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RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
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'I think I havo hoard of tho count,"
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Secrets of the Courts of Europe
An Old Ambassador's Revelations of the
Inner History of Famous Episodes
Heretofore Cloaked in Mystery
Chronicled by ALLEN UPWARD
THE HONOR OF AN EMPRESS
"Thla In a trivial affair," commented
tho ambassador, as ho laid down tho
nowspaper In which ho had been read
ing an account of ono of M. do Itocho
fort's numerous duels. "I do not won
dor that you English biiiuho youraolvos
with thcHO comedies, which reflect
llttlo honor on Franco. Nevertheless,
let mo toll you that, when wo please,
wo can mako of tho duel something
very different; that is to say, an af
fair or llfo and death."
"Without doubt," I answered, toss
ing asldo my own copy of tho Matin
wo wore in tho smoking room of tho
Corclo doa Strangers "but your press
should not give such Importanco to
thoao farces."
Tho ambassador brushed thlB obBcr
Tatlon aaldo with a wavo of hl hand.
"It is tho too great facility with
which theso affairs aro arranged that
has Involved them In rldlculo," ho said,
pursuing his own lino of thought. "It
Is when a crlmo hao boon committed
which Is truly worthy of death, and
yet which, from Its naturo, Ib beyond
tho reach of lawo, that tho duol be
comes a sacred rcsourco, IndlBpensablo
In tho Interests of mankind."
"And aro there such occasions,
then?" I visponded, In ordor to sco
what was In his excellency's mind.
"I havo at all events known of ono,"
ho roturnod gravely, aB ho began to
roll a cigarette
"I cannot recall tho exact dato at
which I was accredited to tho court
of St. James', but it must havo been at
leant twonty-flvo years ago. I had
como to Great Britain with a slncero
doslro to win tho confidence of tho
bravo English pooplo; and knowing
that hi your country oven politics re
ceives Icbb consideration than what
Vou call 'sport,' 1 resolved to prove
myaolf a huntsman. Accordingly I
bought myself horsea and wont out to
hunt tho fox.
"Tho hunt of which I became a mom
bor was at that tlmo the most aristo
cratic In tho world, mado so by tho
patronago of an illustrious porbonngo
whoso nnmo I shall not mention. I lor
imperial majosty had formed tho habit
of coining over to England during tho
season of tho chaso, under a strict in
cognito, and attended by only a small
Bulto, In order to tako part In this
nport It was In this wuy that I ob
tained tho privilege of nn acquaintance
which I shall always look back upon
an my most cherished reinombrnuce.
"Among tho members of her maj
esty's sulto at this tlmo was a certain
Jlnron Mngratz, who tilled tho post of
prlvato secretary and comptroller of
tho household. You will understand,
of courao, that my Intcrcourso with
tho empress was on tho most respect
ful footing, but It was not long bo
foro I discovered that this baron, of
whom I saw a good deal, was a dan
gerous. Insolent man, qulto unworthy
of tho conlldonco reposed In him by
his august mistress.
"So acutely did I rcallzo this that
It became a question with mo whether
tho favor extended to mo by that noblo
and unsusplclouo lady did not cast
upon mo tho obligation of warning
her against this man's presumption.
Whllo I was still In doubt an incident
occurred which rendered it unneces
sary for mo to speak.
"Ono morning, when wo woro en
gaged in waiting outsldo a small cov
ert for tho fox to appear, 1 observed
Mngratz rido up to tho empress and
point with his hand, as It porauadlng
her that tho beast was about to
emorgo from a point further on. She
turned her horso, and they rode off
togethor round a corner of tho wood.
Troubled by somo vaguo presentiment
of mischief, I at onco gavo rein to my
horso and followed.
"I got round tho corner Just In tlmo
to pcrcelvo what took place. Tho
borou had Btooped forward, with an
air or unduo conlldonco, and was
apparently addressing some remark
to tho empress when all at onco
I saw her majesty rein In her horse,
lift up tho riding whip sho held In her
hand and draw It swiftly across his
face.
