Middletown transcript., 1897-02-13

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Frau Won Wolde had been shedding
tears, the old Counts brow was cloud
ed with anger, and Albrechtl-Irma
hardly dared to look at him, so changed
was bis aspect. 1t was too clear that
his termination of the pleasant COM
panionship Of the last few weeks was
to be war.
GMy dear Baroness Irma." said the
Count, advancing to meet his young
guest with ceremonious p0li;eness, II
am exceedingly pleased to $40 you.
Your visit here has given me great sa :
isfact ion. You honOred this house
with your presence, with the full COLI
sent OF your guardian and my esteemed
cousin, Frau Won W0lde. had hoped
not WITHOUT grounds, that tue friend
ship between you and my heir was
gradually ripeDing into deeper and
more lasting feeling. The alliance is
one which must give satisfaction to all
interested in our families. Imagine
my distress on hearing to-day fron my
nephew that you have refused his pro-
posal of marriage"
Irma looked toward Count Albrecht;
something that she read in his wrath
full mien made her hesitate as she an
swered: st is quite true; we are friends
and nothing more"
It Il cannot be, fnJ dear young lady lady !,
that so young a maiden should have
given away her preference without the
consent or knowledge of her guardianP
Answer me candidly: are your affec-
tions alleady engagedPn
The color surged into Irma's cheeks
and left them pale again. She glanced
at Frau Won Wolde. There was no
help for her there. "This is ques-
tion which you have no right to ask,
Count Reitzenberg, and which | refuse
to answer. must beg you to excuse
me-"
"The Baroness Buchow is rightp
burst in Albrecht. She has suffered
enough at cur hands already. She
shall not be thwarted in her will. If
she honors me with her friendship, !
accept it gratefully. Listen to me, my
uncle. / refuse to be party to your
| scheme"
He rose and held the door wide open.
There was no smile on his face now;
his eyes were full of trouble as they
rested on hers. He did not offer to
take her hand in farewell. He stood
there in mute distress as she passed by
"a fair, girlish figure in her white
dress, her laces and blue ribbons-and
she passed him without word. The
truce been them was over.
-
The forest spread its wide wings
even as far as the Castle garden. Irma
loved the green paths and quiet shades,
and here she came with her book the
morning after her interview with the
Count, and pretended to read. But
though she kept her eyes on the pages,
she read there only Count Albrecht's
parting words-he accepted her offer of
friendship gratefully Driven to bay,
as it were,in order to save her, that was
what he had said. During the last
three months she had come to under
stand something Of his uprightness,
bis high sense of honor. He would
never marry a woman-though she
were princess-to whom he could
not give his love.
sit was my fsrtune,n sighed Irma,
''that made him nearly hate me at
first" Did he hate her nOW2
She shut up her book and wandered
still further into the wood, down a
hillside covered with fern and moss,
toward the stream that ram between
high rocks, chattering and foaming on
its way. On the further side of the
stream was tract of open country,
dotted with clumps Of trees and under
wood and bright with heather. The
stepping-stones were half covered with
water to-day; the current was running
6ercer than its wont. She bethought
herself of a rustic bridge few yards
further down.
The bridge hung high in the air,
supported by rough pine stems; it was
picturesque but fragile affair. Half
way across Irma put her hand on the
rail-how noisy the stream wasl-it
snapped off at her touch, one wooden
plank tottered under her feet, another
fell with a splash into the water
below. She had plenty of courage; she
was light and active. Sheknew more.
over, that she could easily leap that
formidable-looking gap and gain the
bank. She was about to make the at
tempt, when she was stopped by per-
emptory shout:
''Gently, gentlyl Jump from that
projecting stem; is it safep'
She looked up; on the edge Of the
heather covered rock .tood Albrecht
Reitzenberg.
She pau sed uncertain, half inclined
to retrace her steps. -Perceiving her
hesitation, he raised his voice and
shouted still louder above the clamor
of the rushing water:
"Csn you hear me Baroness IrmaP"
| She nodded assent.
'Step thereto the left. Do not
look backl'
InVoluntarily she Obeyed. He held
out his arms, the gulf yawned between
them, he could be of no help.
''The stem win bear your weight.
| Do not be in too great hurry"
/ esWhy does he Look so gravePn
Il thought Irma: tsis he still aDQrvP,,l