Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-29

low noufs later sat with number o
peasant friends in one of the best restsu
rants under the lindens. The conversation
was lively and cheerful, and there wer,
ing in and out.
IN the neighborhood of the table a
which we sat and made ourselves merT,
like ours, o.
Some young girlish faces before us hav
ing attracted me, 1 involuntariiy looked
around for my Unknown, but there-yes
certainly, there he was next to the LITTLE
oionde coquette, with the seductive little
snuo nose and the snowy white felt hat
che ohcer OF Lutzower street, the same be-
lore whom my little friend had taken flight,
ior although had no foundation for the
loea, since we had met many other men on
that street. could not help:thinking of the
large, snowy, handsome, but utterly blase
and insolent looking lieutenant of infantry
in connection with hsr.
"Who is that pale officer2'' asked 1 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. thought you surely must
know him."
"No, no; but what is the story about
hlm?" inquired.
swell, nothing more than that yonder
blonde has-with some trouble, it must be
admitted-captured him fol life, after he
has caused ninety nine others to dream of
the same happy fate. For myself, never
could have attained such an elegiac calm
after reaking 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
devoted himself to them for half an hour
entirely conquered by his irresistible
fascination. And it is just the same with
the old ones. Many to be sure allege, in
deed, that behind that titanic brow there is
nothing but cornfield, and that thrash
don't oner'
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 Otricoli, To me it was in the highest
degree repugnant.
Enough tears have recently been flow
ing from the beautiful eyes, since his be-
trothal with Fraulein Josepha Maier has
appeared in the Gazette.
| 'sMaierf" involuntarily asked.
"Yes, yes,'" laughed Erich; sssimply
Maier with al, but passably pretty and
immensely rich, of course. And since
! Fraulein Josepha does not look Jewish,
Pa1mWOlf can endure that his father-in-
law IN :pe should have formerly been
cloth merchant in Frankfort-on- the 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:
sit is quite inoomprehensible to me that
he really did not 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."
"Yes, but the money-the money!
cried another.
'Well, at all events, this one is a blonde,
too, and very rude one," remarked
third, An idea suddenly seized me.
"Where does Fraulein Ger ishof live?''
sked Iof 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 a pen
stoned general, but where she lives do not
knoY. Do YOU wish to console her for the
loss of Paumwolf, old boy'''
threw him glance full Of rage. A
young assessor who sat at our table and
seemed to have heard our dialogue called
out to me:
81 can give you the address, Baron
Kurprlnsen street, No. 3a.a
Now that was the very dwelling of my
Unknown. felt all the blood rush to my
heart; then thanking him for information,
took my hat and stick, and without waiting
to reply to the jesting remarks of those re-
manning at the table, left the place. to saun-
Eer, without aim or object, through the
moonlit streets.
How, after long wandering hither and
thither, finally found myself before the
much -thought-of house in Kurprlnzen
street, surely cannot tell. I went on tho
opposite side of the street and looked at the
house standing befor me in the clear moon
light. 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 ip story books
And the little fay who wandered about
therein? Was she still awake, sheltered be-
hind the one single window of the gable
end, which was still lighted grieving, per-
haps, about the unfaithful Paumwolf s--
With pity, seorn and-yes. 1 will confess it
burning jealousy in my heart, at length
turned my steps homeward to my quiet
lodging.
After rather sleepless and restless 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 oppression that came over me- My
pulse had not throbbed so wildly since long
years ago, when the first volley of musketry
whistled round my ears. In the lonely cd
family estate of Barwalde in the Mark, the
last few years had passed away 50 quietly
and monotonOusly; grave studies and prac-
tical application of knowledge gained in
early and distant travels had occupied me
SO exclusively that the etiquette of the great
world had beceme strange and unknown 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 Gerd-
shot," Now! Courage! The bell is pull
ed! l am in for it!
An old servant dressed in livery answer
Gu my ring, ana on my ASKING II the master
was at home, took my card and left me with
the conventional II viii! inquirer but soon
returned and opened for me the lofty fold
ing-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 saloon l
found the general, an old. digniied gentle
mar, with erect, military bearing, 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 service
he seemed to be informed of everything
and to have expected me somewbat-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 FraulIen Eveline had not appeared.
But when at parting the general said he
hoped to see me uften at his house during
nv StaV in the citv cOnld not refrain from