Tombstone epitaph., 1915-05-30

In frenzy Of passion he swore to put an end to this state of things, and inn plored Magratz to assist him. After some well-acted hesitation the tempter professed himself won over. He furnished the prince with the direction of certain hunting lodge in an out-ofthe-way corner of his own estates.
 The prince was to travel secretly to the spot at certain date. by which time the baron undertook that his | niece should be there to meet him. Then the two lovers were to lie con cealed until Magratz had succeeded ,n pacifying the outraged husband, and bringing about an accommodation with the emperor's sanction.
 This understanding arrived at. the worthy uncle departed to the Schwart- zenfeldt castle The first part of the arrangement he carried out in the manner agreed upon. Tne love of the poor young countess for the prince was no less intense than his for her: | her married life had not been happy. and. in fine. she vas persuaded to ac- cept the part assigned to her. She fed from her home with the baron's secret assistance, and the lovers were speedily united
 Now Magratz proceeded to execute | his real design He had stayed on at the castle after his niece's flight. paci- | flying the furious count, not in the way he had promised the crown prince. but by undertaking to discover the fugitive's retreat. As soon as he knew that the pair had met. he boldly an- he had received private intelligence oi his niece's whereabouts. and offered to conduct the other to the spot. They set out together.
 But 1t would not have suited the baron's purpose to bring the rivals | face to face. The crown princes high rank might have overawed the hus. hushed up. He therefore sent on a secret warning to his victim. managing so that it should reach him too late to afford any chance of escape. In this warning he pretended to the prince that the elopement was known publicly, and that the count was coin. ing 10 take signal vengeance on both.
 The resolution thereupon taken by the unhappy lovers is matter of his. tory When the deceived count and his conductor entered the lodge. they found the two young people lying dead in each others arms"
 The ambassador again interrupted himself, under the pretense of loosen. ing his crayat. He went on presently. in firm voice:
 When all was over the author of this dreadful catastrophe had the as, surance to return 10 the capital and to pose as the disconsolate uncle whose efforts to save his niece from the con sequences of fatal passion had un happily miscarried.
 Two persons knew or suspected something of the truth. One was the stricken empress. who sat in her pal ace. fearless, beside the corpse of her only son. The other was myself.
 T do not doubt that this man had been tortured in his wicked heart all these years by the recollection that had been a witness of his well-merited reinstatement The moment he had. as he conceived. wiped out the stain in blood. he came to me to boast openly of what he had done.
 Tt may be that long breeding on his vengeance had so warped his mind that he could not realize in what light his conduct would present itself 10 an other
 When I sat and heard this terrible creature unrolling the awful story of his crimes, in the perfect confidence that he was beyond the reach of hu. man justice, and then thought of that imperial mother whose life had been rendered desolate for ever. l realized that there are occasions when the ments'-
 The ambassador closed his lips. and leaned back in his seat with the air of one who had no more 10 say.
 I waited a few moments to see whether he was going to resume of his own accord. Then I inquired:
 And what did you do then?"
 His excellency transfxed me with gaze of fine scorn.
 Ask yourself. as a man of honor. what l could do. I waited merely till that carrion was gone. to telegraph to Paris for a weeks leave of absence It was granted. I crossed the frontier as his excellency the French ambassador, and returned the next morning as plain NJ. le Baron. Then l sought out Magratz
 T found him in a club to which we both belonged. 1 offered him a game of piquet. and he accepted with a smile. and at the first card he played 1 said:
 Monsieur. you cheated. l saw you mark that queen
 That was all. You see. there was DO scandal. There could be no suspicion of any other cause for our quarrel" And the resuIt?"
 A faint flush came on nis excel. lencys face.
 Our encounter was not prolong ged Within ten seconds after our swords had crossed I had passed my blade