The sun., 1894-03-11

CHAPTER X.



ehanesd TO turn my syes on the WaldRravs's
face; and n there was one thing more noto-
worthy at the nom ent than the speakers air
Of perfect and assured composure. II was the
young nobleman's look OF chaGrin. fancy
that from the moment he heard Tzerclas's
name he scented rival
My lady on the other hand did not disguise
her satisfaction. II am pleased to make your
scausintanse" she exclaim cd, looking at the
stranger with frank surprise. Your name.
Gen. Tzerclas. has long been known to me.
But was under the impression that you we're
st present IN command Of q body Of Saxon
troops In Bohemia"
my troops. such a. they are lie a little
nearer" he answered. smiling 80 near that
thsy and their leader are equally at your SER
vice. Countess"
For the present shall be content to claim
your hospitality only" my lady answered.
"This 10 my cousin. the waldRrave Rupert"
The stranger. saluting him with kind OF
careless punetilio. took hold Of my lsdy's rein
and led her horse forward into the hrelIRht.
While he assisted her to dismount Ihad time
70 glance around. and the cheerful glow OF the
hre which disclosed arms and accoutrem enta
and camp equipments flung hero aud there In
splendid profusion. did not blind me to other
Appearances less reassuring. Indeed, that
very profusion did something to open my eyes
ture ofths men among whom we had come. The
Glltterine hilts and battered plate. the gaudy
elosks and velvet housings saw lying about
the roots OF the trees seemed to smack less OF
travellers camp than robbers bivouac. while
the fierce. swarthy faces which clustered
round the further fire reminded mo OF nothing
90 much as the svashbuckling escort which
had more than once accompanied Count Tilly
to Heritzburg. There. indeed. under the old
had han Las, ha
But We were not now at HeritzburR. nor was
Count Tilly here. And whether these knaves
would be as amenable. in the greenwood.
whether the Waldgrave had not.done US all an
III service whom he voted for moving on. were
questions I had q difficulty In answering to
my satisfaction.
Their leaders bearing. however. left nothing
to be desired. He welcomed my lady to the
camp with perfect good breeding. the wald-
grave with civility. He hsstened the prepara-
tion Of supper. and In every way seemed bont
on making US comfortable sending his
knavss to and fro with q hearty good will
that showed that whoever might stand In awe
ofthem. he did not
Meanwhile I had o third fire kindled q
score OF PAGES away. where Q small thicket
held out some promise Of privacy; and here
! placed our women. bidding three or four Of
the stsadior men remain with them. The
lady, and then for tho first time /
had an opportunity OF examining our
host. He was. / have said. a man OF
middle height. Sinewy and well formed.
with an upright carriage. he looked from head
to foot the model OF soldier OF fortune. and
moved with careless grace which spoke OF
years OF manly exercise. His face was hand
some. cold. and stern tho nose prominent tho
forehead high and narrow. Trinity pointed
.nata aht nd . t,Na "a k1&k
perfectly black. gavo him O peculiar and some-
what fercs aspect: and nothing 1 ever wit
messed OF his dealings with his troops led me
to suppose that this belied tho man. Ho
could be. as he was now. courteous. polished.
almost genial Judged he could bo also the
reverse He was richly. even spendidly
dressed. and seemed about forty years Of age.
Ny lady sent mo for Fraulsin Max. who had
been overlooked and was found covering be-
side the newly kindled fire In company with
Marie Wort and the women. Though think
she had herself to blame for her effacement
she Was inclined to be offended. But had no
umeto waste In words. and disregarding her
III temper. brought her. feebly smiling. to my
lady. who introduced her TO her kinsman.
Pardon me" he said. looking negllgently
around him. " That reminds me. l. too. have
presentation to make. Where is-oh. yes!
Here is friend Won Werdsr. l thought. my
and older man whom We had seen by his FIRE.
you had disappeared as mysteriously as you
came. Herr Won Werder. Countess. was my
nrst guest night You are the second"
He spoke In tone Of easy patronage. with
his back half turned on tho person he men
toned i looked at the man. He seemed to
be over fifty years old. tall. strong and gray
mustachiosd. And that was almost all could
see: for. as II acknowledging an inferlority.
and ahmitfinO q this thA taF an vhich hsa had
been with his host were now altered. he had
withdrawn himself . trihe from the fire. Sitting
on the opposite side OF It. near the outer edge
OF light and wearing heavy cloak. he dis
closed little OF his appearance. even when ne
rose In acknowledgment of my lady's salute
Herr Won Werder Is not.travellnK with you.
thsnr' my lady said. chiefly I think for the
sake OF saying something that should include
the man.
mo. he 10 not OF my persuasion" the Gem
sral answered In the same tone of good ma.
tursd contempt "Whither are you bound my
frisndT" be continued. glancing over his
shoulder and throwing q note OF command
into his voice II did not ask you. aud you
did not tell me-"
lam going North" the stranger answered
In husky tone. 1t may be as far as MaGds-
burg. General"
And you came from p
Last. sir2 Frankfort"
We'll. as you say last. where before thatT
The Rhine Bishopries." the stranger an
swsred reluctantly.
Ali Then you have seen something OF the
war; you were there before IL swept into
Bavaria. that is. Buta truce to this" the Gen
eral continued Here is supper pray that
you will not Judge OF my hospitality by this
nights performance. Countess. l hope TO en-
tsrtain you more httinGly before We part"
Though he made the apology the supper
needed none. Indeed. II was such as made
me stars-thers ia the forest. 1t was served
In styls and with accom- pAnimsnts one little
expected to nnd In q soldiers camp Silver
dishes and chased and curious hAgons. nasks
Of old Rhsnish and Burgundy even glass from
Nuremburg. a dozen things which made my
lady's road squipags seem door and trihlng.
came on the board. And the cooking was
equal to the serving. The wine had not gone
round long before the WaldgrAys lost his air