"Magratz started with a vlolenco
which caused his horso to rear. What
ho would havo dono noxt I cannot say,
but luckily at that moment ho caught
eight of mo. Tho omprcBa had already
turned, and sho rodo back past mo,
luruuu, uuu duu iuuu uuv.iv ,ni.. iij, i ..-----
tho angry gleam In her eyes relaxing passing fancy.'
.. i I lln rtrtwinr
and he passed on, with a wlckod Bmllo,
and rodo away out of sight.
"Tho next day I heard that ho had
quitted England under tho dlsplcasuro
of tho empresB, and Bomo years passeu
before I was again reminded of hla ex
istence." Tho ambassador stopped and flicked
his clgnretto ash Into tho llroplaco be
fore us with much dextorlty.
"It was in that I noxt mot
with my baron." Hla excellency
checked himself abruptly and ap
peared to bo overwhelmed with con
fusion at having allowed this namo
to escape him. I was careful to show
that I had not heard it.
"You met him, whoro did you say?"
I asked languidly.
"In the dominions of tho emperor
whoso lllustriouB consort I have spo
kon of," replied tho ambassador,
owlftly .recovering himself. "I had
Just been appointed to tho charge of
our embassy in tho Imperial capital,
and It wnB at a state ball given in
honor of tho crown prlnco'8 birthday
that I recognized Magratz again.
"Ho was moving about among the
gueBts with tho assured manner of ono
who held a recognized position at
court. Ho woro on his breast tho
cross of tho order of St. Luke, tho sec
ond ordor in tho empire, and overyono
appeared to treat him with marked
distinction. Hut what attracted my
notlco particularly was a young girl
of extraordinary beauty, whom ho waB
escorting through tho ballroom, and
who clung to his arm with a delicious
shyness. You know that I am not
easily moved by tho sex; plcturo tho
fascination of thla damsel, thoreforo,
when I tell you that I had hnrd work
to refrain from going up to tho baron
and soliciting nn Introduction.
"Whllo I was wondering who sho
could bo, and how Magratz had con
trived to regain tho imperlnl favor, I
observed n movement in tho crowd
through which tho pair was straying.
The bystanders fell back, and a young
man suddonly enmo through, a young
man with heavy features and blood
shot, rolling eyes, who was dressed
in a rich uniform blazing with tho
stare of a dozen royal orders. It waa
tho crown prince.
"Tho prince, whoso leaden face
flushed with pleasure on catching
sight of tho couple, greeted Mngratz
in a iitylo of much Intimacy, and ea
gerly took possession of his exqulslto
pnrtner, whom ho led off through' tho
apartments out of my sight.
"Magratz stood looking after them
with an expression of dark and fur
tive satisfaction. Then ho turned
round, and for the llrst tlmo caught
my eye. Ho bowed with a polite,
nlmost cordial air, and advanced
towards mo through the throng.
" 'Permit mo to wclcomo you to my
country, M. l'Ambassadeur,' ho said,
extending his hand, which I accepted
with reluctance 'What llttlo Influ
ence I may possess hero, and espe
cially with his Imperial highness, is
entirely at your service. I trust you
will allow tne, within tho next few
days, tho pleasure of paying my re
spects to you at tho embassy.'
"Whiln 1 murmured my formnl ac
knowledgments I could not tako my
eyes off his face. It was doubtless nn
Illusion, but 1 thought I could distinct
ly pcrcelvo a faint purple mark whoro
I had seen Iho whip of tho empress
descend.
"M. do Magratz no doubt divined my
thoughts, or rather they woro con
voyed to him without wordB, by that
Bubtlo process for which sclenco hnB
not yet Invented a suitable nnmo. Ho
bit his Up and permitted himself nn
Ill-bred remark:
"'To a man of your excellency's
well-known discretion It would bo nn
Impertinence to recommend sllonco
with regard to certain incidents of tho
past.'
"I bowed, but with coldness, and
changed tho subjoct by compliment
ing him on tho beauty of tho young
girl whoso arm ho had Just relin
quished.
