Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-25
THE DESPERATE PLOT FAILED.

will 1--we in a pension. Anthony. Be
ware OF the folding doors between the
rooms
Even in a respectable house? Sure
ly there are no thieves.
There might be worse than thieves,
| boy. unless the world has changed since
my time"
My uncle was giving me some last
words of advice on the eve Of my going
to study in Germany, where, forty
years back, he.had been a student HIM
self With the air Of man entering
on a serious business, he lit a cigar anc
proceeded
You shall hear my experience.
When l went 10 Berlin | was nineteen,
ignorant of life, impulsive, self-contl-
dent, in short, just what you are now,
a young fool. At the pension where l
put up there were a good many women
from the Prussian provinces who had
come 10 the capital 10 shop and gossip,
and also m;ne-tenths of them to look
OIL. for husbands for themselves or
their daughters Somehow no- through
mel a rumor got about the house that Ia
was rich, and a dozen beauties were be-
ginning TO spread their tolls OF grace,
when certain Baroness Won Schneider
by agreeing (as | heard afterward) to
pay Frau Pol, the mistress Of the Pen
sion, two marks a day to have me seat
cd between her daughter and herself az
meals. practically secured q monopoly
Of the first attempt on me. This enter
prising person was a sharp featured,
bantam like widow, with restless eyes,
a crooked cap and a passion for dis
cussing religious metaphysics; she also
displayed her cleverness by handling
her daughter Louisa, a girl about e.gh-
teen as easily as a marioneJte. The
worst point in the daughter was that
she ,oOk so much handling. 1t seemed
really doubtful whether she had any
mind or VIII of her own. Her mother
pulled just what string and put her
through what movements she chose.
and the girl worked with mechanical
complacency.
Louisa, in spite Of her sluggish
character, was far from ugly. She was
badly dressed, but she had wonderful
hair Digit gold and a perfect cloud OF
iO large dreamy blue eyes. a healthy
complexion, and a smile on her Fps
that made plenty of boys and men, too,
turn Il look after her in the street. Al
all events, I spent so much time in the
Won Schneider's society that before the
end Of a week every sp!nster in the
house was decla.ming against their art
fulness. and plying me, as il marriage
had been the height Of male misfor-
tune. I sat between them at all meals,
walked with them in the afternoon, and
generally found myself between them
again at night, where. gazing up in-o
my face. they would listen rapturously
to my opinions about the world and
many other subjects, Of which, at nine
teen. Anthony, a man IS sure 70 know
everything, that my friend had several
times been guilty of disreputable con-
duct. and that her only son, spend
thrift. duelling officer of hussars, was
now in a terrible fix, from which, as ev-
cry one knew, the Baroness meant 10
deliver him by finding a wealthy nus
band for Louisa.
This revelation gave me such a
shock that ] at once determined 10
| break off al intercourse with the Won
Schneiders The Baroness could not
doubt my deliberate retreat, and the
day but one after my conversation with
Frau Pol she determined to stake ev-
erything on a single throw. As pre-
l.m:nary step she telegrsphed 10 her
son Frederick, and the same evening
Louisa appeared n the drawing room.
How beautiful said every one. Yes,
said the Baroness, Herr Fitzmaurice is
so very kind Louisa, dear, show the
lovely bracelet he has given YOU. On
round wrist Louisa displayed a
broadsh band Of gold, or something re-
sembl.ng gold. The pension stared.
Had il been mistaken? Was the Bar
oness going to win after all? She has
managed then to coax back the poor
gull?
The poor gull meanwhile, confining
himself for the evening TO his bedroom,
was absorbed in the 'Contes Drola-
t:cues' of Balzac. The bedrooms We're
on the floor above the drawing room
On one side l had The Won Schneiders
for ne.ghbors. and their homes commu-
nicated with mine through folding
doors. which. for want Of warning,
had not thought Of boiling or locking.
"Abou. half past nine the Won
Schneiders came up stairs. The Con
ties Drolat;Ques' kept me Obliv:Ous of
the fact. I read away, lOung.ng In an
armchair. conscious of nothing but
Balzac's mischief. until the creaking
noise reused me with a start. The fold
ing doors had been opened, and some
one. indsscernible at first in the tW:-
Eight. was advancing through them. Il
was Louisa. The doors were at once
locked after her from the outside
Dropping Balzac, jumped up. What
did She mean by coming in AT this
hour: and then the locking Of the
doors9 Too much aston!shed TO ask, l
stared in silence while the girlfaced me
without a blush. Presently. in her US
ual gentle voice. she began:-'G0Od ev-
ening. Herr FiJzmaurice. have come
10 ask YOU TO be engaged 10 me-
"T shall make you a good wife, she
pursued. quietly; mamma says so. And
Won need not give an answer at once
THE large eyes looked straight and
kindly a, me. and I swear. Anthony, a
Drettv. creature was paying me her adj
dresses I am sure, Fraulein. l said,
wishing 10 return her compliment, you
would make the most charming Of
wives. and you flatter me infinitely.
Bnt will it not be best If I speak to
Frau Won Schneider first about ito
morrow morning.
No, she replied, with the same IN