The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-07-09
ALe:gendof
Switzerland
By F. A. Mitchell


states of Switzerland were fighting to
free themselves from Rudolph. Duke
of Hapsburg. whose descendants now
sit on the throne Of Austria, four can
tons, Lucerne. Schwyz, Uri and Unter-
walden, formed the original nucleus
of the Swiss republic Now. there
was a time when both Rudolph and
the four cantons were anxious to form
an alliance with Zurich.
The heads of the four cantons got
together and sent spy to Rudolph's
court with a view to heading him OF
in his negotiations with Zurich. The
name Of this man was Thorwaid, and
he took with him his daughter. Anna.
The two settled themselves at the
base Of Rudolph's castle and waited
an opportunity to make his acquaint-
ance Anna was fond of painting and
occupied herself sketching the Aus
trian scenery about her. One day
while she was sitting on a rock just
beneath the base Of the dukes castle
painting the valley below Rudolph
rode by and, seeing the maiden at
work. stopped to look at what was on
her canvas. So pleased was he that
he bought her picture and gave her
orders for others. Thus did Thorwaid
through Anna gain access to the duke.
Thorwald wormed himself into the
confidence of Rudolph, pretending that.
though q Swiss by birth, he was an
Austrian in feeling. He endeavored
to persuade the duke to send him on
mission to Zurich for the purpose or
persuading the authorities to submit
themselves to the house Of Hapsburg.
But Rudolph was too shrewd to trust
any but one Austrian born on such an
important mission and sent one OF MS
tried ministers, Count Rappers I'LL.
Count Rapperswill was a soldier as
well as a diplomat and in one or his
battles had lost an eye. which had
been taken out of its socket. Thorwald
no sooner heard that the count was TO
90 to Zurich than he began to think
how he could cause his mission to re-
suit in failure. Meeting Rapperswiii.
he asked him why he did not wear
glass eye in the empty socket The
count replied that be had tried to ind
an eye that would match the natural
one, but had failed. Thorwald told
him that if he would give his daughter
Anna a glass eye and sit for her to
paint it he would guarantee that she
would do the work to perfection. 10
this the count gladly agreed
The next day he appeared at THOR
wald's lodgings with one OF the artin-
cial eyes he had discarded and asked
Anna to paint it to match bis natural
eve. Anna did so, but was not salts
fed with her work till the count had
given her a number of sittings. The
truth Is her father had instructed her
to put of finishing her work till the
count was ready to set OF for Zurich.
Rapperswill was delighted with the
eve as It was and begged for IT, but
received it only at the last MON ont
Count Rapperswill had scarcely de-
parted before Thorwald and Anna set
out in great haste for Lucerne, and
Thorwald told the governors or the
four cantons to send an ambassador
at once to Zurich to meet and dereat
If possible the one sent by the Duke
of Hapsburg. Thorwald could not go
himself, for he would be recognized oy
Rapperswill. So one Thunwalder was
sent at Thorwalds suggestion, not be-
cause of his shrewdness, but because
he possessed a very amiabie counte-
nance.
The two diplomats arrived at Zurich
at the same time. and meeting was
called Of the government authorities
to hear their arguments and decide be-
tween them. Rapperswill with true
Austrian arrogance claimed to speak
first and last and the amiable Thun-
waider aSsented-
Count Rapperswill was an admirable
speaker and presented his case remark
ably well. But he had not been speak
ing long before his auditors noticed
very crafty look in one of his eyes
This naturally prejudiced them against
him. and the longer he spoke-his
crafty eye giving a crafty interpreta'
ton to everything he said-the greater
grew the prejudice.
When he had finished the opening
address and Thunwalder arose, the
envoy of the confederates being a
very tall man, the audience expect
ed to hear him below like bull. In
stead, he spoke with a soft voice and
great complaisance. he had scarcely
opened his mouth before he won the
entire confidence Of his hearers, and
when he sat down he was greeted
with a round Of applause.
The Austrian ambassador. at loss
to know why he was making failure
at the hands Of one who made no et'
fective argument, arose to finish with
q determination to meet Thunwalders
amiability in kind. He spoke with
frankness and a great regard for the
Swiss people and their interests
That crafty eye belled him 1t seemed
to those who saw and heard his voice