"'Ah! that la my nloco, ho observed,
with affected careleshness. 'Sho Is
an orphan whom 1 havo brought up.
Tho crown prlnco is good enough to
intorest himself In her, but of course
tho dlfferonco In tholr ranks la too
great for it to bo any moro than a
in that sbandnt In tho Qulrlnal, In
which Prliice "
Tho ambassador frowned rebuklngly.
"Yes, yoi; wo will speak of that
somo othorUlmo. Do not let ua die
tract ouraelvcB now, I beg of you."
I excused myself for my interrup
tion, and his excellency went on:
"From Messana I gathered enough
Information to confirm my uneasiness.
It appeared that Magratz, after being
In disgrace for somo years, had re
cently been allowed to present him
Bolf ngaln at court. Fatal magnanim
ity! Unpardonablo forgiveness! Ho
had como up from his estate, bring
ing with him this niece, who had Im
mediately caat a Bpell over tho crown
prlnco, a young man unfortunately not
without a reputation of a certain kind.
Her undo conducted himself in this
nffalr with groat prudence, bo manag
ing matters that his niece's reputation
was not compromised, whllo tho
prlnco became every day more des
perately enamored; and nil kinds of
conjectures woro afloat aa to what
would bo tho ultimata issuo of this
Btrango situation.
"Although I was still far from sus
pecting tho real object which Magratz
had in view, I could not help seeing
In nil this somo machination which
boded no good to tho peaco of tho
imperial house. I was hardly sur
prised, therefore, to receive on tho
fnllnwlntr dav a summons to a nrivato
conferonco with tho empress herself,!
queen's daughters 1b Illegitimate in a secret attachment of which I am
thla sonse.
"But sinco such a marriage would,
at tho same time, havo sufllclent force
to render any other alliance impos
sible, tho cotiflequcnco would be, In ef
fect, that tho lino of tho emperoi
would become extinct in tho next gen
eration, and the crown would pas3 to
soino collateral branch of tho imperial
hOUBO.
"Well might Magratz triumph In
ouch a possibility. I could seo only
ono thing to advise, and oven now I dc
not seo how I could havo taken any
different view.
"'You must arrange a marriage foi
hla Imperial highness without delay,'
I said with firmness. 'Let him bo dis
patched at onco to somo court where
there Is a princess 'of sultablo age,
and ordered not to return till tho be
trothal Ib an accomplished fact.'
"Ah, how profound la tho Instinct
of a woman! Her majesty Immediate
ly replied:
"'Hut 1 dread tho effect of a love
Icbb marriage on my son. I know too
well"
The nmbasBador broke off short at
thta interesting point, and began
coughing with violence. The cigarette
smoke seemed to have got Into hli
excellency's throat.
"But I weary you with this long con.
vorsatlon," ho observed, as soon at
tho coughing had subsided. "Enough
that thin venerated personage placed
ontlro confidence In mo.
"Within a week of our conversation
1 mem wmmwmm
siwf5 fliiiiiBifflltfflFW ii iffli ll
?SniwHU 1 Wmti
The Prince Greeted Magratz In a Style of Much Intimacy and Eagerly Toot
Possession of His Exquisite Partner.
Into a graclouB amllo na sho acknowl
edged my respectful saluto.
"Tho baron followed nt a walk, and
as ho camo up to mo 1 observed on
hla faco a narrow streak of red, cross
ing from tho right ear to tho mouth.
"Stung, doubtless, by my indignant
look, he checked his horso and ad
dressed mo with bitter emphasis:
'"I congratulate you M. l'AmbaBsa
dour, on your good fortune' (Tho
scoundrol spoko in French no doubt
for tho sake ot tho doublo moaning.)
You havo seen how a membor of a
family which la six hundred years old
Is treated by ono ot theso royalties.
Wo others aro not of tho snmo clay,
you perceive. A Magratz la no rnoro
to them than tho ground beneath their
feet. But perhapB this chapter will
uavo a sequel.
