Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-11
the FORTUNES OF WAR,
BY +. A. o.

On the l4th Of October, 1905. a
day destined to be ever and sadly
remembered IN the annals Of Ger
many, the Baroness Ida Won Arm
elm, young, beautiful and childless
widow, was seated in the drawing
room ia her residence at Weimar.
She was not alone. Seated In close
proximity to the lady was q gentle
man wearing the rich court costume
of the period.
Tall, well formed, and emlnently
handsome, the Count Won Atten.
berg wac still far from prepossessing.
There was an ambiguity in his
smile, an occasional sinister express.
ion in his eye, which had something
repellant to woman OF the world
90 well versed in reading character
% was the baroness.
i came, fair Ida said the count,
pursuing previous train of remark,
TO urge you to reconsider your decis.
ion.'
after my injunction to drop the
subject forever, replied the baron.
ess, coldly.
i do not remember that / gave
my promise to obey, madame re-
joined Van Attenberg.
You have chosen an ill time to re-
new suit utterly hopeless, SIR
'Pardon-it is at this moment,
when the enemy is pressing onward
that It appears to me fitting to again
offer you my hand, my heart, and
my protection
i think sryf said the baron sss,
with an expression of scorn. that if
you desired to extend your protec-
ton to one or all CT your oountrywo.
men, your place at this moment
would not be in the rear of the army,
IN the boudoir of lady, but in the
front rank of our brave Prussians.'
Each one to his taste, my dear
baroness replied the count, with a
shrug of his shoulders, though a
eight flush of shame tinged his cheek.
i wasn't cut out for soldier
'Oh, il were only man = said
the baroness, clenching her little
bard.
But you are only a woman said
the count. Consider your unpro.
tected situation-alone here in the
threatened city-your servants gone
forth to meet the enemy, only . girl
to bear you compsny-for I don't
count poor Father Franz, the pQest,
who hid himself away in some corner
OF the house at the first note of the
artillery. Hask! What was that p
THE same artillery which frighten-
ed q poor, old, paralytic man, but
which seems TO have sent the color
from your checks, most puissant and
valorous count
by heavens the sound draws
nearer, baroness, said the count, ris.
log. Can our troops have been de.
IF they have been, shame fall on
the towards who have remained at
home during the battle Z cried the
baroness.
The count gazed on the beautiful
face flushed with emotion, the spark
ling eyes, the graceful figure, and
heaved sigh.
1 await your answer he said,
meekly.
"You have had it twice. replied
the baroness. Under no circumstan-
ces OF distress or misfortune, after no
lapse of time, could / be induced to
entertain your offer. I reject It ut.
terly, and any attempt at the renewal
Of the conversation Of this morning
must lead to suspension OF even
that interchange of civilities which
our mutual position in the same so.
cial circle demands. have the hon.
or of wishing you good morning,
Count Won Attenbeyg.'
She rose as che spoke, and her
words were pronounced with the air
Of sovereign princess Diminishing an
offending vassal.
Cowed, abashed, and indignant. at
the same time, the count bowed low
and retired without word.
As he descended the staircase he
muttered to himself, with a deep
oath:
THAT woman shall be mine, by fair
means or BY foul. / will humble her
proud spirit before another sun rises
and sets. Let the French come to
Weimar-in the midst of the confus.
ion l shall have an opportunity to
carry out nay plans. They will mover
interfere with mel have a secret
understanding with them, thanks to
my diplomacy. And now to the
court of the grand duchess, to play
the patriot and hero, to tell what I
would have done had ! been in CON-
mand of troops
He flung himself upon his horse,
and dashing his spurs into the ami
mails side, rode off at gallop to re-
port himself at court.
No ole who witnessed his proud
bearing would have suspected that
The Count Won Attenbsrg was at
heart an arrant coward.
Meanwhile, Nina, the favorite
maid of the baroness, had rushed in
to the presence of her mistress, all
the color fed from her soft cheeks,
and her little heart beating % if il
would leap from her bosom.
ooh, madame, do you hear it p she
cried.
The cannon !? Oh, yes, replied the
baroness, calmly.
1T comes nearer and nearer
'It does, indeed, my poor girl
Yes, ma'am. And don't you re.
member poor Karl, that used to work
in our garden p
Perfectly well.'
You know he would go for . SOL
der, and they put him into the Hus.
sars. Well, ma'am, be just rode in
to the city, badly wounded, and
when they took him off his horse, be
said that our army was in retreat,
and the French in full pursuit. Oh,
we shall all be killed =
DO not be foolish said the baron
ess. The French do not war on
women. We may be plundered oil
our property, if this news be true,
but they will surely spare our lives.
Hara O farr;f{ia shy,ok hup~t f,or,