Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-04-18
A HAPPY BLUNDER.


When | left the university, | had,
as in duty bound, to 20 through nv
course of military service and in due
timo found myself enrolled as a sol.
dior in an infantry regiment then
stationed at the town of Torgau, in
Thuringia
Tho officers were extremely kind
to mo and invited mo to become a
member of tho club they had formed
among themselves, so that l soon
became quito at homo. In tho morn
ing there was tho everlasting Right,
left; right loft, at dinner the
soothing perfume of tho "Maibohle"
and in the evening dreamy rcpose
and excellent cigars i'll the shady
casino gardens
Tho civil and military society min
glcd freely, contrary to tho usual
custom, and tho legal world and
such landed prOprictors as lived in
the nCighborhOOd made themselves
particularly agreeable.
Tho chief magistrate, old Herr
Hammer, was president of the club
He played a good game of bowls,
emptying good many schoppcns
in tho course of it, and kept tho
whole company entertained with his
cheerful fund of humor. OF course
! was presented to him, and he rec
ognizcd in me tho son of his old COM
rade i'll university and volunteer
days. He WAS delighted to see me,
and ut tho close of the evening he
took nae across the gardens to tho
casino Vcranda, where his wife and
daughter were drinking true Thu
ringian mocha with number of 9th
or ladies ! was presented to tho
fair circle. Frau Hammer was still
n pretty women. She knew my good
mother, greeted mo with warmth
and begged me with charming
friendlincss to como and pay her n
visit as soon as my military duties
would allow
mo stiff evening call, dear Herr
Eisenstcin, ! beg. Whom you have
no better way of spending your even
ing, then como in and SEQ us and
havc II cup of tea with us
"Wcll, we'll, muttcrcd her lord
and master, You will get something
better than toa, l can tell you, my
dear follow. Don't be afraid Wife
you brighton all the fellows away
with your tea.
We laughed at his comical express
sion as he uttered this warning. |
thanked Frau Hammer for her
friendly invitation and decided at
once to take advantage of it. Had |
not looked into tho blue eyes of the
magistratc's 17-yCar-old daughter
the fair Agnos? Did | not read in
those liquid depths that visit from
me would not be entirely disagree.
able to her? OF course / would scizc
the first happy chance that left me
free to spend an evening in her so.
ciety.
Tho happy chance did not occur
for some days, but ut length | had n
FREQ evening and decided to mako
prompt use of il ! called my sol
dicr servant, who, rs the stern cap.
tain of our company was fond of re.
winding me, was in reality my fcl
low soldier and sent him in the aft.
ernoon to the Frau Dircktorin with
n carefully wOrdcd message, saying
If ii would not inconvenience her, /
would do myself the honor of call
ing on her that evening.
After much explanation Gottlieb
Feuerstacke at length understood
whore he was TO go and turned, gig
Cling in an idiotic manner, and i'll
formed me with scarcely suppress
ed smilo that visit from me at :45
O'Clock would be extremely agree
able.
1t struck mo that this was rather
q late hour to fix for a sociablo even
ing cabin fact, rather u ceremoni-
Gus hour-but no doubt the Herr Di-
rektor liked TO stand upon ceremony
even in SO small matter as the pres
cnt. i thought no moro of il, but
whefthc hour camo for departure /
waXed my mustache in the correct
style, cast Il few drops of now nown
hay" on my pocket handkerchief,
placed it in my pocket above my
beating heart and wrapped myself in
my great military ovcrcoat.
Thus armed, ! started off to sec
my new friends. not quite willing to
confess even to myself how much I
longed to behold the fair Agnes once
moro.
Idiot that you are, / said sternly
TO myself, what do you expect from
those little hands? What save n cup
Of Chinese tea'"