The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-24

lace not WIN Ire.
knew something of the fellow-he
was certain Won Vaust, reputed to be
immensely rich, and he occupied.the first
stage of the same building whose sky par
lor was dedicated to my muse. He had
a scandalous reputation in Dresden as a
gambler and libertine; and If l had never
troubled myself to verify the reports of
his ill-fame heretofore, l had not the least
hesitation about believing the worst OF
them now.
But Just as was on the point of obey
ing the impulse / was under to clutch
him by the scruff of the neck and kick
him out of the grounds, it came upon
me like blow in the face that l had no
business to interfere. Won Vaust had as
yet done nothing actively unlawful, and
the mere expression of his impertinent
admiration was not warrant for per-
feet stranger to both parties, like myself,
to pick quarrel with him. Moreover,
the young lady's father was not far off,
and could be summoned in case of need;
and finally, she herself did not appear to
be frightened. She took not the least
notice of Won Faust, for, though looking
straight towards him, her glance seemed
to pass over him or through him without
informing her of his existence-in way
(which, had there been grain of manly
decency in his composition, would have
made him wish the earth to swallow
him; and nothing but slight disdainful
quiver of her upper lip betrayed that she
had heard his remark at all. restrain
ed my wrath, therefore, as best l could,
and contented myself with turning
round in my chair and staring at the
lieutenant in as offensive and insulting
manner as could.
He noticed my behavior, and doubt
less OWNED the cause of it; and by way
of showing, perhaps, how little he cared
for my displeasure, he presently sum-
moned the kellner and sent him of for a
bouquet of flowers. The man soon re-
turned with very large and snowy one.
"Take it to that Fraulein there" said
Won Vaust, with leer of defiance at
me, "and present it to her with my COM
pliments."
The man looked rather frightened at
this commission, but obeyed neverthe-
less, and laid the bouquet before the
young lady with deprecatory air and
an inartichlate murmur.
By this time the attention Of most Of
the people round about, had been at
tracted, and everyone watched with in
terest to see what the young lady would
do. As for me, was pretty near at the
end of my tether, and only awaited the
first symptom of distress on her part to
take the lieutenant by the throat. He
could probably have settled me with one
hand, but at the moment I forgot to
think of that. a
Amidst general pause Of suspense
the young lady quietly took up the bou'
quet and examined it critically The
color in her checks deepened shade, and
her eyes sparkled beneath their lashes
but otherwise she betrayed no uneasi
ness or indignation. At length she laid
the flowers down, put her hand in hel
pocket, and pulled out her pocket-book
The kellner shifted nervously from one
leg to the other, and glanced hurriedly
towards Won Vaust, whose insolen
smile was losing itself in an expression
something like bewilderment.
The young lady opened the pocket
book and took out of it gold piece O
r the value of six thalers. Handing it tt
! the astonished kellner, she said in Ger
man and in a low, even tone, which wa
+ distinctly audible to all the curious lis
teners:
II am not accustomed to buy flower
Of peddlers, but 1 suppose this persol
! must be very much in want OF money
-, since he offers them to me in this way
, 50 / will take them out of charity. Civ
!, him this, please, and send him away"
, There was q dead silence for moment
q but as the unfortunate kellner turned t.
a perform his new orders, one or two per
: sons snickered, and others joined in, ant
v almost Immediately there was univer
!. sal explosion of derisive mirth at tn
J. gallant lieutenants expense. "Sacra
n ment" suffered he, jumping to his feet
q his clumsy features of dull crimso
a hue, while he strove by an enraged star
f to awe the laughers into silence. But
i was in vain; others, hearing the uproal
r hurried to the spot, and soon added thei
- quota to the chorus Of contemptuou
merriment; and at last even the kellne
=. pricked up the courage of numbers, an
q as he laid down the gold coin upon tn
i lieutenant's table, he suffered broa
T. grin to make itself visible on his countt
Il nance likewise.
+ At this juncture the white-bearded ol
T. gentleman came shouldering through th
i crowd, in a tempest of apprehension an
). WRATH on finding his daughter safe, h
a stood with one arm in hers, glaring roun
i on every side in search of a foe. Bu
;. the only individual who might have al
,. swered to that term had by this tim
: skunk away, pursued by the taunts an
% ieers of the whole assembly. And ther
n the young lady, who, while unprotected
W had borne herself so firmly, suddenl
Il bent her lovely face against her, father
n y shoulder and burst into tears. As he lie
T her away low murmur Of sympath
~ and admiration followed her; for a
|. though Dresden crowd is in geners
, anyth;nn hut q Gallant one their hear