The Red Cloud chief., 1915-05-20

forbidden to speak-restralned me. l
allowed Magratz to depart; and before
many days had passed | learned that
he had found a 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 a 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 CAPT
tai.
81 happened to meet the prince next
day, and for the first time l was seized
with n presentiment Of the coming
tragedy. II ever I read anguish and
despair on a human face, ! read 1t 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.
1T was, of course, impossible that a
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 OF.
and buried her In n OF those fright
full feudal castles which this nobility
continue to inhabit.
I'm 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.
II was present in the diplomatic gal
lery when the royal %nuptials were cele-
brated in the national cathedral, be-
fore an immense Of the nc
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 sulleR coldness with which he
gave his arm to the trembling bride.
Among the most interested specta
tors Of it all. | caught sight Of Magratz
I had but to glance from him to the
pale face and dropping eyelids OF the
illustrious object Of his hatred to sec
how far his scheme of vengeance hat
already succeeded.
Some months passed before he
made his next open move. He waited
with prudent calculation, for thu
crown prince to begin to feel thu
chatting OF his new letters. 1t wa
with alarm that l discovered he wa
beginning to renew his intimacy will
the prince.
81 had the opportunity once or twic
OF observing them together, and | nc
ticed that his imperial highness. whe'
with this man, shook off the listles
apathy which had become his habit
ual mood, and listened with feveris
interest to the baron's conversation
was not difficult to guess the subjec
Of their discussions.
Finally, Magratz came n day (
the embassy to take leave OF me b.
\ fore departing on a visit to his nice
at her husbands residence. Their
a was an Unsurpassed ring OF trump
q in his voice, which warned me that b
was on the eve OF some new strok
q Perhaps eve then, II ! had compr
hended the nature Of his designs,
might nave interfered. But as it wa
IL | could do nothing except to express
I. delicate and guarded terms my hoI
n that his visit would contribute to Il
ID peace and happiness Of the Schwar
zenfeldt household.
"On rising to go he lifted the mas
a for n instant.
81 have been greatly distressed
ID the unfortunate result Of this maria,
,r Of the crown princess he said, al
especially when l reflect on the gri
1t must cause to her majesty my la
~. mistress
LAS he spoke l positively saw Z
d. faded sea of the whip leap into sig
re upon his dark skin. l drew back, a.
II clenched my teeth firmly to preve
myself from making the reply tn
On rose to my lips. But you will reali
the difficulty Of my position. AS t
u. representative of a great governme,
on / could not afford to enter into a gu
in rel with a private nobleman at t
m. court to which | was accredited.
he 81 suppressed my indignation, a
allowed him to depart on his ia
i'm errand. The event which followed
become the property of the world
go His excellency turned his eyes w
in. me as If to ascertain whether l
Sc, sired to hear more entreated h
ny to complete the narrative.
de "The European press" he observ
he always misinformed in these matte
for put forth a thousand different ext
IRE nations of what had taken place, all
am them sufficiently incorrect. l will
er. you the actual sequence Of events
I learnt II soon afterwards from