"I dludalued to mako any answer,
Ho pronounced theso Inst wordB
with a fatherly nlr which did not Im
pose upon mo. 1 even fancied I de
tected In them a veiled allusion to
tho circumstances ot our Inst meeting.
"I turned on my heel, feeling Btrango
ly disturbed, nnd passed on through
tho rooms, Tho crown prlnco nnd hla
charming pnrtner were nowhere to bo
Been.
Tho ambassador paused. His ciga
rotto was smoked out, nnd ho pro
ceeded to roll himself a fresh ono.
"Catching sight In tho crowd of my
friend tho little Count Messana of tho
Italian legation, I resolved to ques
tion him. Tho count is n most remark
ablo man. Ho is tho greatest reposi
tory of scandnl in tho wholo of Eu
ropo, nnd, as Ills tonguo never spares
man or woman, he Ib immensely popu
lar nnd goea ovorywhoro."
nnd nt onco divined the subject on
which sho desired to consult mo.
"Her majesty received mo In her
own apartments, without anyone clso
being present, a mark ot conlldonco
which touched mo profoundly. Wo
had not met for bIx yenrs, and I was
distressed to percelvo tho change
which had taken placo In this exalted
lady. Her finely cut features boro tho
marks of suffering, nnd tho exquisite
gaycty which had formerly distin
guished her had become overcast.
Doubtless tho Bad fato of her rela
tive, tho king of Bavaria, had dono
something to effect this nltoratlon, but
tho chief cause, 1 moro than Buspocted,
waB tho anxiety given to her by tho
conduct of hor son.
"It Is needless for mo to repeat to
you the kind oxpressloiiB which tho
empress waB pleased to mako use of
on tliUB meeting mo again. It was her
first wordB on tho subject of the
crown prlnco which loused my alarm.
"I havo hoped, M. l'Ambassadeur,
that an old friend llko yourself might
bo ablo to advlso mo with regard to
my boh,' sho said, 'and I look espe
cially to you, becauso you alono aro
in tho secret of tho past history ot
M. do Magratz.'
"'Madamo,' I replied with fervor,
tho only thing that can prevent my ad
vising yo'i Ib tho confusion with which
your condescension overwhelms mo.'
"Her mnlcsty heard mo with a
mournful smile.
'"You havo heard, no doubt, ot tho
prlnco'8 Infatuation for thlB man's
nloco? sho proceeded.
" 'I havo, madam. I havo oven seen
tho young girl herself, who nppeared
to mo to bo qulto Incapable of know
ingly taking part In any treacherous
design.'
"You may bo right, but unfortu
nately sho la undor tho control of a
man who has no such scruplos. To
como to what I waB about to Bay, thla
cntanglomont Is by far tho most seri
ous of nny In which my son has been
Involved. So Borlous Ib it that tho
ompcror and myself llvo in actual
dread of hearing that tho prlnco has
privately married thla young woman.
"I started, realizing at onco tho full
consequences of such a situation. Tho
crown prlnco wns tho only child of tho
Imperial couple. By tho woll known
family statutes of his houso, his mar
riage with n lady not of royal blood
would bo legitimate only in a social
sonso. Politically It would bo treated
ns a nullity, and tho offspring of tho
union would bo Incnpablo of succeed
ing to tho throno. It la woll kuown
that tho husband ot ono of your luto
tho crown prlnco had set out for tho
capital of a small kingdom In the
west of Europe, undor stringent In
structions to offer hlB hand to the
monarch's daughter.
"Tho manner in which ho did so la
well known. Harshly Ignoring the
conventlona of love-making, ho blunt
ly approached this young princess In
a ballroom, and, In bnro words, asked
her if buo would becomo IiIb wife. The
girl, no doubt under equally strict
compulsion, gavo her assent, adding a
profession ot fidelity nnd submission.
Tho crown prlnco instantly turned
nwny, and that was all that over
passed between them in tho naturo of
courtship.
