The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-08-10

and counted the money. Ten thousand florins
not groschen more or less Well, twas there,
but whence 1t came remained mystery.
"All mysteries clear themselves up in time"
said he, as he locked the money up in his bu-
reau. 81 daresay 1 shall find It all out by and
by. In the mean time will not touch single
horin of itn
He tried not to think about it, but It was so
strange thing that he could not prevent it from
running in his head. 1t even kept him awake
at night and took away his appetite by day. At
last he began to forget it, at all events he be-
came used to 1t, and at the end of week it had
ceased to trouble him.
About eight days from the date of its occur
renee he woke as before, thinking of Emma and
not at all of the money, when on looking round,
10 there 1t was again.
The table was once more covered with glitter
ing gold
His first impulse was to run to the bureau in
which the first 10000 tiorins were stored away
Surely he must have taken them out the night
before and forgot to replace them. No, there
they lay in the drawer where he had hidden
them, and there upon the table was second
supply, larger, if anything, than the first
Pale and trembling, he turned them over.
This time there were some notes-Prussian and
French-mngled with the gold-in all twelve
thousand torins.
He had locked his door-could 1t be opened
from without by skeleton keyP He had bolt
fixed within that very day. Honest Albert Won
Steinberg he took as much pains against fort
une as others do against robbery
Two days later, however, his invincible bene-
factor came again. notwithstanding his precau-
tions, and this time he found himself 14,000
horins the richer 1t was an ineXplicable prod
ICY He had great mind to apply to the po-
lice, or to priest, for he was good Catholic.
Still, he thought he would wait little longer.
After all, there might be more unpleasant vsi-
tations.
He went out, greatly agtated, and walked
about the entire day. pondering this strange
problem. Then he resolved if ever it recurred
to state his case to the Chief of Police and to set
a watch upon the house by night.
Full of this determination, he came home and
went to bed. In the morning when he awoke
he found that Fortune had again visited him.
The first wonder of the thing had now worn off,
and he arose, dressed himself, and sat down
leisurely to count the money over before lodg-
ing his declaration at the police office. While
he was engaged in making up little roleaux of
gold, twenty in each roleaux, there came sud
den knocking at his door.
He had no visitors, no friends in Ems. He
started like guilty man and threw an over
coat hastily upon the table so as conceal the
gold. The knock was repeated, this time more
loudly, more imperatively. He opened the
door. 1t was the Baron Won Hohendorf.
"How The Baron Won Hohendorf in Ems
l am rejoiced-this honor-I-pray be seated"
The poor young dragoon's heart beat so fast
and he trembled so with pleasure and hope and
astonishment that he could scarcely speak
The Baron looked at him steadily, thrust
back the proffered chair, and did not deign to
take the slightest notice of the extended hand
ayes, Count" he said, dryly, "I arrived yes
terday at this place. You did not expect to
see me ?"
"Indeed, no. 1t is pleasure-a delight
al
"And yet saw you, Count, yesterday even
ing, as you came out of the Conversation
Rooms.'
"Me? Indeed, sir, never visited the Con-
versation Rooms all day yesterday"
''Pardon me, Count; / stood behind your
chair for the greater part OF an hour Do you
know why am here this morning? [ came
here, sir, to give some words of advice to your
fathers son; to warn-to interpose, il possible,
| between you and your destruction. l did not
| come to be insulted ~
"Insulted, Baron ?'' repeated the young man,
call for such phrase at your lips, unless in
deed, my poverty insults you. Explain your
| self, beg"
''Permit me first to ask you one question.
| What brings you to Ems ?''
The young man hesitated and the Baron
| smiled ironically. 81 came, sir" he said at
| length, Sin search OIL will confess it-in
search of peace, Of forgetfulness, of consola-
tion. was not happy, sir; I"--
| His voice broke, he looked down, and re-
mained silent
The Baron laughed aloud-a harsh, mocking
laugh, that caused Albert to raise his head with
a movement of sudden Indignation.
| 81 have not deserved this treatment at your
hands, Baron Hohendorf," he said, turning
away toward the window. "Your position as
| father of the one whom | dearly love protects
you from the satisfaction / might demand; but
| / trust the time will come when you will recog-
nize and acknowledge your injustice to me-"
"What effrontery You forget, then, that
it is in my power to confront you with the
proof of your vice; nay, at this instant to con con
found and convict you. What gold is this ?"
And the old gentleman, whose eyes had al
ready detected the glimmer of the coin beneath
| the coat, extended his hand and lifted the gar
ment away upon the end of his walking stick
The lover turned pale and could not speak
"Upon my word For poor man you have
it seems, well-filled purse for travelling All
yOu never gamble?''
| ''NeYer, sir''
''Indeed Pray, then, If your gold be not
the fruit of the gambling table, whence comes
it?"
81 know not. You will not believe me, an
aware, but | swear that speak the truth. This
gold comes here, know not how. This is the
fourth time j have found it upon my table.
can discover nothing of the source whence it ar
rived. By my honor as gentleman and a sol
der, by all my hopes of happiness in this life OF
the next, am utterly ignorant of everything
about it ~
"This is too much 7" cried the Baron, furi
ously. "Do you take me for an idiot or
| dotard? Good morning to you, sir, and | hope
l may never see your face again !"
And he slammed the door violently behini
him, and went away down stairs, leaving poo
Won Stenberg utterly overwhelmed and broken
| hearted.
"Cursed gold % he exclaimed, dashing i
upon the floor in his anger; ''what brough
thee here, and why dost thou torment me ?'
Then the poor fellow thought of Emma ant
how his last chance was wrecked, and he wa
so miserable that he actually threw himsel
upon his bed and wept bitterly.