The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-05-11

some one nad recently quilted Jhe room.
I had Just taken in all these details by
glance, when there entered Il tall thin man
Of gentlemanly appearance, clad in a rough
tweed suit, with a scarlet shirt, open at the
throat, q simple but degGge style of cos
tune which he seemed to wear with a nat
ural grace, for it is not every man who can
dress thus and still retain an air of distinc-
ton. Pausing, he looked at me with some
surprise and inquiringly, as l began my
apologies and explanation in German.
taller de Dansk- Norsk,' said he, CURLY.
4 cannot speak either with tluenty, but
You are welcome, however. and ! shall
assist you in the prosecution Of your jour
rey Meantime, here is cognac. l am an
old soldier, and know the comforts of full
canteen, and of the Indian weed too, in Il
wet bivouac There is pipe at your ser-
vice.
| thanked him, and while he gave direc-
tions to his servants to 90 after the carriole
and horse proceeded to observe him more
closely, for something in his voice and eye
interested me deeply.
There was much Of broken hearted mel
ancholy-something that indicated hid
den Sorrow-in his features, which were
handsome, and very slightly aquilline. His
face was pale and careworn: his hair and
moustache, though plentiful, we're perfect
ly white blanched, yet he did not seem over
forty years of age. His eyes were blue,
but without softness, being strangely keen
and sad in expression, and times there
were when startled look, that savored of
fright, or paiu, or insanity, or of all min
glad. came suddenly into them. This I'M
pleasant expression tended greatly to neu-
tralize the symmetry of face that other
wise was evidently a fine one. Suddenly a
light seemed to spread over it, as threw
off some of Ely sodden muflings, and he
exclaimed
You speak Danskiii, and English too,
| know! Have you quite forgotten me,
Herr Kaptain q lie added, grasping my
hand with kindly energy. Don't you re-
member Carl Helberg Of the Danish
Guards -
The voice was the same as that Of the
once happy, lively, and jolly young Danish
office, whose gayety of temper and exuber-
ancc of spirits made him seem :; species of
madcap, who was wont to give champagne
supper ut the Clamperborg Gardens to
great ladies' of the court and to ballet girls
of the Hof Theatre with equal liberalty;
to whom many fair Danish cir! had lost
her heart, and who, it was said, had once
the eifrontery to commence Irritation
with one of the royal princesscs when he
was on guard at the Anlalienborg Palace.
But how was to reconcile this change, the
appearance of many years of premature age
that had come upon him?
4 remember you perfectly, Carl, said l.,
while we shook hands; yet it is so long
since we met; morover-eXeuse me-but
knew not whether you were in the land of
living
The strange expression, which | cannot
define, came over his face as he said, with
lone, sad tone
Times there are when | know not wleth-
er am of the living or the dead. 1t is
twenty years since | was wounded at the
battle of Idstadt-and it seems as if'twere
twenty ages.
cod friend, am indeed glad to meet
you again
You, old you may call me with truth,
said he, with sad, weary smile, as he
passed his hand TREMENDOUSLY over his whit
cned locks, which could remember being
rich auburn.
All reserve was at an end now, and we
speedily recalled a score and more of past
scenes of merriment and pleasure, enjoyed
together-prior to the campaign of Hol-
stein-in Copenhagen, that most delightful
and cav of all the northern cities; and.
under the influence of memory, his now
withcred face seemed to brighten, and
some of its former expression stole back
again.
is this your fishing or shooting quar-
tcrs, Carla' | asked.
Neither. It is my permanent abode
sIn this place, so rural-so solitary? All.
You have become Benedick-tallen to love
in a cottage, and so fortll-yct don't see
any signs Of
sHush, for godsake! You know not
who hears u.s. he exclaimed, rs terror came
over his face; and he withdrew his hand
from the table on which it was resting,
with nervous suddcnncss of action that
was unaccountable, or as if hot iron had
| touched it.
why Can we not talk Of such things?'
asked l.
Scarcely here-or anywhere to me-, he
said, ircohercntly. Then, certifying him
self with stiff glass of cognac and foam
ing settler, he added You know that
my engagement with my cousin Marie
Louise Eiborg was broken ofr-beautiful
though she was, perhaps is still, for even
twenty years could not destroy her lovli-
ness of feature and briliiance of expression
but you never knew why?'
Il thought you behaved i'll to hcr-were
mad, in fact.
A spasm came over his face. Again he
twitched his hand away as if Il wasp had
stung Or something unseen had touched it,
as he said
sShe was very proud, imperous, and
jealous
'She resented, Of course, your openly
wearing the opal ring which was thrown to