Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-06-07
IRMA'S BETROTHAL.

lIOIMA - DIV l. llO L HAL.
In one of the turret rooms of Reitzen
berg castle young girl, arrayed in sim
pie dress and white apron, sat sewing in
dustriously. At the sound of footsteps she
paused in her work. At the sight of a
hussar officer in uniform she reddened
with vexation Yet there was nothing in
Albrecht Won Reitzenberg's appearance to
annoy her. On the contrary, he was young,
very good looking, tall and of dignified
bearing.
"Will you allow me to come imp he
asked standing on the threshold
The girl took up her work again. "You
can come in if you wish, +" she said in
differently
He walked across the room. II have a
proposal to make to you, Baroness Irna
Will you give me your attention for lit
tie while?"
She looked at him Indignantly. She had
sweet oval face and deep gray eyes.
II prefer not to listen to you, Count
Albrecht"
~ thought that you would say so''-
there was something like ring of tri-
umph in his voice-'but indeed my pro-
posal is very harmless Let us come to an
understanding.
There was uncertainty, distrust, in her
eyes.
Eyes" continued the young officer. ~
know that you have every reason to be
offended. You have been most unfairly
treated"
81 have been invited to this house under
false pretenses. I came because | thought
that the visit would give pleasure to Frau
Won Wolde, who fills, Or is supposed to fill,
the place of my mother. l am sorry to
speak disrespectfully Of your cousin,
butt
'Not at all. You are perfectly right,
and my relative, Frau Won Wolde, is in the
plot, and has been from the beginning I
know all about it now. My old uncle has
just enlightened me. l, as the heir of
Reitzenberg castle-you will excuse my
mentioning my name tirst-have received
orders to offer my hand and my debts in
marriage to the Baroness Irna Won Blu
chow, who, on attaining her majority, will
| become possessed of so large fortune that
she could free the Reitzenberg estate with
! a stroke of her pen. Nay hear me out
This lady was to have been kept in ig-
norance of the plan, but her friend and
chaperon could not resist the tempta-
ton of giving her hint as to how matters
stand after she had become the guest of
the castle. Is this SOP"
Eyes" She stood by his side now, and
the sunlight just touched the coils of her
auburn hair. ~ have been deceived, cru
ely deceived.
"Under the circumstances, nothing re-
mains for me but to give you the oppor-
tunity of expressing your opinion as to
this tyrannous family compact, even more
decidedly than you have done already.
Baroness Irma of Buchow will you con-
sent to give me your hand in marriage?"
Count Albrecht Of Reitzenberg, /
thank you for the honor which you have
shown me. will not. y
They stood facing each other, and as
Z, Irlna looked at her strange wooer she saw
a faint smile IN his eyes. Her own anger
was beginn g to evaporate. He really was
| behaving W |, considering that the Reit-
zenbergs were renowned for their hasty
terlper
You admit" she said after a pause,
"that I have been awkwardly placed?"
81 admit that you have been inhospita-
bly,, ,abominably treated! l blush to think
that member of our family could have
dreamed of such scheme In order to
show you how penitent I am, now that
have received my dismissal, l will imme-
diately leave this house and rid you Of my
presence"
eff you do that, Count Albrecht | shall
be worse off than ever. You don't know
your cousin, Frau Won Wolde. She will
insist upon my remaining here for three
months, as was arranged, she will reproach
me for your absence, she will argue and
make Inc dislike you more than ever, if
eff possible?"
His good humor was irresistible. She
burst into merry laugh.
For another half hour the rejected sutton
remained in conversation with the heiress
and at the end of that time they, too, hac
made plot Albrecht was to remain al
the castle, he and the Baroness Irina wert
to pretend to DO on amicable terms, ant
the two conspirators, the count and thu
chaperon, were not to learn until the las
day of the visit expired that their hope
had failed.
81 will endeavor to make your visit a
little irksome to you as possible" explain
ed the heir of Reitzenberg, land we cal
behave as if there were no enmity between
u.s."
"Yes"-there was still little doubt II
her voice and manncr-"I think that cal
, trust you"
, 'tCome, he said gently. Baroness Irn
,, Is it a truce between us signed and sealed?'
He took her hand in his, and bending
, over 1t raised her fingers to his lips
The master Of the castle was the first t.
commence hostilities One day, towar
, the end of the three months visit, lrm
came into the drawing room to find tn
whole party awaiting her arrival, and II
] an instant she perceived that something
was wrong. Frau Won Wolde had beel
a shedding tears, the old counts brow wa
clouded with anger, and Albrecht-lrm
/ hardly dared to look at him, SO change
. was his aspect. It was too clear that tn
termination Of the pleasant companionshi
8 Of the last few weeks was to be war.
my dear Baroness Irma," said tn
7 count, advancing to meet his young CUES
4 with ceremonious politeness, II am o.
ceedingly pleased to see you. Your vis
: here has given me great satisfaction. Yo
Il honored this house with your presence
with the full consent of your guardian an
Il my esteemed cousin, Frau Won Wolde
n had hoped, not without grounds, that th
friendship between you and my heir wa
Q gradually ripening into a deeper and mol
lasting feeling. The alliance is one who
must give satisfaction to al interested
our families. Imagine my distress 9
hearinr today from my nephew that 70
have refused this proposal Of marrtageT