"Tho next day tho betrothal was of
ficially anuouueed to mo by tho Im
perial chancellor, and tho news Bpeed
lly spread through tho capital, where
it created an immense sensation. It
waa immediately nfter this that 1 re
ceived tho promised visit of Baron
Magratz.
"I had given orders that he was to
bo admitted; for though 1 am, aa you
aro aware, tho least curlouB person in
tho world, my high regard for tho em
press mado ma anxious to fathom tho
Intentions of this villain.
"Ho appeared to tako his defeat with
philosophy.
'"I sincerely trust this marriage
niay end happily,' ho said, when I In
troduced tho topic. 'It Is, of course,
absurd to supposo that there Is any
attachment, at all events on the slda
of tho crown prlnco. Unhappily, the
proferenco his highnesa has shown for
my nleco has turned out to bo more
serious than I believed, and I am
afraid tho poor child haa allowed her
solf to cherish unreasonable ideas. 1
shall mako it my business to obtain a
husband for hor, If possible, before tho
prlnco returns;
"I saw nothing to tako hold of in
this announcement. If true, it seemed
that tho baron waa taking tho most
prudent courso, both In tho Interests
of tho Imperial dynasty and of' his
nleco. I did not yet appreciate tho
subtlety ot his combinations, far less
did I foresee tho terrible end ho had
in viow, and which you porhaps ul
ready percelvo?"
I evaded this quostlon.
"Proceed, ray dear ambnsBndor, If
you please," I said. "Your story in
terests mo greatly."
His oxcollency blow a wreath of
smoko from hla lips and compiled with
this request.
"For a momrcnt I thought of immo
lating myself on tho altar ot tho im
perial houso by offering myself as a
match tor tho charming barouoss. Dut
rnrhlflflnn to sneak restrained me. I
allowed Magratz to depart; and before
many days had passed I learned that
ho had found a husband for his unfor
tunate nleco in tho iierson of Count
Schwartzenfcldt, an Immensely
wealthy nobleman of fifty, but possess
ing no single attraction which could
recommend him In tho eyes of a young
girl.
"Tho ceremony was hurried on, nnd
Paula von Magratz became tho brldo
of thla ogro on the very day on which
tho crown prlnco returned to tho capi
tal. "I happened to meet the prlnco next
day, and for tho first tlmo 1 was seized
with a presentiment of the coming
tragedy. If ever I read anguish and
despair on a human face, I read It on
that of this mlsorable young man. So
violent was hla grief that he oponly
threatened to put an end to hla life,
atid hla unhappy parents woro reduced
to tho extremity of distress.
"It was, of course, impossible that a
scandal of such a kind should be long
In reaching tho care of the bridegroom.
Naturally alarmod and annoyed, Count
Schwartzenfeldt left tho capital with
his wife. Ho carried hor away to hlB
estates, some hundreds of mllea off,
and burled her In one of thoae fright
ful feudal castles which this nobility
continue to Inhabit.
"In the meantlmo tho only resourco
which occurred to the troubled em
peror and empress was to press for
ward tho marriage already arranged
for their son, in tho hopo that ho
might bo distracted from dwelling on
his fatal passion for the young Count
ess Schwartzenfeldt.
"I was present In tho diplomatic gal
lery when the royal nuptials woro cele
brated in tho national cathedral, be
fore an immense concourso of tho no
bility and citizens. It waB the most
melancholy pageant at which I havo
ever assisted. Tho demeanor of tho
wretched bridegroom created univer
sal dismay. It wus Impossible to es
cape noticing tho reluctance with
which ho uttered tho responses, and
tho sullen coldnesB with which ho
gavo his arm to the trembling bride.
"Among the most interested epecta
tors of it all, I caught sight of Magratz.
I had but to glanco from him to tho
palo faco and drooping eyelids of tho
Illustrious object of his hatred to sco
how far his schemo of vongeanco had
already succeeded.
"Somo montliB passed boforo ho
made his next open move. Ho waited,
with prudent calculation, for the
crown prlnco to begin to feel tho
chafliiK of his new fetters. It was
with alarm that I discovered ho was
beginning to renew hla Intimacy with
tho prince.
