American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-13


comfortable temperature. The councillor
widow remained here in an easy chail
and gave Emmy to the care of Frau vo
Restorf, who conducted both young ladie
| into the hall.
Emmy was in state of excitemen
wholly foreign to her nature, at which sh
was provoked, and which began, sh
ready filled to overlooking, and in the mid
die of it stood the director of the ball, ant
several other gentlemen, among them Lo
| bau.
At the entrance of Emmy, he approach
ed her quickly, and said in an oppressed
and almost hoarse voice: "May l hav,
| the pleasure of dancing the first walt
| with you, Fraulein Won Rohr?''
| 81 thank you, Herr Won Lobau, an
! already engaged" replied Emmy, in al
| abrupt, harsh tone, such as she had neve
before used in addressing gentlemen. The
girl herself was frightened when the
words had escaped her lips; she expected
Lobau to ask for another dance, which she
would now have granted him, or at any
rate a few words of regret to which she
| could respond But he only bowed silent
ly and went to the right, toward the dool
which led to the staircase. Directly fol
lowing him came Herr Isador Erlanger
who also asked her for the first waltz To
be obliged to dance with Lord MerinC
was hard. Emmy, however, quickly prom
Used it that the fatal waltz might be dis
posed of, and Lobau not know that she
had told him what was not true.
As she turned her head to nod gayIy to
her aunt, her eyes met Lobau's, who, in
stead of mounting the steps, had remain
ed standing a short distance from her
Emmy trembled under her gaze; no eyes
had ever before looked at her thus. What
did it mean? Who could have explained
it to her? Should she venture another
look?
Like frightened child, who half ex-
poets to see ghost, and collects all her
courage to look again in the dreaded di-
rection, Emmy turned her head toward
Lobau.
Lobau was no longer there.
with whom will he dancer" said
Emmy to herself
Soon resounded the opening measures
of the waltz, and Herr lsidor Erlanger
clasped his partner. Emmy was silent,
and Lord Merino sustained the weight
of the conversation. He talked about his
residence in England, said that he had
become acquainted while there with a
very agreeable family, who were friends
of the Prime Minister-Disraeli- and
whom he had come near meeting at their
house. Then he asked if Emmy had
read "Coningsby," by Disraeli, a book
which demonstrated that the most noted
men of modern times were of Jewish
descent
At last the waltz was ended. Lobau
had not danced it. Emmy requested her
partner to conduct her to her aunt in the
neighboring room, Perhaps she had
been talking with him, perhaps he was
there. Emmy intended to be very friend
ly toward him, and to give him the first
choice in the cotillon- The councillors
widow had seen Emmy waltzing, and
would want to know to whom she had
promised the remainin g dances.
''Have you not seen Lobau ?" asked the
aunt
ale asked me to dance the first waltz"
"Indced and -"
II told him l was already engaged"
Frau Won Herbeck mistrusted nothing
wrong and soon Emmy mingled again
among the dancers. Three dances fol-
lowed, and at the end came the cotillion
Lobau had not danced-that was certain
and apparently had left the ballroom
before the beginning of the waltz. Emmy
to hide the restlessness and
anxiety which oppressed her under
that at last it became impossible, and she
felt very unhappy. Was this the ball
from which she had expected so much
No lady received more bouquets, none
were so often chosen. Emmy had the
best partners, her young friends chatted |
gaily with her, her aunt smiled content |
eddy. But what had become of Lobau?
At the hour of midnight twelve heavy |
strokes resounded through the hall, and |
every one fastened to his friends and ac-
1uaintances to wish them " Happy |
New Year" Emmy stood like a little |
queen, surrounded by crowd of gentle
men and ladies, who offered the bright,
charming girl heartiest wishes. Yet she
was SO far from being happy!
Frau Won Herbeck and several of her
It was two O'Clock in the morning when
emmy and her aunt entered the carriage
% return home.
Brilliantly shone the full moon, count
ess stars glistened in the dark blue heav-
ms. A slight frost adorned the twigs and
branches of the trees with all sorts of fan
astic buds and leaves, which CLEANED
ike silver. Dead peace rested over the
till landscape. Not breath of wind
nothing was heard but the Swift
olling of their wheels throu gh the snow.
Emily was tired-so she told her aunt
md both ladies leaned silently back
gainst the white cushions of the travel
ng carriage. Again Emily lifted her
read as they approached Charlottenhof
III the occupants seemed to have retired
o their nights rest; Lobau's windows
My were lighted. A heavy sigh escaped
he lips of the young girl. They had
eft the gentleman's house but few steps
'ehind them when suddenly strange
lare shone through the carriage window.
he spectacle which suddenly appeared
efore the eyes of the two ladies seemed
indeed the work of magic, and an I'M
expected surprise was in store for them.
Directly in front of the large barn be-
onging to the estate lay little pond, ON
those margin Lobau, at the advice of the
Inspector, three years ago had had ash
rees planted. Among the icy branches
f these trees now hung small, richly
dOrned lamps, whose shining light, in
MON with the moonbeams, were reflected
n the frozen surface of the pond, and had
most enchanting effect. When the car
sage of the councillors widow had come
irectly opposite, stern voice cried
Halt;' the horses stopped, the carriage
oor was opened, and Lobau stood before
hem.
"Madame," said he, bowling respectful
' to the elder lady, "allow me to wish
on happy New Year,
The astonished lady, but just aroused
rom half dose, was too confused to utter
word in reply.
Then, at a signal from Lobau, the mel
dy of favorite waltz sounded from the
pen barn door, where n small band had
'een stationed
"Fraulein Won Rohr," and Lobau turned
'olitely to Emmy, may | ask your hand
or the first waltz?''
Herr Won Lobau," interrupted Frau
'on Herbeck, what is the meaning of