Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-12

low. round voice. which stole on his senses and
| took possession entire and absolute of them. till
| she had carried him far away to the land OF
who she sang. All knowledge of where and
what he was forsook him. He became imper-
sonal. and yet he breathed the air OF that odor-
GUS land, the bright sun was sinking In the west,
and now he stood alone with her in the starlight
| by the rushing Kur. with the red wine in mis-
hand and great passion in his heart and ~!
wenn es doch INNER so blebel"
She had stopped. and he looked up dreamily.
II was not surprising to him that he did not see
her. What could she and her voice and her
song be but glimpse from the vision land OF
the possible?
Major Brown felt that duty could require no
more OF him and silently absconded to the smOk-
Ing room. once safely within its sheltering
solitude he threw himself back into the basket
chair. and lighting his pipe tried to COMPUTE up
his vision again through the curling wreaths of
smoke.
And the clock licked and the wind whistled.
'Oh wenn es doch INNER so bliebe."
All around the noise Of German tongues. the
smell OF German cigars. the sound of German
eating, drinking and cOnviviality Surely IL is
nat on very much oyer-estimated. so, at
least. thought Major Brown, pacing YEARLY up
and DOWN the broad terrace of the Homburg
Kur-FIaus.
During the past monotonous Bournemouth
winter the MAJORS spirits had. in the most un-
Tagged. An old friend and brother officer, paw
ing visit to that famous health resort, had
scarcely been able to recognize in the morbid
gloomy man. his former chum who had been
the very life OF the regiment. lie had spoken
seriously TO the tnaior himself and to Mrs Dray.
ton. and predicting sageiy that Browns liver
was affected, and that there nothing like
good German watering place for setting an In
dian up again.. had finally succeeded in per-
suadlng his friend to promise that he would
round.
When once Major Brown had made this reso-
luton he became restless and impatient to carry
it into execution
When June came, therefore. Major Brown, no
longer able to restrain his impotence, started
| tor Homburg, although he was warned By his
acquaintance that he would find the place bit
terry cold. completely given over to Germans,
and not a soul there that he knew"
Pacing up and down the Kur-Haus terrace on
this June evening he was obliged to own that
the prophecy had beeL entirely fulfilled. He
was sick to death of the daily routine OF baths
and water drinking.
Major Brown turned in his walk sharply and
muttered low imprecation. He would leave
HOmburg immediately. The place was a dead
takc-in. He was rather worse than better since
he had come there. He would start tomorrow
for Switzerland and wait about somewhere for
warmer weather and the stream of English WIS.,
itors which was sure to bring some old friends
with it,
ROGER, do put on Sara's shawl for her. II is
so chilly. and she will certainly catch cold in
that thin Gown"
TIE low, pcevish tones struck suddenly on
Major Browns ear through tie din OF foreign
voices. in moment there rushed on him an
overpowering darkness and then flood of
fright ght. He was once more in the crowded
drawing room of Sea View Villa. Standing in
his corner he watched the BOurncmOuth ladies
smile and ,alk and On his ear there crept Rub
inst 10 lnIix ol6N ayi.n xnia.
rang out again.
He passed his hand over his ewes and looked
round in a daZed manner. Quite near him. on
his right hand. was a little group Of three peo-
pie. He recognized them all again in moment.
Mrs. wilson was iaDguidly tanning herself, al
though. as she lad said, the evening was decid-
edy chilly. Her son. bending over his cousins
chair, was wrapping around her soft, white
shawl. Miss LeyisOH5 face. slightly turled
toward him. was pale. and still and beautiful as
ON that PARKWAY December evening.
Major Brown, quite unconsciously, stood still
so long gazing at the group that at last. Ms
Wilson, who sat facing him, was attracted By
the stationary watcher She recognized him
immediately as an Engshmau. and put up her
glasses to make Il more thorough Investigation
OF him. Then some shadowy recollection Vi his
face came to her and she cried with little
scream OF relief, which betrayed a whole history
of previous ennui: els II possible that | know
you? Surely am not mistaken"
LII another moment the major hat 10 hand
was introducing himself. and was being well
coined to their circle by the Wilson's and by Sara
LevisOn.
".
Major Brown did not leave Homburg the next
day.
He began suddenly to feel the benefit of the
Kur. His spirits returned, his appetite improved.
anu really when once ono got used to it, 1t was
a very jolly life. 1t was wonderful what SEN
Oil l.. TAIl irn1u
little faddy.
1t is well known that four persons make a
very much pleasanter party than do three, and
1t soon came to be an understood thing that
Major Brown should ill the vacant place in the
carriage, the empty Chair at the little dinner
table, carry Mrs Wilson'S shawls and foot rest,
and in general make himself useful and agree
able.
Young Wilson'S conduct to the girl was a con-
tinual puzzle to the major, He never seemed
to leave Sara for moment, following her In
her every movement with his large, strange
hazel eyes.
Sometimes he would hang over her with gen.
tlest gesture and softest word. At another
time his tone would be almost insolent and his
speech sharp and bitter. At first on such Occa-
sions Major Browns impulse to kick the younger
man was almost irresistible. But he soon began
to look out even eagerly for these displays of
temper, afOrding him as they did opportunity
to admire Sara's beautiful conduct. She was
She always seemed to soothe and comfort him.
Major Brown also noticed that when young Will
con was In one of his evil moods-they ilvaria-
bly, followed bad night, or were the aCcOmpa-
niment OF head or back ache-Miss Levison
would devote herself wholly to him, treating
the major himself with curtness almost
amounting to brusquerie.
To her aunt also. whom the major had early
classified as a most provoking and tiresome old
lady, Sara was always gentle and kind.
So the days passed on very swiftly now, and
Major Brown never paused to ask himself
whittier he was drifting-where he had already
drited.
Sometimes, indeed the sight OF Nettle's even
Italian handwriting smote upon him with q
sharp pain as of sudden discord. And some
times the same feeling seized him as he stroiled
up and down of an evening with Mrs. Wilson.
and his eyes would suddenly fall on the couple
In front; the girls tall. upright figure, and
Roger not inirequently leaning YEARLY on her
arm.
On one Of these occasions Mrs. Wilson had
favored him with little burst Of family conf
deEce. 'Is not Sara beautiful" she had said,
waving her fan in the direction of the shadOwy
white figure. 1T is quite wonder to ne that,
with all her fortune and looks, she is so little
spoiled! And she suits my Roger so admirably!
No one, not even | myself, can manage him as
she does. And he is perfectly devoted to her.
They have been engaged since they were quite
children; and indeed, / do not know what