"I had tho opportunity onco or twlco
of observing them together, and I no
ticed that hla Imperial highness, when
with this man, shook off tho listless
apathy which had becomo his habit
ual mood, and listened with feverish
interest to tho baron's conversation. It
was not difficult to guess tho subject
of their discussions.
"Finally, Magratz came ono day to
tho embassy to tako leavo of mo be
fore departing on a visit to his nleco
nt her husband's residence There
wns an Ill-suppressed ring of triumph
in hla volco, which warned me that ho
was on tho eve of somo now stroke
Perhaps even then, if I had compre
hended -tho nature of hlu designs, I
might have Interfered. But aa It was,
I could do nothing except to express In
delicate and gunrded terms my hopo
that his visit would contribute to tho
peaco nnd happiness of tho Schwart
zenfeldt household.
"On rising to go ho lifted tho mask
for ono instant.
" '1 havo been greatly distressed by
the unfortunate result ot tills marriage
ot the crown prlnco's,' ho said, 'and
especially when I reflect on tho grief
It must causo to her majesty my lato
mistress.
"As he spoke I positively saw the
faded scar of the whip leap into sight
upon his dark skin. I drew back, and
clenched my teoth firmly to prevent
myself from making tho reply that
roso to my lips. But you will realize
tho difficulty of my position. Ab tho
representative of a great government,
I could not afford to enter Into a quar
rel with a prlvato nobleman at tho
court to which I waB accredited.
"I suppressed my Indignation, and
allowed him to depart on his fatal
errand. Tho ovent which followed has
becomo tho property of tho world."
His excellency turned his eyes upon
mo as it to ascertain whether I de
sired to hear more. I entreated him
to complcto tho narrative.
"Tho European press" ho observed,
"always misinformed in theso matters,
put forth a thousand different expla
nations ot what hnd taken place, nil of
them sufficiently Incorrect. I will tell
you tho actual sequence ot events as
I learnt it soon afterwards from tho
confession of Magratz himself.
"It appears, then, that this monster
commenced by insinuating his sym
pathy with tho poor young prlnco in
hla unhappy union. From that bo
passed to lamenting his own action in
having given his nleco's bund to Count
Schwartzonfeldt.
"Having cxcltca the prlnco's mind
sufficiently by hints of this sort, ho at
longth went on, with pretended re
luctance, to depict tho young countess
aB n victim of intolerable persecu
tions on tho part of a Jealous and
tyrannical husband, and to bitterly ac
cuso himself for being unnblo to do
viao a means for her dollveranco.
"It is needless to say how tho agi
tated lover received thoso tidings. Ills
own suffcrlnra ho might havo schooled
himself to bear, but ns soon as it no
came a question of tho ilfo-long
wretchedness of tho womnn ho loved
moro than llfo itslf, all thoughts of
submission wero thrown to tho wind
In a frenzy of paBslon he swore to put
an end to this Btato of things, and Im
plored Magratz to assist him.
"After Bomo well-acted hesitation
tho tempter professed himself won
over. Ho furnished tho prlnco with
tho direction of a certain hunting lodgo
In nn out-of-the-way comer of his own
estates.
"Tho prince was to travel secretly
to tho spot at a certain date, by which
time the baron undortook that his
nieco should be there to meet him.
Then the two lovors wore to He con
cealed until Mngratz hud succeeded in
pacifying the outraged husband, and
bringing about un accommodation with
the cmperor'B sanction.
"This understanding arrived at, the
worthy uncle departed to tho Schwart
zenfeldt castle. Tho first part of the
arrangement ho carried out In the
manner agreed upon. Tho love of the
poor young countess for the prince
waa no less lutenBo than hla for her; .
her married llfo had not been happy. I
and, in fUie, she was persuaded to ac
cept tho part usslgned to her. She
lied from her homo with tho baron's
secret assistance, and the lovers wore
speedily united.
