The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23

when she found herSel1 seated Dy Ine
side of the diplomatic in the little row.
boat that took the party across the
stream.
Just below Bingen the river bed is full
of rocks, part of which had to be re-
moved by explosives in order to make the
river at this point navigable for vessels
Of any considerable size The passage
through the canal thus produced in
row-boat is not without little excite
ment and even danger, If only Of 3
thorough drenching by the spray. Mrs
Warringham uttered little feminine
CRY as a few drops of water
were cast into her face by the
boistcrous pillows. The Count gallantly
folded a slaldparound her shoulders, ITO
protect her against the too cordial greet
Ing of Father Rhine" as he gallantly
expressed it. What sweet, languld
sensation she felt, when 10 for second
was busying himself about her. She
had never had such an experience be.
fore.
The party landed at the little village
of Assmannshauser, famous for its wine.
There Mrs. Warringham and the Count
mounted two Of the little donkeys which
in the mountainous parts OF Europe take
the part of our more serviceable mules.
Ralph and Lieutenant Won Greibern pro-
ferred to make the ascent on foot The
diminutive animals seemed to them ridic-
ulous and inadequate to support the
weight of man.
The drivers of the donkeys, by the
vigorous application Of stout sticks, per-
suaded them to proceed deliberately IN
an p.hill direction, and the little caval-
cade moved on.
The road was steep, tortuous, and
hot. This hill is covered with dense
growth of shrubs, just high enough TO
prevent free outlook, but not sufti-
cient to give effectual protection against
the rays of the summer sun.
Mrs Warringham, however, did not
notice the heat nor the roughness Of the
road, nor the jolting jog Of her donkey,
which was more fatiguing than walking
would have been.
She had only attention for her COM
panion. Contrary to her habit, she
spoke comparatively little, and thereby
compelled the Count to bear the main
expense of the conversation, How the
| l0VeQ 10 near nlS voice.
While she rode by his side she fire.
quently cast sidelong glances into his
| face, but was careful not to attract his
attention. How handsome he was. she
thought again and again.
Lucy Warringham had been kissed on
the stage by scores of actors. and off the
stage by her husband She had never
| felt any particular sensation at these
demonstrations of intimacy. Now she
| longed with all her heart to be kissed by
Count Hohenfels. What heavenly bliss
| it would be, she thought, If she could
| throw her arms around his neck and
shower kisses upon his lips!
And the Count? He would have been
less or more than human If he had not
felt the electrical influence Of loving
| woman's presence. When he helped
her into the saddle she let her hand rest
in his a little longer than might have
been absolutely necessary, and he even
thought to feel scarcely perceptible
pressure. When,. arrived at the summit,
he assisted her in dismounting, her arm
clung to his neck for ever so brief mo-
ment, he wished it had been
longer. He never had an idea
that she was making him advances,
but he could not help noticing how beau
tiful she was-far more beautiful, he
imagined, than she had ever appeared
to him before. Lucky dog, this War
ringham, he thought, to have such a
treasure Of wife.
The day passed pleasantly enough for
both Mrs. Warringham and the Count.
Lieutenant Won Greibern also enjoyed
himself. we'll enough He had several
opportunities to study the question
whether Assmannshauser or Reudes-
heimer was the better brand, and de-
c!ded in favor of the former. At the
base of the colossal monument he ha-
rangued the Doctor on the military
glory of the German Empire, the only
subject which in his small heart could
kindle something remotely akin to en-
thusiasm. Yes, he enjoyed himself very
we'll. 1t is not difficult to make creatures
of his stamp happy. :.
But poor Ralph spent most miserable
day. If lie had entertained suspicious
yesterday that all was not right between
his wife and the Count, his suspicious
grew into certainty to-day. And yet, he
had to confess that there ware very few
tangible reasons for his terrible conclu-
sions. She had been riding by his side
that was all. They had Cot teen alone
together for single instant, for even
when he had lost sight of them for few
minutes at some bend OF the road, the
donkey-drivers were closely behind them,
and could overhear every word OF theil
conversation. But they spoke in Eng.
l!sh, which the drivers could not under.
! stand. And 6fce of twice he had seen
her look at him with such glowing,
| strange eyes! Such a glance as he had
never received from her!
1t was enough to drive him crazy.
And during all this time he had to listen
to the talk of that coXcomb Of an officer.
He could have stabbed the Count to
the heart and hurled the faithleSs woman
over the precipice into the river below.
His blood was seething His face burned
as If it was afame. Baron Won Greibern
sagely remarked that it was very warm.
ayes, very!" the Doctor replied, and
gnashed his teeth
Ralph'S behavior was curious enough
to attract the attention Of any compan-
nion of ordinary acuteness; but the
Lieutenant's scanty powers OF obServa-
tion were befuddled by the fumes OF
| Assmannshauser. He talked on, con.
siderately ascribing Ralph's sometimes
quite irrelevant answers to an imperfect
knowledge of the German language.
As the hours Of the day advanced,
Ralph's jealous wrath grew hotter and
hottor. Yet he retained sufficient self
command to reason on the best thing
to do.