Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-28

with what charming sauciness She said
that please - don't let your big friend
meaning Hersford, don't let your big
friend know anything about our pro-
gramme; he would ridicule the idea of
our early rising in order TO enjoy the
beautiful outlook. He would consider
that, no doubt, mere sentimentahty, for he
| looks very sarcastic, and | won't stand
that Well, did promise her, of course;
and as long as these ladies are here L
would not say a word about them anyhow
in the presence of Hersford.
With that he rose, regretting that the
| ladies, fatigued after their mornings ex-
cursion, would not appear at the ball
| before evening, and concluding to take a
nap himself. When we were parting he
shook NV hand with marked and signiti-
cant emphasis.
| almost enyied him, while following
him with my eye when he passed down
the gravel path, scanning, | fancled, a
poem to "Fraeulein Etelka." He, at
least, knew the name of his ideal; :" he
had passed whole half day in her COM
pany he could converse about her; he
had intimately conversed with her. And
| I. poor devil, knew absolutely nothing save
that my forest princess" was hundred
times more beautiful than Hottie er's
Hebe, whom / figured to myself as Sim
ilarly light-complexioned and blue-eyed as
her poetic admirer
The afternoon, also, brought no sight of
my beautiful stranger.
! Why did she not show herself? Why
had she disappeared without trace?
Discouraged took seat on one Of the
benches and looked along the promenade,
where Just then, with comfortable, self
complacent step and whistling tune, Dis
trict Attorney Hersford appeared
well, has Your relative gone by the
train ?" i asked as he stopped before me.
"My relative? All, well, hum be-
tween Won and me, dear Baron, that was a
mere fib intended for orr friend Holtfeur,
who lacks, you know. for certain matters Il
sympathetic understanding | have had Il
most delightful time. Give me an inter-
esting saucy woman and all the rest is
bagatelle. OF course, you will understand,
that lady is no relative Of mine at all !;
indeed, to tell the truth, don't know
very well, even by this time, who and what
my fair partner is. But, with Shakes
peare. what's in nance A name in a
watering place at least, is a thing which,
like our wardrobe, we may pack up, put
ON, and again put away, to suit the circum-
stances. And what she iS-but, stop
| there comes Holtfeuer. Let lam keep his
illusions; I'll tell y%i some other time
about it,
Holtfeuer was just coming toward us, in
company with the Superintendent Of the
watering-place. \ game Of nine-pins had
been arranged, and We were all to take
part in it. Beginning, by this time, to
give up all hope of seeing my forest
princess again, joined the gentlemen.
On our return to the hall that evening,
/ noticed a peculiar restlessness in our two
inseparable friends. Often in the middle
of a conversation they would suddenly
break off and fail to answer; again, the
opening or closing Of any door seemed to
engage their particular interest-in short,
| they were acting like men who were ex-
pecting somebody, and becoming impatient
because the party failed to come. /, too,
was not in gay spirits; for the absence Of
the forest princess had put me out Of
| humor 70 most preposterous degree.
! But what was the Use Of ceiling myself
that | was foolish, | had TO think Of her
nevertheless.
We had our supper together on the ter
trace, after which the Judge retired to
write some letters and the District Attor-
nev took also his leave, " to look up some
acquaintance of his he said.
was alone and walked mp to the balus-
trade, around which twined luxurious
tangle of wild vine and roses, and looked
into the park, which lay again before me,
like Yesterday land of promise, illu-
mined by the moons mysterious light
And though tried to argue with myself
that the romantic mood which this sight
put me in was perfectly absurd that there
were no fairy stories going to be enacted
on the moonlit greenSward that no strange
adventures were lurking in those trees, and
! in the darkness Of those scattered ciumps
| of accompanying 50 much more grand
and compact than in the light of day--it
was of no avail, for magic impulse drove
me again to roam through that same laby-
rinth of roads and paths, without encoun-
| tering aught but the cool evening air and
the odors Of the spicy shrubs and pines.
Past smiling groups Of promensders /
penetrated deeper and ,.eeper into the
park grounds, till at last no human crea-
| ture was near.
Over the meadows hung eauzy veil Of
mist, and the stately pines and frs were
gently moving their somber tops overhead.
On the margin of the greensward took
a seat on 4 garden bench, and breathed, in
long, deep draughts, the cool yet mild and
perfumed air of the night.
| From afar was heard the drowsy, lallinz
note Of song all else around was still
suddenly there came sound as of a light
step ON the gravel walk. ! turned my
head, and in the bend Of the road, flooded
over Icy the moons weird light, there stood
my forest princess, whom I thought 10
have lost for aye vet whom in my secret
heart had been expectantly waiting for
the liveiong day. | jumped up.
"Ah, YOU !"-was all ! could utter at that
moment And she seemed not to have
| expected any more, for she smiled and
nodded to me as to an old acquaintance.
But what are You doing here-making
poems or gazing on the stars ?" she asked
with a silvery laugh; and | felt as if she
had perfect right to such inquiries, while
| had not for did she not ftly belong to
this atmosphere woven Of moonshine and
among he rustling iirs-shcwith her merry
laugh, and white robes, and forest princess
| appearance? And | merely said that | was
truly glad to meet her once more and that
l had already been afraid She was no longer
| sojourning Al Reinerz.
How so?r she said Didn't tell you
that | would see You again ~ and she
seated herself beside me on the bench.
That's true. But you were never on the
promenade, nor in the concert hall
| But isn't it 50 much more beautiful
here ?" she replied.
Yes, indeed and somehow, II then
seemed to me really foolish, the idea Of
ever having expected to meet her any
where else than in the forest depth
\ gentle breath of air, which now and
then was coming from the meadow, carried
the corner of the white veil she wore on
to my shoulder; It's delicate perfume rose
up to me, and-was it that gentle touch Of
! something that belonged to her or the