The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-03


the counts having been there. and the
count knew the reason of Steigler'S
coming. They saluted each other for
mally as they passed. Ballenstein riding
homeward and Steigler passing into
the courtyard The latter made the
same application as the former and
received the same reply. Since his
suit was left with the lady alone, there
was nothing TO do but accept the situa
ton and leave his fate in her hands.
Both suitors were informed that Hill.
degarde would need some time in
which to make up her mind. and in the
interval she would treat them both as
friends. A message was sent TO them
that they would be received on alter
nate weeks, and since Baron Herbert
Ballenstein had been the first to offer
himself he would be received first. He
/ called at the castle nearly every day
during the period and offered presents.
But Hildegarde. though she received
| him affably. declined to accept gifts
from him or his rival. Steigler was
| also received kindly. but neither of
| them was given any reason to believe
| that he was the favorite sutton.
TO social gatherings which took place
/ at the castle both men were invited
and Hildegarde met them at other af-
fairs given by her neighbOrs. At these
meetings she was careful to show no
mark of favor 10 the one that she did
not grant the other Her father, whom
she had told she had made choice
between them. watched her often
when she was with one or both Of the
rivals in order to discover which she
would choose, but he was not able to
detect the slightest difference.
Meanwhile the suitors, being held in
suspense, were growing impatient,
each averring that the condition was
becoming uncomfortable and If the lady
did not soon come to a decision he
would vent his wrath on his rival. To
this she responded that if they killed
each other she would be relieved of
the necessity of making a choice. This
quieted them for a time. but not for
/, long.
4 When Hildegarde was ready to give
the advantage to the one or the other
she informed them that they were
equally attractive. equally wealthy,
, both noble, and it would be impossible
, for any maiden to choose between
| them; the matter must be left to
, chance. If they would agree to abide
by fortunes decision instead of her
own she would provide the means
They must pledge themselves to hold
only fate accountable for the result
r and take no revenge upon any one.
Had not the suitors been worn out
r with waiting they could not have beer
a brought to accept this method of de
| cision. AS it was, one of them gave
in. which compelled the other TO dc
, the same. They were summoned t
the castle on the same day and hour
2 where they found Hildegarde in al
, apartment in the center of which wa,
h table, and on it stood two candle
sticks. A servant brought in Il candle
a mold and some melted tallow Pour
ing the tallow into the mold. he permit
= ted it to cool. then removed two can
h dies, which he handed to his mistress.
. you see she said to her suitors
y that these candles having been mad,
:, in the same mold. are exactly the sam,
!, size. They should burn an equa
= length of time Nevertheless there will
be some difference, If only a few sec
=, onds"
q She directed the servant to turn hi
!. back to her and handed him one of thu
|. candles, and he was to give it to eithe
the baron or the count, as he liked
|. He handed 1t to the count. The othe
a candle remained for the baron. Eacl
"a man was asked TO place his candle il
). one of the holders. Then Hildegard
n put the wicks together and lighted Their
o at the same time by the same flame
Ia Gentlemen" she said, my reply t
q. the honor you have done me is in thes
10 candles. l will marry him whose car
% die burns the longer"
Every provision had apparently bee
is made to leave the decision in the hand
l. of fate, 1t did not seem possible tbs
" either sutton could be favored aboy
"a the other. The candles were OF sue
l. length that they would burn about a
l hour. While they were burning I'll
II suitors were in an agony of suspens
lie They were free to go from the ROOF
lr and return to 1t at will. The bare
" walked back and forth most of I'll
:" time in the courtyard, the count dom
SO the same elsewhere To them the Iii
I'd of the candles seemed interminabl
h but they burned so evenly that no ey
~ could detect any difference. Whe
II. only quarter OF an inch remained
i'll each Baron Stcigler's candle seemed
or indicate that its combustion was
ry tritle less than Count BallenStein's
From this point the difference gre
more and more perceptible and whc
Ballenstein's candle was taring in Il
socket the wick of Steigler's was SIT
Id in its original position. Both men wei
al now bending. over the candles. Bale
.. STEMS face white as marble PreSen
e ly, without waiting for his candles la
r. flicker, he rushed from the room an
mounting his horse left the castle.
nd Then the baron advanced. took Hid
garde in his arms, and looking up, 81
IT gave him the first expression Of 10,
nj he had ever seen in her eyes.
d When her father congratulated h,
nd he said to her; 1t is fortunate, n
le- child. that, though you left the Il
re cision to chance, you are to marry Il
ne man Of y.our choice. That is evident
a "Tush. papa, 1t is now safe to t.
Id YOU another secret. Will you keep it
n "Of course"
rs II nut salt ON the micl, of Cnrl,s On