The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-16

castles of feuda! lords overlooking
every bend Of the stream, the vine
yards covering the lower portions
Of the hills, and towns and villages hid
den picturesquey in the smaller valleys
and glens, is to experience one Of tie
greatest pleasures which convince US
that life is indeed worth living. A
thousand facts and legends are recalled
to your mind as you pass by the places
that are souvenirs of the Nibaungen,
and Attila, and CharlemaRne, the Hohen-
staufen, and Luther, and Napoleon, and
who knows how many more Of the great
names of the past, You are under the
influence of by-gone time, yet the pres
ent life around you is so vigorous and
beautiful that, instead Of being plunged
Into melancholy musings, your enjoy
ment Of the realities surrounding you is
merely given faint but sweet flavor OF
elegy by those shadowy associations.
The very inhabitants of these countries
are different from other Germans, from
all other mortals They seem to carry
life's burden with a lighter heart the blood
seems to course quicker and healthier
In their veins than in those Of other
people. In all Central and Southern
Germany people are fond of music, but
nowhere On earth do you hear more
singing or other musical utterance than
along the Rhine. This music is purely
spontaneous, not meant for the ears Of
others or to gain applause, but simply
the manifestation of pleasure felt by the
musician, like the songs OF the birds.
Lightheartedness and joyfulness is epi-
demic on the Rhine, and no tourist can
escape the infection. Nowhere on earth
does one hear more merry laughter or
see more happy faces than aboard a
Rhine steamer.
DR.. Warringham and his wife felt the
influence of this atmosphere OF Joy, as
they stood at the stern OF the boat and
let their eyes greedily drink in the
beauty of the surroundings. Lucy, in
deed, knew nothing about historical as
sociations, and cared less But she had
her full share of capacity for enjoying
the present Ralph had ceased to bore
her with explanations, since he had dis
covered her lack OF comprehension and
interest.
He had no reason now to complain OF
neglect on the part Of his wife, as he had
during their passage over the Atlantic.
She could not speak German, and for
once, as an exception to the rule, there
were but few English-speaking people
on board. As a rule, the English are
very conspicuous on these boats, and
every one of them who utters word OF
his native language is at once set down
by the good Rhinelanders as British
MILFORD" with the accent invariably on
the first syllable. No distinction Is made
between the subjects Of the Queen and
the Americans, so Ralph found himself
promoted to the position Of British no
bleman by walters and cab.drivers. But
he had to pay dearly for the honor, for a
@milordn, must Of course be immensely
rich and able to stand generous drain
upon his pocket
Since their arrival on the continent
Ralph no longer felt the pangs of jeal-
ousy, and there was but one thing left
to disturb his sperfect contentment-his
relations to his mother. From day to
day he expected to receive an answer to
the letter he had sent her Immediately
on his arrival in Europe. His surprise
was very painful when, instead Of the
hoped-for concliatory answer, his own
letter was returned unopened! All hope
OF conciliation, for the present at least,
was accordingly vain, and letter from
Hattie corroborated this sad conclusion.
To Walter he had not written at all, for
he could not forget the incidents Of that
ominous supper party.
But notwthstc nding he was now GER
tain that for some time at least he could
not expect to see his purse replenished
out of his mothers income, Ralph still
neglected to open Lucy's eyes In regard
to their financial affairs, although, from
the generous expenses in which his wife
INDUCED and which he tacitly coun-
tenanced, it was evident that she be-
lieved him to be very wealthy.
His cousins letter was a great conso-
lation to him. 1t proved that at least
one member of his family still regarded
him with the same sentiments as before
his marriage. Not for moment did he
dream of what character and how deep
and true the sentiments were that Hattie
Beckford entertained for him.
When they reached the city and for
tress of Coblentz, where they remained
O day, DR.. Warringham and his wife had
an unexpected surprise. They were just
returning to the steamer on which they
were to proceed on their journey, when
they were saluted by gentleman whom
they recognized as their friend, Count
Won Hohenfels, the German Secretary
of Legation at Washington, who proved
to be on furlough in his native country
"How glad and surprised I am to
meet you here, Mrs. Warringham, the
Count declared. 81 hope you are going
up to Bingen, Doctor? Excellent! Then
we can make the trip together"
Thcre was nothing left for Ralph to
do but to express his extreme gratitica-
tioh with such an arrangement, although
he inwardly wished the young diplomatic,
whom otherwise he liked well enough,
two thousand miles away on the other
side of the Atlantic. Worse was in
store for him. Count Hohenfels proved
to be accompanied by friend, lieu
tenant in the German army, who was in
troduoed to the Americans as Baron Won
Greibern. This gentleman could not
speak a word of English, while on the
other hand Mrs. Warringham's knowl-
edge of German was of the most limited
extent. Ralph spoke German perfectly,
and 90 it was but natural that the Count
took it upon himself to entertain the
charming ex- actress, while her husband
had to be contented with tho company