The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-03-28

the large, snowy, handsome, Dut utterly
blase and insolvent looking Lieutenant OF
infantry in connection with her.
''Who is that pale officer?' asked | OF
my friend Erich.
"Where ?"
| 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 lately betrothed, the handsome
Paumwolf l 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
has caused nearly ninety-nine others to
dream of the same happy fate. For my
self, I never could have attained such an
elegiac calm after breaking off love affair
But he has been unfortunate Young la
dies with and without pedigree, with and
without money bags, bow down to him after
he has devoted himself to them for half an
hour, entirely conquered by his irresistible
fascinations. And it is just the same with
the old ones. Many, to be sure, allege
indeed, that behind that titanic brow there
is nothing but a cornfeld, and that a
thrashed-out oneP
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 Zeus
of Otricoh. To me it was in the highest
degree repugnant.
Enough tears have recently been flow
ing from beautiful eyes, since his betrothal
with Fraulein Josepha Maier has appeared
in the Gazette.
ssMaier ?' I involuntarily asked.
eyes, yes, /" laughed Erich; simply Maic1
with AL but passably pretty and immense.
" rich, of course. And since Fraulein
Josepha does not look Jewish, Paumwot
can endure that his father-in-law IN spt
should have formerly been cloth merchant
in Frankfort-on-the-M Main.
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
at is quite incomprehensible to me that
he did not rather take the little Gerdshof
whom he SO recently courted. The girl is
of altogether different stock from the Mai
ers. and she seems to be head over ears in
love with him."
eyes, but the money-the money p
cried another.
"Well, at all events, this one is blonde
too, and very rude one, remarked a
third. An idea suddenly seized me.
aWhere does Fraulein Gerdshof live n
asked I of Erich,
He looked at me a moment without
speaking and then laughed aloud
"Well, you certainly are amusing this
evening, with your abrupt questions Be,
sides being called Won Gerdshof, of old
Margravite nobility, her father is pen
stoned general, but where she lives | dc
not know. Do you wish to console her fol
the loss of Paumwolf, old boy p
1 threw him a glance full of rage. a
young assessor who sat at our table ano
seemed to have heard our dialogue called
out to me: 81 can give you the address
Baron-Kurprinzen street, No. 3D.
Now that was the very dwelling of my
Unknown. I felt all the blood rush to my
heart; then thanking him for the informa
ton, took my hat and stick, and without
waiting 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 anc
thither, l finally found myself before the
much-thought-of house in Kurprinzer
street, surely cannot tell. | went on the
opposite side of the street and looked at the
house standing before me in the clear moon
light. In the midst of blooming garden:
the dainty villa rose, with its antique, vine
covered and many columned gallery il
front, like the enchanted castles in story
books. And the little fay who wandered
about therein? Was she still awake
sheltered behind the one single window O.
the gable end, which was still lighted
grieving, perhaps, about the unfaithfu
Paumwolf? With pity, scorn and-yes
| will confess it-burning jealousy in my
heart, 1 at length turned my steps home
ward to my quiet lodging.
After rather sleepless and restless night
and several anxious morning hours, | made
my way at the proper time for visiting, t.
Kurprinzen street Now [ was on the
steps. Oh, the beating of my heart, thu
almost painful oppression that came owe
me My pulses had not throbbed so wild
ly since long years ago, when the frs
yollev of musketry whistled round my ears
In the lonely old family estate of Barwald'
in the Mark, the last few years had passed
away SO quietly and monotonously; grav'
studies and practical application of knowl
edge gained in early and distant travel
had occupied me so exclusively that th'
etiquette of the great world had becom
strange and unknown to me. And yet
was not timidity alone which caused tn
blood to fly like lightning through m,
veins, which made me remark with almos
tender interest the elegant brass plate witt
the name engraved "Von Gerdshof.
Now Courage! The bell is pulled l an
in for it !
An old servant dressed in livery answer
ed my ring and on my asking if the maste
was at home, took my card and left me witt
the conventional II will inquire" but sool
returned and opened for me the lofty fold
ing-door to the left of the entrance. Hi
assurance that the master would be pleaset
to see me sounded very consoling to me.
Within the elegantly furnished salon
found the General, an old, dignifed gentle
man, with erect, military bearing, MARTA
but not unfriendly countenance and lon!
gray beard, which, however, was CAREFUL.
shaved from the broad chin. After ha'
expressed to him my pleasure at being abb
to help his daughter in her dilemma, ant
he had thanked me for the slight service
he seemed to be informed of everythin!
and to have expected me somewhat-w
passed from the usual forms of politenes
to lively conversation, that extended owe
every possible topic. The time passed a
if on wings; almost an hour was thus spen
in chatting with the amiable old gentle
man, and yet Fraulein Eveline had no
appeared. But when at parting the Gen
eral said he hoped to see me often at hi
house during my stay in the city, | coul
not refrain from pressing his hand in dee