The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-06

WHICH llIlcu With yellow Stfl6DurE beer, was
ahont as pleasant sight TO Kurt Won Stein
as the world could well Offer
After while the idea occurred to the
young man that as chance had brought Inn
to tho castle, llo might as well pay his re-
spccts to the owner Of it, whether she were
Il phantom or not.
A turret stair, broken and worn, was
close at hand to the spot which he had
chosen Tor resting place. Twilight was
beginning to fall as he reached the castle :;
now, suddenly, darkness seemed to have
come, and rs he mounted tho winding tur-
ret stairs he noticed that lights were al
ready showing through many Of the win
dows of what appeared to be less ruuous
part OF the building than that by which he
had entered.
"That Is all right" said Kurt to himself.
81 was wise to try my fortune here. a
supper, or even bed, would not come amiss
to me, for ! scarcely know how shall find
my way back to my unclc's house tonight.
But ut any rate shall get some directions,
and, perhaps, if the people are not over
hospitablc, guide homo"
30 saying, he made his way up to the
staircase, and knocked at door which was
OF tho top of 1t. Tho door opened noise
admitted HIM into a long corridor lighted
an& adorned with white marble statues,
From tIis he passed i,@ a suite of rooms
hung with tapestry, and slrewn with fresh
ly laid rushca, with few carved settles
and chests for furniture. Still he met no
one.
Next he came iuto great hall on the
walls Of which hung number of antique
portraits, while in the center of the apart
n,ent was IL table spread as if for supper.
"This is very curious" said Kurt to
himself. "Where can the family be gone
toS However, one comfort is, they've got
something to cat. l think I'll wait here
and give them the chance of inviting me-"
30 saying, he sat quietly down al one
end OF the table which was laid for two
persons. Scarcely had ho done so when
the door OF the room opened noiselessly
and lady, young and beautiful, but with
a somewhat sad Ill. pale face, entered the
room.
Nurt rose and at once began to make
apologies for his unwarrantabc intrusion.
Tho lady waved white hand toward him
and badc him bc seated. ''Say no more"
she said, in sweet, sad voice. 81 expect
There was evidently some mistake here,
thought Kurt, but Is tho mistake seemed
to mean good supper, he was not unwil-
ing 10 fall iuto 1t. lie at once took a seat
at the table, and the lady took hers op-
posite him.
She was certainly very beautiful, he
thought, as he looked again at her over the
blimmipg wine-cup. he wine, too, was
excellent; SO was tho whole rcpast-at
which the lady waited upon him with her
own fair hands.-the only pecularity about
it being that neither bread nor salt was to
found Oh the table, but Kurt Won Stein was
too much Of gentleman to notice the
omission, though he certainly enjoyed his
supper the loss by reason Of their absence.
AT length the young man ventured to
ask one or two questions of his kindly
hostess. ''hlay inquire" he said, "arc
you, fair lady, the daughter of this
house?"
eyes" was tho answer given, as it
seemed, sadly and low.
"And your parentsl"
"Thcy are there" said the lady pointing
to the pictures on the walls.
''Do you mean to say that you live in
this house alone" asked Won Stein
"Alonc, returned the lady. II am the
last of my race"
Who shall say how it came about7 The
lady was beautiful, the man was young.
In such case love is sometimes found to be
plant that docs not take long in growing.
Moreover, Won Stein, though noble, was
poor and the lady the last OF her race, the
heircss of an ancient lineage. Possibly the
notion of the inheritance the lonely girl
might bring with her had somo part in tho
sudden passion which filed the young mans
heart. Who can tell9
1t was not long before he found himself
knceling at her feet and Offering the beau
tiful maiden all he had to offcr-.his .dcvo.
ton and his life.
Tho lady listened silently and with
bowed head to his ardent pleading Then
she said, looking up, but away from him,
and speaking absently: ~ have heard
those words before"
'tI3ut never from lips 80 true, so honest,
so disintercstcd," said the young man
warmly, forgetting in his fascination for
the beautiful lady how he had certainly
taken her inheritance into account in the
first place.
=, The lady sighed and was silent
Then she spoke: tlf l yield to your
wishes, we must be married at once"
cat once |" cried Won Stein, perhaps a
little startled. Yet what loyer ever found
the time between bctrothal and marriage
too short! ~ am ready" ho said, GAL
lantly, "impatient
Tho lady smiled, moved softly away to
an old worm eaten chest which was set
against the WALL took from it two rings,
and white veil, and crown of myrtle,
which she laid upon her dark lowing hair.
Her dress was white.
K "Come,' she said to her lover, and led
the way. gs
A little bewildercd, after the fashion Of
bridcgrooms in general, and scarcely know
ing whether TO be happy or alarmed, tho
young man followed his bride through, as
1t seemed to him, miles Of dimly lighted
vaultcd passages, where the damp was
trickling down the walls, and where un-
thou ht.of steps, UP and down, were ready