The herald., 1896-05-17

cliff.
Thus ended the Lacquer OF st. Polten.
FOR several days the soldiers hunted high
ana low. until the whole band of the escap-
cd convicts had been accounted for.
WITHIN the chalet there had been desper-
ate work. Early in the engagement the
| count had been wounded on the brow bv a
/ chance bullet; it was flesh wound and
ne made little of it for its own sake. But
fierce anger at the indignity came upon
nlm, and not for all the entreaties of Alt
harl would he for a moment leave the
windows. So that at last the Jagdmeister.
tied to his couch, had to content himself
with preparing the guns for his master to
hre. This he did With an ever darker and
more silent fury as the night went on
and the light OF the burning chateau made
his enemies plain in its fierce glare
The Count as he fired winged every bull
let with a silent curse
This for her who gave herself for our
sakes." he said below his breath.
And at each discharge an enemy drop-
ped out there on the green famelit fair.
way of the glade.
Presently there came to their ears,
through the rattle of the musketry and the
BILE cavalry cheer and the clatter Of disci.
plined steeds. then last Of all the heady ella.
ton of the deadly charge. But one there
was that rode straight up to the door OF
the chalet and dismounted swiftly, mind
ing neither friend nor foe.
The Count st. Polten-V assima ran to
open the door.
1t was the little Truda who stood there,
aIo o,,I fo;,, l.
shone from his burning castle. She looked
down at her short kirtle. and the girl who
had ridden the cavalry charger at the
head Of the deta chment stood blushing and
ashamed before him whom she had risked
life and honor to save,
II brought them" she said weakly, and
then began to cry as if her heart were
broken.
But the Count of st. Polten-V assima
clasped the daughter of his Jagdmeister in
his arms without word
1t was a fortnight later and the Count
had returned from Vienna. Ostenslbly he
had gone to have the plans prepared for
the new house, which he was to build by
the heights near Martins Loeb. upon the
plateau whence one can look down upon
the red roofs of st. Polten.
Yet as fast as his feet would carry him
he FASTENED to the cottage, which had re-
sumed its perennial quiet after the terrors
of the siege to which it had been exposed
AS the Count came near he heard the rip
pie of piano in the little salon. Gertrud
was singing a love song. quaint and old
and the sound of her voice broue Mt back
ova in tho loueIy feolipO ipto tba boo ~ nj
the Count.
Gertrud came sedately to the door and
asked him to enter, and would have gone
to find her father. But he took her hand
and kept it as he looked away over to the
crest Of the hill where his new chateau
was to stand.
"Truda,'' he said, II have come all the
way from Vienna to ask if young girl can
love glum useless fellow like me-
Gertrud's eyes were on the ground, aui
for n moment she did net answer, but heI
hand shook in his.
You must marry great lady" she be.
gan at last, her voice quavering.
"a Count of st. -Vassima can wee
where he chooses. The Emperor himself
has said it,"
But" faltered Truda. compelling hel
rebelllous heart to be STILL there are Ia
dies, beautiful and clever, in Vienna, il
Paris, where you will co.
The Count laughed little, and pointed
up to the trees which nodded over the de-
! file, at the bottom Of which lay the perilou.
pass through which she had passed SO late
| ~.
Beautiful ladies--clever ladies-withou
! doubt little one. But which Of these beau
| tiful ladies would have risked Martins
Loeb at blacklist night fer me? And
which would have thrown herself down
bruisiug her fair hands on the white cliffs
of st. Polten, ali to save my worthless
| life:"
| at was for my father" whispered Tru-
| da, glancing at him just once, with the
, ancient mischief quick in her eye.
| But the Count caught her in his arms
and the two stood for long minute far re-
| tired under the shade OF the porch.
And now" said the Count when they
| had emerged again, "have you any more
| objections to urge. little Truda?"
| But though he waited long while little
| Truda had not any.
(The End)
I