The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-07-15

y VI the Rhnetian c.pltal
The castle is comparatively modern
with pointed turrcts and frctted nina
rcts, and, being built Of white Carrara
marble, throws Il reflection snowy as
submerged swan into the clear green
water Of the Mommclsce All the sur
roundinSs of the palace, from its broad
terraces to It's jcwccd fountains and
well nigh tropical gardens. suggest
luxury, gaycty, pleasure.
But on the opposite bank Of tho
Mommelscc is huddlcd tho 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 tho family completed the work
until nowadays 1t Is diniclut to know
where the rock ends and the castle be-
gins. There, like n dragon squatting
on the coils of its own tail, the dark
mass Is poised, its deep set window
eyes glaring across the bright water
Mt the white splcndor OF Lyndalberg
like the malcvolcnt stare of the mon
Stcr waiting to spring U N and deyour
a fair young maiden
concerning grim old Schloss Brcitstcin
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 hss luxury than she had
attained by her excellent marriage.
Again, the thought of the ancient line
age of the present Count Won BrcitStcin
filled her with envy, and oftcncr than
all the feeling that the "old grizzly
bear" could crouch in his den and
watch snccringly everything which
happened at Lyndalbcrg 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 Lcopold's visit at her
house she often threw whimsical
glance at the grim silhouette against
the northern Sky and smiled.
Can you see, old Dcar?" she would
ask gayly. Are you spying over there?
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 all this trouble? Are
you rackng 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 woman has clipped.
How do you like the outlook, old bear?
DO you lie awake at night ana study
how TO save your scheme for the en-
peror'S marriage? All your grumpy old
life you've dcspiscd women, but now
you're beginning at last to find out
that powerful as you are, there are
some things n woman with tact and
money, nice houses and good naturcd
husband can do which the highest
statesman in the land can't undo.
How soon shall make you admit that,
Chancellor Bcar2"
Thus the baroness, standing nt hcr
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 rorcthought to in
Vltc Egon Won Brcitstcin, the chancel-
lOr's half brother
There was n barrier of thrty-sIx
two, and they had never been friends
In the true sense of the word for the
old man was tcmpcramcntally unable
to sympathize with the tastes or un-
dcrstand the temptations Of the young
cr brother, and the younger man was
mentally unable to appreciate the quail
tiles of the elder
Nevertheless 1t was rumored at court
that Iron Heart had more than once
used the gay and good looking captain
OF cavalry for n catspaw In pulling
some very big and hot chcstnuts out Of
the fire. At all events, Handsome
Egon" $50 known among his followers),
the chancellors jacka" 0hus nick
named by his cncmes), would have
found difficulty in keeping up appear
anccs without the allowance granted
by his powerful half brother. The I'll
assorted pair were often in communi-
cation, ana the baroness liked to think
that news fresh from Jyndalberg must
sooner or later he waited like q wind
blown scent Of roses across the water
to Schloss Breitstcln
She was still less dlsplcased than sur
priscd 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
Won Breitstcin from his brother.
Poor old I.orenz was wrestling with
his enemy, gOut, 1t appeared, and wish
ed for Egon's immediate presence.
Such summons could not be neg
lected. EgOn's whole future depended