Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-08-20
LOVES RISKS.

'It's not of the least use talking,
Thekla," said my father dogmatically-
he always became dogmatic and un-
reasonable on this subject you can't
make anything else but bloodthirsty,
cruel, rapacious, irretrievable scamps
out of those confounded uhlans! Your
precious count there is like the rest
of'em! Glad he's going!"
ut wasn't his fault, papa" / ventured
to assert; ''it was some superior officers,
who billeted the company, l suppose.
Papa did not know 1 was betrothed to
the count, for he hated the Germans, and,
above all, the uhlans. My stately lover
was proud of his dashing company be-
fore whom all things gave way. How
the French hated the very name of Lich-
tenstein. ''Lichtenstein's Uhlans," as
they called them-they and he seemed
invincible and irresistible; but he was
merciful and noble, and never suffered
pillage or violence, and ever spared wo-
men and, as much as possible, all human
life. Our engagement was secret; but
Ernst had said, with the smile that ]
loved to see, it was SO bright and tender
-"Only till the war is over, my Thelka
/ cannot give you up"
But to return to my story. Orders had
come for Lichtenstein to go with hand.
full of his men to the headquarters o.
the general with dispatches, l think
leaving few to guard the town. Nc
disturbance was anticipated by the gen.
eral but Ernst thought Vervain more
important than he did.
Papa told me he was going into towr
till dinner-time.
II say, wouldn't it be fun," he said
chuckling, eff the count fell into Col
lie Bruins handsP"
lie Brun will be very clever" an
swered, smiling serenely, eff he catches
the 'invincible Lichtensteinr"
Il know" growled papa. "Oh, by
the-way, what are you doing about poo
Pierre's successor?"
"I'll get somebody" | ans wered; "Iti
difficult now, but"
"Ah, well, try to get some one, my
dear, with two arms this time!" laughed
papa, and he went away.
Well, the count went away almost di
rectly after dinner. Papa shook hands
with him and said briskly;
"Good-by, count"
Then Ernst turned to me and held m,
hand-no one could tell how tightly
Papa only heard my quiet "Good-by
count; hope you will have safe jour
ney," and his equally quiet answer a
he touched my hand with his lips in hi
gallant fashion,
"Lebewohl, Mademoiselle Thekla
your gentle wish shall be a winged pray
er to which Heaven shall lend ear.
And in another moment the ''invincibl
uhlan" was gone.
"Thank goodness!" said my father
rubbing his hands. "Hope he'll no
come back again. Set of scamps-evel
this paragon! Ugh! Lichtenstein tn
just indeed! He'd give up our house t.
sack as soon as look at you!n
"He would not papa" l answere,
rather hotly.
was in the salon the next evening
and papa was reading the newspaper
when all at once ] heard the sound o
shouting, the clash of steel, and the va
rious other notes of warfare to which W
had grown accustomed; but, before
could see what it all meant, Fadette
the only servant the war had left us
rushed in, crying out that the Frencl
were in Vervain.
''The Holy Virgin be praised!" sh
cried. "The accursed uhlans are driver
out! Col. lie Brun, ma'm'selle, ha
slain nearly all the counts uhlans. H
met them on the road, and how the
fought The count escaped, but Mon
sieur lie Colonel comes on here and ha
the town. No doubt the count will
taken soon."
/ was thankful when / could retir
and be alone with my deadly anxiety
| could not think of sleep, so lowere
the lamp in my dressing-room, an
paced to and fro, too restless to sit still
One o'clock had just chimed out fror
the town-clock in the market-place, an
paused to listen to the musical carillor
Presently l heard strange noise.
turned and listened how / listened
The noise was just outside the window
and it sounded as if the creeping-rost
and jasmine branches were being rustlet
Before could look out there was II so
tap on the glass. Swiftly I hurried {
the window. | heard the soft voiC
that was never out of my ears mute
hastily
"Open, Thekla, for the love of Heaven
/ opened the window quickly an
silently, and the next instant Ernst W,
clasping me for one brief wild momu
: ofjoy to his breast.
Ernst, dear Ernst" / said, clingir
to him, "tell me quickly-are you hai
pressed-are you safe hereP"