The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-15


not very well do anything else.
As he rode over the drawbridge he
met Baron Carl Steigler entering the
castle. Steigler knew the reason for
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 to 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. 70
this she responded that If they killed
each other she would be relieved Of
the necessity of making a choice. This
quieted them for time. but not for
long.
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
and take no revenge upon any one.
Had not the suitors been worn out
with waiting they could not have been
brought to accept this method Of de-
cision. AS 1t was, one of them gave
In, which compelled the other to do
the same. They were summoned to
the castle on the same day and hour,
where they found Hildegarde In an
apartment In the center of which was
a table, and on 1t stood two candle
sticks. A servant brought in a candle
mold and some melted tallow. Pour
ing the tallow into the mold, he permit
ted 1t to cool, then removed two can
dies, which he handed to his mistress.
"You see," she said to her suitors,
that these candles, having been made
in the same mold, are exactly the same
size. They should burn an equal
length Of time. Nevertheless there will
be some difference. If only few Sec
onds."
She directed the servant to turn his
back to her and handed him one of the
candles, and he was to give it to either
the baron or the count, as he liked.
He handed 1t to the count. The other
candle remained for the baron. Each
man was asked to place his candle In
one of the holders. Then Hildegarde
put the wicks together and lighted them
at the same time by the same flame.
Gentlemen" she said, my reply to
the honor you have done me is In these
candles. will marry him whose can
die burns the longer"
Every provision had apparently been
made to leave the decision In the hands
Of fate. 1t did not seem possible that
either sutton could be favored. above
the other. The candles were Of such
length that they would burn about an
hour. While they were burning the
suitors We're in an agony Of suspense
They were free to go from the room
and return to 1t at will. The baron
walked back and forth most of the
time in the courtyard, the count doing
the same elsewhere. To them the life
OF the candles seemed interminable
but they burned so evenly that no eye
could detect any difference. When
only a quarter of an inch remained to
each Baron Steigler's candle seemed to
indicate that its combustion was O
trifie less than Count Ballenstein's.
From this point the difference grew
more and more perceptible. and when
Ballenstein's candle was fiaring in the
socket the wick of Steigler's was still
In its original position. Both men were
now bending over the candles, Ballen
STEMS face white as marble. Present
ly. without waiting for his candles las
flicker, he rushed from the room and
mounting his horse, left the castle.
Then the baron advanced, took Hide
garde in his arms, and. looking up, sh'
gave him the first expression of Low,
he had ever seen in her eyes.
When her father congratulated he
he said to her: at is fortunate, m,
child, that. though you left the de
cision to chance, you are to marry tn,
man of your choice. That is evident