Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-09-11

not help thinking of the large, snowy, hand
some, but utterly blase and insolent looking
lieutenant of infantry in connection with
her.
friend Erich.
"Where ?"
T indicated the direction to him. 'The
one with the black beard, next to the little
blonde lady,"
"He ?" said Erich and laughed. "Why,
he is the late betrothed, the handsome
Paumwolf 1 thought you surely must
know him."
"No, no; but what is the story about
him 2" Inquired.
"Well, nothing more than that yonder
blonde has, with some trouble it must be
admitted, captured him for life, after he had
caused nearly ninety-nine others to dream
of the same happy fate. For myself never
could have attained such an elegiac calm,
after breaking off love affair. But he has
been unfortunate. Young ladies with and
without pedigree, with and without money
bags, bow down to him, after he has devo-
ted himself to them for half an hour, entire
ly conquered by his Irresistible destinations.
And it is just the same with the old ones.
Many, to be sure, allege, indeed, that be-
hind that titanic brow there is nothing but
corn-feld, and that thrashed-out one."
While Erich had been speaking my eyes
had wandered away from Paumwolf. His
pale face, framed in by curling black beard
and hair, reminded me, in fact, of the Zens
of Otricoli. To me it was in the highest de-
gree repugnant.
Enough tears have recently been flow
ing from beautiful eyes since his betrothal
with Fraulein Josepha Maier has appeared
in the Gazette.
.;1 yoI
eyes, yes," laughed Erich, "simply Maier
ly rich, of course. And since Fraulein Jo-
sepha does not look Jewish, Paumwolf can
endure that his father-in-laW IN spe should
have formerly been cloth merchant in
Frankfort-on-the-Mai
The conversation having once turned on
the handsome Paumwolf, it did not soon
leave the subject. On the other side of our
table the people were whispering about him,
and one said:
he did not rather take the little GerdshOf,
whom he so recently courted. The girl is of
altogether different stock from the Maiers,
and she seemed to be head over ears in
love with him.
eyes, but the money-the money!" cried
another.
"Well, at all events, this one is a blonde,
too, and a very rude one, >" remarked a third.
An idea suddenly seized Inc.
"Where does Fraulein Gerdshoff live ?'
asked I of Erich.
He looked at me for moment without
speaking and then laughed aloud.
"Well, you certainly are amusing this
evening with your abrupt questions. Be-
sides being called Won Gerdshoff of old Mar
gravite nobility, her father is pensioned
S.onoroI bnt ,vbaro cbo 1iyac fln No Epo11y
Do you wish to console her for the loss of
Paumwolf, old boy?"
I threw hima glance full ofrage. A young
assessor who sat at our table and seemed to
have heard our dialogue called out to me:
II can give you the address, baron-Kur-
prinzen street, No. 35."
All! that was the very dwelling of my
Unknown. felt all the blood rush to my
heart; then thanking him for the informa-
ton, took my hat and stick, and without
turning to reply to the jesting remarks of
those remaining at the table, left the place
to saunter, without aim or object, through
the moonlit streets.
How, after long wandering hither and
thither, I finally found myself before the
much thought of house in Kurprinzen street,
/ surely cannot tell. / went on the opposite
side of the street and looked at the house
standing before me in the clear moonlight.
In the midst of blooming gardens the dainty
villa rose, with its antique, vine-covered
and many columned gallery in front, like
the enchanted castles in story books. And
the little fairy who wandered about there
in? Was she still awake, sheltered behind
the one single window of the gable-end,
which was still lighted; grieving, perhaps,
about the unfaithful Paumwolf? With pity,
scorn and-yes 1 will confess it-burning
jealousy in my heart, 1 at length turned
my steps homeward to my quiet lodging.
After rather sleepless night, and several
anxious morning hours, made my way at
the proper time for visiting, to Kurprinzen
street. Now / was on the steps. Oh, the
beating of my heart, the almost painful op-
preston that came over me! My pulses
had not throbbed so wildly since long years
ago when the first volley Of musketry Whis-
tied around my ears. In the lonely old
family estate in Barwalde in the Mark, the
last few years had passed away so quietly
and monotonously; grave studies and a
practical application of knowledge gained
in early and distant travels had occupied
me 50 exclusively that the etiquette of the
great world had become strange and un-
known to me. And yet it was not timidity
alone which caused the blood to fly like
lightning through my veins, which made
me remark with almost tender interest the
elegant brass plate with the name engraved:
"Von Gerdshoff." Now! Courage! The
bell is pulled! am in for it!
An old servant dressed in livery answered
my ring and on my asking if the master
was at home, took my card and left me
but soon returned and opened for me the
lofty folding door to the left of the entrance.
His assurance that the master would be
pleased to see me sounded very consoling
to me.
Within the elegantly furnished salon 1
found the general, an old, dignified gentle
man, with erect, military bearing, q mar
tial, but not unfriendly countenance, and a
long gray beard, which, however, was care
fully shaved from the broad chin. After /
had expressed to him my pleasure at being
able to help his daughter in her dilemma,
and he had thanked me for the slight SER
vice-he seemed to be informed of every
thing, and to have expected me somewhat
we passed from the usual forms of politeness
to lively conversation that extended over
every possible topic. The time passed as if
on wings almost an hour was thus spent in
chatting with the amiable old gentleman,
and yet Fraulein Eveline had not appeared.
But when at parting the general said he
hoped to see me often at his house during
my stay in the city, could not refrain from
pressing his hand in deep heartfelt graft
tude. Not long afterwards received a del
icately written card-decidedly a lady's
handwriting which Herr General Won
Gerdshotf did himself the honor to invite
Herr Baron Won T to dine. must con-
fess never had received an invitation with
similar joy. What was the excitement and
expectation Of the first court ball as compared
with the impatient throbbing of my heart,
with which l, on the appointed day, betook