Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-07-03

"a - q ontory overlooking Il
Isl ~ lake seven or eight
4, EFT miles to the south Of
- u the Khaetian capital.
The castle is comparatively modern,
with pointed turrets and fretted nina
rets. and being built of white Carrara
marble, throw; Il reelection snowy as
a submerged swan into the clear green
water of tie Mommelsee. All the sur
rounlings Of the palace. from its broad
terraces TO its jeweled fountains and
well nigh tropical gardens. suggest
luxury. gayety, pleasure.
But on the opposite bank OF tho
Mommelsee is huddled the dark shape
Of an ancient fortified stronghold, be-
ago by the first Count Won Breitstein.
Generation following generation the
Zen Of that family completed the work
until nowadays 1t is difficult to know
where the rock ends and the castle be-
gins. There. like dragon squatting
on the coils of its own tail, the dark
mass is poised. its deep set window
eyes glaring across the bright water
ut the white splendor of Lyndalberg
like the malevolent stare :f the mon
ster waiting to spring upon and devOur
q 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 lad 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 Breitstein
filled 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 aud 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 a whimsical
glance Mt the grim silhouette against
the northern sky and smiled.
"Can you see. old bearT 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 racking your brain for some way
Of spelling my little plans? But you
can't do 1t. 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 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 az you are. there are
some things woman with tact and
money. nice houses and a good natured
husband can do which the highest
statesman in the land can't undo.
How soon shall I make you admit that.
Chancellor BearY'
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 Won Breitstein, the chancel-
lor's half brother.
There was a 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 temperamentally 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 a catspaw in pulling
some very big and hot chestnuts out of
the fire. At all events, Handsome
Egon" $50 known among his followers,
''the chancellor's jackal" thus nick
named by his enemies), would have
found difficulty in keeping up appear
ances without the allowance granted
by his powerful half brother. The Ill
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
Won Breitstein from his brother.
Poor old Lorenx was wrestling with
his enemy, govt, 1t 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, he hint
ed to the baroness in asking leave to
desert her pleasant party for a few
hours. So Of course she sent the chan
cellor her regrets, with the baron's,
and Egon went OF charged with
friendly message from the emperor as
well.
When the captain Of cavalry had set
out from Lyndalberg to Schloss Brett
stein by the shortest way-across the
lake in smart little motor boat
promising to be back in time for din
ner and concert, the baroness spent
all her energy In getting up an i'm
promptu riding party. which would
give Leopold the chance of another
tete-a-tete with Miss Mowbray.
Already many such chances had been
arranged, so cleverly as not to excite
gossip, and II the Irritation, destined
by the hostess to disgust Leopold with
his chancellor's matrimonial projects.
did not advance by leaps and bounds
1t was certainly not the fault of Baron.
ess Won Lyndal.
"Egon has been told to use his eyes
and ears for all they're worth at Lyn-