"Now Magratz proceeded to execute
his real design. Ho had Btayed on at
tho cnstlo after his nleco's flight, paci
fying tho furloue count, not In tho way
he hnd promlsod tho crown prince,
but by undertaking to discover tho
fugitive's retreat. Aa soon as ho knew
that tho pair had met, ho boldly an
nounced to Count Swartzcnfeldt that
ho had received prlvato Intelligence of
hla nleco's whereabouta, and offered to
conduct the other to the apot. They
set out together.
"But It would not have aulted the
baron's purpose to bring the rivals
face to face Tho crown prlnco's high
rank might havo overawed tho hus
band, and the whole affair havo been
hushed up. Ho therefore Bent on a
secret warning to hlB victim, managing
so that It should reach him too lato
to afford any chanco of escape. In
this warning he pretended to tho
prince that tho elopement waa known
publicly, and that tho count was com
ing to tako signal vengeance on both.
"Tho resolution thereupon taken by
the unhappy lovers Is a matter of his
tory. When the deceived count and
his conductor entered tho lodgo, they
found tho two young people lying dead
In each others' arms."
The ambassador again Interrupted
himself, under tho pretenBe of loosen
ing hla cravat Ho went on presently,
in n firm voice:
"When all was over tho author of
this dreadful catastrophe had tho as- '
surance to return to the capital, and to
pose ns the disconsolate uncle whose
efforts to save his nleco from tho con
sequences of a fatal passion had un
happily 'miscarried.
"Two persona know or suspected
something of tho truth. One was the
stricken empress, who sat in her pal
ace, tearless, beside tho corpse of her
only son. Tho other was myself.
"I do not doubt that this man had
been tortured In his wicked heart all
these years by tho recollection that I
had been n witness of his well-merited
chastisement. Tho moment ho had, as
ho conceived, wiped out tho stain in
blood, he camo to me to boast openly
of what he had done.
"It may bo that long brooding on hla
vongeanco had so warped his mind
that ho could not realize in what light
his conduct would present itself to an
other. "When I sat and heard this terrible
creature unrolling tho awful story ot
his crimes, In tho perfect confidence
that he was beyond tho reach of hu
man Justice, and then thought ot that
Imperial mother whoso llfo had been
rendered desolate for over, 1 realized
that there aro occasions when, tho
duel becomes tho most holy of sacra
ments.' The ambassador closed his lips, aW
leaned back in hla seat with tho urat
ono who had no more 10 Bay.
I waited a few moments to seo
whether ho was going to resumo ot
hla own accord. Then I Inquired:
"And what did you do then,?"
Ills excellency transfixed me with
n gaze of fine scorn.
K "Ah1 vnnrHplf nn n mnn nf hnnnPi-
--.- .,......., ...... . ,. j
what I could do. I waited merely tfc
that carrion waa gone, to telegraph i;
Purls for a week's leavo of absence? It
was granted. I crossed tho frontier as
hla excellency tho French ambassador,
and returned tho next morning aa
plain M. le Baron. Then 1 sought out
Magratz.
"I found him in a club to which we
both belonged. I offered him a game,
of piquet, and no accepted with a
Bmllo, and at tho first card ho played
i Bald:
" 'Monsieur, you cheated, i Baw you
mark that queen.'
"That waa all. You seo, there was no
scandal. There could bo no suspicion
of any other cause for our quarrel."
"And tho result?"
A faint flush came on nls excel
lency's faco.
"Our encounter was not prolonged.
Within ten Bcconds after our swords
had crossed I had passed my blado
through his heart and I havo never
wlpod off tho blood to this day.'-
(Copyrighted In U. 8, and Great Britain.)
The New Pulpit.
Tho pres3 has becomo tho now pul
pit. Today thorn aro ono hundred-
wrltora and nuthors to ono in 1800;
Tho people nio crying for a volcoj
Tho wholo country has becomo a d
bating club It was essential to d
mocracy; supplementary to frci
schools iintl tree thought. At last w
nro getting freo speech. Talk it i
that is the glory of humanity. T
Powell, In the Now York Indoj
UUl, .
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