Sharp County record., 1881-03-03

ter was somewhat cold note, chiding
him for his rash persistence. But the
ice was broken. His proteStations OF
love were soon reciprocated, and atlast
she consented to rendez UOHS. With
the rashnesS with which timid women
sometimes have, she appointed the
Countess house for the place. In her
letter she said:
"This evening there is to be ball at
the German Ambassador We will
remain there until two o'clock. AS
soon as we start for the ball, which will
be about eleven, the servants will i'm
mediately retire to their quarters. But
one will remain, the footman at the
door, and he probably will be asleep:
Enter as soon as you see us leave, ana
90 up stairs. If you find anyone in the
ante chamber ask if the Countess is at
home; the answer will be that she IS
not, and you must resign yourself and
90. 1t is not probable that you will
meet anyone, however. When you are
in the ante-chamber take the door to
the left, and you will find yourself IN
the Countess boudoir. There, behind
tall screen, you will see two doors
one opens into closet, the other upon
stairway, which leads to"
Hermann's eyes glared like those OF a
beast of prey as he read the note. Al
ready he saw dancing before his eyes
the heaped-up gold and bank-notes, the
cards, the green cloth of the gambling
table. He saw himself in imagination
weeping in fantastic treasures such as
he had never dreamed of. He awaited
with feverish impatience the arrival OF
the hour.
At eleven o'clock he was waiting in
front of the Countess door. The night
was stormy; the wind moaned titfuIly,
the lamps gave forth an uncertain flick
er upon the falling snow and the de-
serted street. From time to time the
football of belated passer-by sounded
upon the stones. But Hermann felt
neither wind nor snow. At last the
carriage appeared. Two lackeys de-
posted the mutlled form of the Countess
within it, and following her came the
1.-the figure of Lisabeta, as she sprang
upon the step. The slam of the door
smote his ear, and the dull sound of the
wheels as they rolled over the snowy
street. The fOotman shut the carriage
gate, the windows became dark, and
Silence soon hung over the household.
Hermann approached street lamp,
and by its feeble glimmer examined his
wavch. Twenty minutes after eleven;
it was past the hour. He opened the
gate and entered the vestibule-no foot
man there. With a firm step he mount
ed the grand stairway, and found him
self in the ante chamber. On the floor
Law a snoring servant. Passing quickly
by him, Hermann entered the Countess
room.
Before little altar IN the corner. COW
cred with images, burned a perfumed
lamp of gold. On the walls hung por-
traits, attired in the fashion of fifty years
before. One-that of a handsome man in
uniform-seemed to follow him with his
cold, gray eyes as he moved about the
room. Hermann resented the look in
voluntarily, and then laughed at his
folly. On the mantel stood porcelain
vases and marble clock. About the
room were scattered countless jewels.
He passed behind a screen at one side
of the room; there were the doors. He
opened the one to the right; it was the
staircase which led to the room of the
poor girl who loved him. He opened
the one to the left; closet revealed it.
self, into which he stepped.
The minutes crept slowly by. The
house was profoundly silent. The great
clock in the hall struck twelve, and its
echoes died away. Hermann waited. One
o'clock. His pulse beat slowly-he was
calm. Two o'clock. Silence. Then
came the distant rolling of carriage
wheels. For the first time he felt some
slight emotion. The carriage rapidly
approached, and the servants, warned
by the sound, hastened to receive their
mistress. Three maids entered and
lighted up the boudoir; moment after
the Countess appeared, preceded and
followed by lackeys with lights.
Hermann eagerly watched what was
passing through the slightly opened
door. The old lady fell into an easy
chair and the maids began to remove
her ornaments. Then Lisabeta passed
Immediately in front of him. He could
have touched her as she went by He
heard her light footstep on the stair
way; he heard her door close. For q
moment he felt something which in an
other man would have been remorse,
but he stihed it. His heart was stone
The maids continued to remove the
Countess ball-dress. When they had
taken off her wig, her diamonds, her
patches, and her brocaded gown, and
replaced them with wrapper and cap,
she looked little less hideous.
Like most very old people, she was
troubled with sleeplessness. There
fore, instead of going to bed at once,
she had her chair wheeled before the
fire, had the lights extinguished, and
dismissed her women. The tlickerlng
fire-light fell upon her wrinkled, yellow
face as her head nodded from side to
side, and its vacuous look revealed the
absence of thought. But suddenly the
expression changed; her lips trembled
and her eyes lifted up. The figure OF
man appeared between her and the
fire.
"Fear nothing, madam" said the
stranger in q hoarse whisper, "fear