Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-09-16


he had found husband for his unfor-
tunate niece in the person of Count
Schwartzenfeldt, an immensely
wealthy nobleman of fifty but possess
ing no single attraction which could
recommend him in the eyes of young
girl.
"The ceremony was hurried on, and
Paula Won Magratz became the bride
of this ogre on the very day on which
the crown prince returned to the capi.
tai
II happened to meet the prince next
day, and for the first time was seized
with a presentiment of the coming
tragedy. If ever | read anguish and
despair on human face, | read it on
that Of this miserable young man. So
violent was his grief that he openly
threatened to put an end to his life,
and his unhappy parents were reduced
to the extremity of distress.
ut was, of course, impossible that
scandal of such a kind should be long
in reaching the ears of the bridegroom.
Naturally alarmed and annoyed, Count
Schwartzenfeldt left the capital with
his wife. He carried her away to his
estates, some hundreds of miles off,
and buried her in one of those fright
ful feudal castles which this nobility
continue to inhabit.
in the meantime the only resource
which occurred to the troubled EN-.
peror and empress was to press for.
ward the marriage already arranged
for their son, in the hope that he
might be distracted from dwelling on
his fatal passion for the young Count.
ess SchwartZenfeldt.
Il was present in the diplomatic gal
lery when the royal nuptials were cele.
brated in the national cathedral, be-
fore an immense concourse of the no.
bility and citizens. 1t was the most
melancholy pageant at which | have
ever assisted The demeanor of the
wretched bridegroom created univer.
sal dismay. 1t was impossible to es.
cape noticing the reluctance with
which he uttered the responses, and
the sullen coldness with which he
gave his arm to the trembling bride.
Among the most interested specta.
tors of it all, caught sight of Magratz.
| had but to glance from him to the
pale face and dropping eyeids of the
illustrious object of his hatred to see
how far his scheme Of vengeance had
already succeeded.
Some months passed before he
made his next open move. He waited,
with prudent calculation, for the
crown prince to begin to feel the
chatting of his new fetters, 1t was
with alarm that ] discovered he was
beginning to renew his intimacy with
the prince.
Il had the opportunity once or twice
of observing them together and | no.
ticed that his imperial highness, when
with this man, shook off the listless
apathy which had become his habit.
ual mood, and listened with feverish
interest to the baron's conversation. 1t
was not difficult to guess the subject
of their discussions.
FINALLY, Magratz came one day to
the embassy to take leave Of me be.
fore departing on a visit to his niece
at her husbands residence. There
was an ill-suppressed ring Of triumph
in his voice. which warned me that he
was on the eve Of some new stroke
Perhaps even then, If | had compre-
hended the nature of his designs,
might have interfered. But as it was,
could do nothing except to express In
delicate and guarded terms my hope
that his visit would contribute to the
peace and happiness Of the Schwart.
zenfeldt household.
"On rising to go he lifted the mask
for one instant.
"I have been greatly distressed by
the unfortunate result of this marriage
Of the crown princess he said, and
especially when | reflect ON the grief
it must cause to her majesty my late
mistress,
"As he spoke l positively saw the
faded scar of the whip leap into sight
upon his dark skin. l drew back, and
clenched my teeth firmly to prevent
myself from making the reply that
rose to my lips. But you will realize
the difficulty of my position. AS the
representative of a great government,
could not afford to enter into quar-.
rel with a private nobleman at the
court to which was accredited
Il suppressed my indignation, and
errand The event which followed has
become the property of the world"
His excellency turned his eyes upon
me as if to ascertain whether | de-
sired to hear more. I entreated him
to complete the narrative.
"The European press" he observed,
always misinformed in these matters,
put forth a thousand different expla-
nations Of what had taken place all of
them sufficiently incorrect l will tell
you the actual sequence of events as
I learnt it soon afterwards from the
confession of Magratz himself.
1T appears, then, that this monster
commenced by insinuating his SYM
pathy with the poor young prince IN
his. unhappy union. From that he
passed to lamenting his own action in
having given his nieces hand to Count
Schwartzenfeldt.
Having excited the princes mind
sufficiently by hints of this sort, he at
length went on, with pretended re-
luctance, to depict the young countess
as a victim of intolerable persecu-
tions on the part Of a jealous and
tyrannical husband, and to bitterly ac-
cuse himself for being unable to de-