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

plOred MagratZ to assist him.
After some well-acted hesitation
the tempter professed himself won
over. He furnished the prince with
the direction Of a certain hunting lodge
in an out-of-the-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 in
pacifying the outraged husband and
bringing about an accommodation with
the emperOrs 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. The 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 was persuaded to &C
cept the part assigned to her. She
fed from her home with the barons
secret assistance, aud the lovers were
speedily united.
Nov 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
nounced to Count Swartzenfeldt that
he had received private intelligence Of
his nieces whereabouts, and offered to
conduct the other to the spot. They
set out together.
"But it would not have suited the
barons purpose to bring the rivals
face to face. The crown princes high
rank might have overawed the hus-
band, and the whole affair have been
hushed up. He therefore sent on .
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 com
ing to take signal vengeance on both.
THE resolution thereupon taken by
the unhappy lovers Is a 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 cravat. He went on presently,
in firm voice:
when all was over the author OF
this dreadful catastrophe had the as
surance to return to 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.
1.-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.
Il do not doubt that this man had
been tortured in his wicked heart all
these years by the recollection that ]
had been witness Of his well-merited
chastisement. The moment he had, -
he conceived, wiped out the stain In
blood, he came to me to boast openly
of what he had done.
1T may be that long brooding on his
vengeance had so warped his mind
that he could not realize in what light
his conduct would present itself to an.
other.
when l 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
duel becomes the most holy OF sacrs.
ments.'
The ambassador closed his lips. and
leaned back in his seat with the air OF
one who had no more to say.
| waited few moments to see
whether he was going to resume OF
his own accord. Then l inquired:
"And what did you do then?"
His excellency transhxed me with
a gaze of fine scorn.
ASK yourself, as a man Of honor.
what could do. ! waited merely till
that carrion was gone, to telegraph to
Paris for a weeks leave Of absence. It
was granted. crossed the frontier as
his excellency the French ambassador.
and returned the next morning as
plain M. le Baron. Then sought out
Magratz.
81 found him in a club to which we
both belonged. l offered him . game
of piquet, and he accepted with .
smile, and at the first card he played
I said:
Monsieur, you cheated. I saw you
mark that queen
"That was all. You see. there was no
scandal. There could be no suspicion
of any other cause for our quarrel"
"And the result?"
A faint flush came on his excel
lency's face
"Our encounter was not prolonged.
Within ten seconds after our swords
had crossed I had passed my blade
through his heart-and / have never
wiped off the blood to this day"
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rNI,o ,,raoc b,o hooop,a hn roxu pyl.