Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-28


tender interest the elegant brass plate
with the name engraved: won Cords
hof" Nowl Couragel The bell is
pulled l am in for It'll
An old servant dressed in livery an
swered my ring, and on my asking if
the master was at home, took my card
and left me with the conventional II
will inquire" but soon returned and
opened for me the lofty folding door
to the left of the entrance. His as
surance that the master would be
pleased to see me sounded very con-
selling to me.
Within the elegantly furnished salon
l found the general, an old, dignitied
gentleman, with erect, military bear
ing, martial but not unfriendly coun-
tenance, and a long, gray beard,
which, however, was carefully shaved
from the broad chin. After had ex-
pressed to him my pleasure at being
able to help his daughter in her di-
lemma, and he had thanked me for the
slight service-he seemed to be in
formed of everything, and to have ex-
pected 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 thus
passed in chatting with the amiable old
gentleman, and yet Fraulein Eveline
had not appeared. But when at part
ing 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
gratitude Not long afterwards re-
ceived delicately written carbide
cidedly lady's handwriting-in
which Herr Gen. Won Gerdshoff did
himself the honor to invite Herr Baron
Won T. to dine. must confess never
received an invitation with similar Joy.
What was the excitement and expec-
tation of the first court ball. as COM
pared with the impatient throbbing of
my heart with which l. on the APP
pointed day, betook myself to the din.
ner. a numerous company had
already assembled; many of the per-
sons present were known to me, were
indeed friends, SO that soon found
myself most delightfully."- situated.
And the daughter of the house9
There stood Eveline with her friends,
her graceful figure moving with be-
witching grace among the guests; for
she was obliged to assist that aged,
somewhat conventional looking lady
in doing the honors of the house-the
generals wife had been dead many
years-and l could not help admiring
the tact and self possession with which
she, in spite of her youth, SO charm
ingly filled the position of hostess.
Here she asked an old gentleman after
the health of his sick spouse; there
she whispered some pleasant remark
to a young lady about her tasteful
toilet, or repealed too gallant cavalier
with scornful glance or a saucy an
swer. With each and all she knew
surrounded by all. Every one flocked
about her, who, like an apparition out
of story book, moved around among
those nodded fashion plates. And yet
there lay in her violet eyes, when she
believed herself to be unobserved, a
sad expression which did not accord
with the conventional smile of the
sweet, small mouth.
At length the signal for dinner was
given. Eveline laid the tips of her
dainty fingers on the arm of tall,
blonde cavalier, a cousin of the family.
To my great annoyance, my portion
was Countess Soundso no longer in
the first bloom of youth. must add
that l had secretly hoped to see Eve
lines angelic head at my side. With
a mien which was certainly not very
amiable. l offered the countess my
arm and led her to the places desig-
mated for us. Though otherwise a
most estilnable lady, she almost drove
me to despair with her loquacity, and
about my recent journey in the East,
and expressed a desire to hear some
thing about my last new work, my
glance strayed impatiently past the
questioner in vain search for Eveline.
l had not had the opportunity to eX-
change one word with her. She had
only nodded to me from across the
room, pleasantly and confdingly, as
to an old acquaintance.
Pretty soon felt gentle touch on
my arm, and voice I only too well
remembered asked, shyly, and at the
same time saucily:
Does mein Herr no longer recog'
nize his protegea"
turned quickly, and, yes there in
deed was Eveline, who had been sit
ting next to me for full five minutes
without my having observed her. My
neighbor, the countess, and Eveline's
escort, the cousin in the Guards, very
soon understood how much they might
expect to be entertained by Eveline OF
myself during the four or five hours
passed at the table. How the time sped
and what were the general topics OF
conversation we never knew. But
was entirely happy during the whole
time. Not once did discover in hel
eyes that melancholy dropping which
had before made me anxious. Oh, il
l could only succeed in making he,
forget Paumwolfl To this fond, PROUD
thought | concentrated all my minC
and efforts. With rapture | noticed
how her eyes hung SO earnestly on my
lips as ! told her of my travels, anc
my restless wandering about from one
distant land to another. And when