The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-21
hand and seemingly withs ignificant

Two paths are to each mortal shown;
Lord. guide me In the narrow one
AS If stung by a serpent. Ada started
up,wrenched herself 10y sudden move
ment from Karis clasping arms. and
hastcned away as though pursued by
her white figure had vanished in the
castle and Karl found himself alone be-
fore the grassy bank: he might have
believed II dream II the mantilla had
not still lain there eXhaling Ada's IA
vorite perfume. faint fragrance of
carnations.
With heavy, dulled brain. aching
limbs. and strange sense of pain in
his heart. Karl staggered back to the
castle and to his room. For long time
sleep fled from him. A thousand
scenes hovered In a confused throng be-
fore his fancy, blending into witch
dance in whose mazes his own brain
seemed to whirl also, until the giddi-
ness became intolerable. He saw Ada
in various transformations now
seated opposite to him at the table
then in the rawing-room-anon
clasped in his arms-sometimes bright
ly illuminated as the queen o. the ball
roOm-Sometimes Il faint, dark vision
against the sombre background of the
woodland-he inhaled her favorite per-
fume. felt the touch of her arms and
her liDS-he heard her voice and the
melancholy music of the night watch
man and the notes of the dancing tune
from the ball room, and amid these eX-
citing delusions of .he senses a rest
less dream-haunted slumber at last
overlook him.
1t was almost noon when he awoke.
At first his head felt confused and
empty. but gradually he collected his
thoughts. and now the experience of
the previous night stood clearly before
his eyes. He suddenly recalled all his
feelings during the walk through the
woods. and, while dressing with the ut
most haste. he eXultantly repeated in
a low tone again and again: Il love
her! And she returns my love! And
We will never part!"
His first thought was to seek Ada. The
mantilla. which he must return. afforded
the preteXt. After several inquiries he
found her apartments. which were next
to those occupied by the mistress Of the
house. Ada's maid opened the door
and looked at him with surprise when
he gave her the package and asked II
he could see Mrs. Burgess.
She has a headache. and probably
won't be up today" was the curt an
swer. with which the door was closed
Ill MS ldce MS WAS IL ulSdppolnt-
ment. and he felt very unhappy and for
saken. yet he endeavored to combat
these feelings and mingled with the
other guests. At noon he exchanged q
hurried greeting with Frau Won Jager-
field, who looked at him intently, but
said nothing when he avoided her
glance. In the afternoon ne walked to
Marktbreit and through the neighbor-
Ing villages on the neighboring hills,
but the longing Of his heart soon drove
him back to the castle where for hours
he paced patiently up and down the
pillared hall upon which most of the
rooms occupied by the visitors opened.
In the evening the guests again as
sembled at banquet. Bergmann hoped
that Ada would be present, and he was
not disappointed. The summons to the
meal had been given for the third time,
nearly all the members of the house
party were in the drawing-rOOm when
Ada's door at last opened. Karl rushed
forward and held out his hand to her.
She started, paused an instant on the
threshold. then hurried past him with
out turning her head, and swiftly van
ished.
Karl stood as If he were turned to
stone, gazing after her retreating fig
ure; then forgetting the banquet and
everything else. he hastened to his room
and wrote Ada a letter. i'm which he re-
peated all the expressions of love Law
ished upon her during the preceding
night. and begged for an explanation
of her recent conduct This missive he
gave to Ada's maid. with the urgent re-
quest to deliver 1t to her mistress that |
very evening before she retired. Then
he went out to try to conquer his aglta-
tion by walk in the park, and when |
he thought that he had regained his |
composure, he returned to the drawing |
room to see and to talk with Ada. The |
meal was over. gaiety reigned through |
out the various groups. and storm of |
reproaches for his absence from the |
table assailed him on all sides. But he |
looked i'm vain for Ada. She had retired |
Immediately after dinner
so she was now reading his letter
Perhaps now she was answering him! |
His heart throbbed wildly at this |
thought He would gladly have |
made another attempt to see Ada |
In her own apartments. but he felt that |
he owed her due reserve.and determined |
to have patience until the next day.
When. on the following morning, he |
came out of his bed chamber into the
ante-room, he instantly saw on the
table sealed package which bore his
address. He tore the wrapper with |
trembling hands and found within his |
own letter and a glt-edged book. 1t
was an English copy of Shakespeare's
Midsummer Nights Dream On the
first page in woman's delicate chirO-
graphy We're the words: "A Midsum-
mer Nights Dream. July 3, 1SS- Ada"
That was all. From the servant who
at his ring. Bergman learned
that the package had been left by Mrs.
Burgess maid early that morning.
Mrs. Burgess had been gone half an
hour.
The end