The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-22
CHAPTRR xii
auEuu AVID oEErI.


Shsvs heard her say that when she rode into
n. village. . day and half ia advance OF tn.
dusty. lumbsrinR convoy. she could scarcely
believe that II was the place she had left. the
place IN which she had lived for fortnleht
And this. though ell remained the same. SO
much does the point from which We look at
thines alter their aspect
The General had sent on the news Of the
Wsldsravss loss By messenger. that she
night be spared the pain Of telling It; and
4rauisin MAJ snd Marie Wort we're waiting on
The weetsa plstform before the house when
che rode YEARLY In Ths sight Of those two
Gsvs her certain sense OF relief and home
esnins. merely because they we're women and
were psttieosts. But that was all The village.
the rssking camp. the sauslid soldlsry. the
whining besrars nllsd her-nev that her eyes
were opsnsd and she saw this ugly face Of war
stripped Of the glamour with which her fancy
had invested H-with fear snd repulsion. She
Wesdsrsd that she could ever have liked the
pisss and bees gay in II, or drawn pleasure
fen the amussments which now seemed Door
haa tsvdry.
Rrauisin Max ran down into the read to meet
her. snd when she had dismouptsd covered
her with tssrful esrssses But the Countess.
sftsr rssstvinE her greetings stu locked round
vistfuiiy ss ~ she had missed some enc. and
then In . moment moved irom her. and. mount
ing the steps vent swiftly to the dark corner
~ the perch whittier Haris Vert lad Tua. and
where che now stood leaning against the
hsuss with her face to the wall
NJ lady. whom few had ever seen unbsnd.
esok the girl in her Arms and laid her head on
her shoulder aud stroked her hair pitifully.
Hush. hush. chiidr' she murmursd. her
svn syss vet with teara Poor child. poor
shlldi Il Il 80 very badr'
But Marie could only sob
They went into the house In . nemsnt after
that. those three. with the waiting women
And thea change came over the Countess
frzulsin Max blinked to see It NJ lady who
sutsids had been so tender began. before her
riding cloak vas eaato walk Nd and down like
aeaEeA welt with hard eyss and checks burn
iss with. Indignation. Frhulsin Max spoke to
her tinidfy-said thas the meal vas ready.
that ny lady's woman was WAITING that my
laAy must be tired But the Countess put her
by almost with an oath. For hours she had
Been playing . part. . thing her rroud soul
1osthsd. For hours she had hiddsa. not her
sorrow oAly aud her anger. but he- anxietlss,
her Tears her tsrrsra Nov she must DO her
ssif or die.
Bssidss. the thing pressed She had her
wonsn's wits. and might stavs OF the Gsner-
ais offer for few daya for week. But
wssk-what was that7 No wonder that she
locked on the four helpless women round her.
aad realized that these were her only helpers
new. her only protection; no wonder that she
cried out.
"Ihavs bssn fooll" she muttsred. looking
II them vita burninG eyss. A fooli Whom
Martin warned ne. I would not listen: when
the Waldgrsvs hinted. laughed at hin.
was bswitchsd. like . silly fool In her tesnsi
DoAt eeatradict msr' And she stamped her
feet inpatlsnuy Praulein Max had raised
bar hand.
doa't" the FrkuIsIn answered. Il don't
understand you."
DE you understand that empty ehsirY" my
lady answered bitterly. Or that stooiY'
Frsnisin Anna blinksd more aud more. But
var" she said mildly necessary evil.
vssttus calls tt-wAr. Countess"
ohP' my lady cried Ia . tury. As carried
On BY these. Il 10 . horror. . hsndish thingi I |
cid not know before. Now I have seen It |
wall walt girl. until Il taken these you love |
aid hrsassas Isur own safety. and thsA talk |
% NE of WARP
But .Fr1alsin Anna set her face m ueinously. |
-stll I do Dot understand" she said slowly. |
winkinG her short-sightsd eyes like an owl in |
the DAYLIGHT You talk as II We had cause
not only to erisvs-as We have. indssd-but to |
fear Are We act safe hsssi Gen Ter |
slAs-"
"Bahr' the Countess cried. trembling with |
emotion "Doa't let me hear his namsl I |
hate him. he Il false. False girl do aot |
b Heaven We were all out Of his hsndsr
Even Marie Wort. sittibg white and quist In |
aosrnsr. looked Up at that As for FrAuisia
MAJ, she passed her tongue slowly over her |
.ips. but did act answer; and for . moment
mere was silence In the room Thea Marie
eAid very softly. Thank Cod"
Ny lady turned to her roughly. why do
yea say that child 70 she said
Because Of what have learned since you
Nh u.s." the girl answered In . frightened
whisper. There Was man VINO lived In this
house. my lady"
Yea yss." the Countess nuttsrsd eagerly.
xrsnsmssr he begged Of me. and Gen. TIER
SIss ..Ss hin Hsnsy That Was one Of the
I::S :s ! ssi *; 2! sh!' rive. Sai n
ceasssss sf sssrsa n Sa .a Iiner.duou.,
ss s,J: S.;s : q: Sn;a ' act O':'S.
- But Marie Wort shock her head. 1T IL trus."
Is:a H:sa.n help u.-nr. d. cous....
Ssi' sss IN .as!lliAx t'Is Fer Ne sIsis
-T.sr. we . sirisk.a silence on that which
ssr Sisstss ,hs ssS " NOR:
sAs N: .ss. q see. q dssnsat
says, ~: :' s:s S. sID: s:a :P:
her voice, hard and cen possd. He has 1 Asked
Be 3; e. .i H.. 4; Sti STi:E:a "
~, SSsd SSPj:, 1,sEts.t {: VII t:;p = her:
ss sSS,t e ;s,is.IS tas 'S.s asd help IL.
%. was pslsr than usual But she did sos
a, Tie child p the. Csunts.s said presently
N z dinersnt tone Hfs I. been rseoysredp'
threw her 'kerohisi over her face and vent out
Insy hsAfd her lebs a. abe WsAt along the
NJ lady irowasd. III We esuld get . m.s-
"a Ne nay return to see s p GSs sSiIs as.S he
AnS ne L eur hest chance. thiRk,"
.oansf SsoSss hs io9a In sfs.r that. and the
Csnntsss foaAd Asrsslf little the better for its
That sveaiaE the General called to learn
whstnsr sns sal much fAtEusd. and she |