Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-05-20

forbidden 10 speak--restrained me. I
allowed MaEratx to tiepart, ana before
many DAYS had passed learned that
he had found husband for his unfor.
tunate niece in the person al Count
Schwartsenfeldt. an immensely
wealthy ncbleman or fifty. hut posaess.
ing no single attraction which could
recommend him In the eyes az = vonnr
girl.
..The ceremony wae hnrried On. and
Paula von Masrats became the bride
OF this ogre ON the very day ON which
the crown prince returned 10 the capl.
tai.
II happened to meet The nrince nert
day. and for the ARR Dina was sei.aa
with a presentiment az the cominr
tragedy. n ever read anguish and
despair on 4 human face. I read il a.
that or this miserable Young man. 90
violent was his grief that he OPENLY
threatened TO sut an end to his life.
and his unhappy parents were reduced
to the extremity 81 aistress.
ut was. Of course. impossible that 4
scandal OF such q kind should be- long
in reaching the ears or the bridegroom.
Naturally alarmed and annoyed. Count
Schwartxenfeldt left the capital with
his wife. He carried her away TO his
estates. some hundreds OF miles OF.
and buried her In one or 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. Ia the hope that he
might be distracted from dwelling on
his fatal passion for the young Count.
ess Schwartxenfeldt,
II was present In the diplomatic raj.
lery when the royal nuptiaIs were cele-
brated In the national cathedral. be-
fore an immense concourse OF the mo-
bility and citizens. Il was the most
melancholy pageant &C which / have
ever assisted. The demeanor or the
wretched bridegroom created univer.
sal dismay. II was impossible 10 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 or II all, caught sight or Maxratx.
had hut to glance from him To the
pale face and dropping eyelids 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. Ha waited,
with prudent calculation. for the
crown prince to begin to feel the
chafing or his new letters. II 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 hiahness. when
with this man, shook OF the IistIcss
apathy which had become his habit
uaI mood. and listened with feverish
interest to the baron's conversation. Ii
was not difficult to guess the subject
Of their discussions.
Finally, Magratx came one day TO
the embassy TO take leave or me be.
fore departing on a visit 10 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, IL | had compre.
hended the nature of his designs. I
might have interfered. But an II was,
I 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 hfted the mask
for one instant.
~ have been greatly distressed by
the unfortunate result Of this marriage
OF the crown princes, he said, and
especially when ] reflect on the grief
1t must cause to her majesty my late
mistress
AS he spoke / positively saw the
faded scar of the whip leap into sight
upon his dark skin. / drew back. and
clenched my teeth firmly TO prevent
LII,