The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-07

denly appeared the Princess. The effect OF
her entrance was magical: for into the
vague Rosewood, so pale in its hue, step,
ped beautiful young creature with jet.
black hair, with calm, pale face that had
wonderful dark eyes in it, and look Of
absorbed, wistful melancholy. This was
the Fraulen Rhense, about whom they had
heard so much; and yet the people were
taken too much by surprise to applaud.
As for her, she seemed unaware of theil
existence. She had already assumed the
dream-like air of the Princess, and was
wandering about in the Rose world, filled
with a strange and yet unsatistied happi-
ness. As she went out and in among the
pale pink bowers, they had time now
to see how strikpgly handsome she was,
how perfect was her figure, and what
splendid masses of black hair hung down
upon her shoulders. Her Princess dress,
too, was sufficient to wake the admiration
of the spectators, who were convinced that
the Grossherzogin herself had nothing so
splendid.
Count Otto spoke no more to his compan-
ions. He sat and gazed upon the pantemi-
me world before him and upon the beauti-
full creature who wandered through it, lit
terally spell-bound. She was in the Rose
world, looking for her first love-he had
met his there.
But then she was merely an actress, and
Count Otto, although recluse, knew the
value of his rank. So he sent for the
manager, who forthwith appeared at the
door Of the box.
els the Fraulein Rhense married 9'' he
asked.
"No, Herr Graf" replied the manager.
"Who accompanied her from Vienna %
"Her father"
els he in the theatre ?''
eyes"
"Then present my compliments to the
Fraulein, and say that my friends and my
self will be glad if she and her father will
favor US with their company at supper in
the Schless, as soon as the performance is
over. Tho young lady need not change
her dress"
The Count delivered the invitation pretty
much as if it were a command, and such
he probably considered it. For an actress
in small provincial theatre to be asked as
a guest to Schloss Weissbach was an honor
which it never entered his head could be
refused; and yet refused it was. Some
half hour thereafter, the manager returned
and begged to see the Count alone. Count
Otto stepped out into the passage, and the
manager said, with great embarrassment:
"You will pardon me, Herr Graf, but
but-Fraulein Rhense-"
"Well, you delivered the message?"
"Yes; but
"But what? She is not too fatigued by
her journey, is she ?''
''The fact is, Herr Graf, her answer was
precisely in these words: "Pray present
my compliments to Count Engelhardt, and
say that my father and myself never &C
cept invitations from strangers"
"Der Teufeln" exclaimed the Count in
genuine surprise.
And then, with a slight gesture Of
naughty indifference, he returned to the
box.
But in spite of this repulse, the spell was
still upon him; and he followed the for
tunes of the Princess through all the vari-
Gus scenes with persistent, wistful atten-
ton that called down upon him the satiri
cal comment of his friends. He seemed to
pay no heed to them. He was transported
body and soul into the wonderful regions
of the .fserie, and was scarcely aware of the
existence of those beside him. The short
and the long of it was, that the young man
had been taken captive by Henrietta
Rhense's eyes, and that he had abandoned
himself wholly to the passing infatuation
of the hour.
Yet he was no longer quite a young
man, as we use the phrase to denote mex
perience of the world. If his own &C
quaintance with men and women was
limited, he had reaped the results of other
peoples knowledge; and doubtless his
Aeories about the only possible relations
which could exist between an actress in an
extravaganza and the owner of Schloss
Weissbach were pretty much similar to
those held by most men of rank at the
time. Her refusal to accept his invitation
had surprised him, but he forgot his
wounded pride in looking at her and listen
ing to her voice, and by the time the per-
Torrance was over, and he and his friends
on their way home, he was as much in love
as man well could be.
The Counts preoccupation had not
escaped the notice of his companions, and
there were sundry hints thrown out about
it as they sat down to supper He frankly
told them of the invitation he had sent to
the young actress, and Of her refusal
at is a ruse merely" exclaimed the
youngest of the trio, youthful lieutenant
from Dresden. "She refused in order to
do it, could undertake to make her ac-
quaintance by two o'clock tomorrow, and
to bring her here in the evening to sup with
u.s.
Why was it that Count Otto's face was
suddenly overspread with a frown? The
young man had only offered to do what he
himself had attempted to do. But he said
brusquely.
"You rave. She will not come
"Shal try?' said the lieutenant care
lessly, stroking his pale yellow mustache.
Certainly"
"But l must have the means. l must
have little present to send her in the
morning. One cannot get jewelry in
Stauffenheim."
81 have bracelet l had intended send
ing to an aunt of mine in Syria. You
may have that" said Count Otto.
He was evidently bent on making his
friend fulfill his promise. If he succeeded,
he would then be able to estimate Fraulen
Rhense at her true value; if he failed, he
would be proud of her victory, for it was
not to be concealed that his impression of
her had gradually altered since her refusal
had been announced to him.