that news fresh from Lyndalberg must
sooner or later be waited like a wind
blown scent of roses across the water
to Schloss Breitstein.
She was still less displeased than sur
prised, therefore, when, the emperor
having been three days at Lyndalberg,
with two more days OF his visit to run,
an urgent message arrived for Captain
von Breitstein from his brother.
Poor old Lorenz was wrestling with
his enemy, gout, it appeared; and wish
ed for Egon's immediate presence.
Such a summons could not be neg
lected. Egon's whole future depended
upon his half brothers caprice. lie hint
ed to the baroness in asking leave TO
desert her pleasant party for few
hours So of course she sent the chan
cellor her regrets, with the baron's,
and Egon went off charged with a
friendly message from the emperC IS
well.
When the captain of cavalry had set
out from Lyndalberg to Schloss Brett
stein bv the shortest way-across the
littln rnn.nr hnnt-