Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-02


His good humor was irresistible
She burst into a merry laugh. -.
. For another half hour the reJected
suitor remained in conversation with
the heiress. and at the end Of that
time they. too, had made a plot. Al
brecht was to remain at the castle, ne
and the Baroness Irna were TO pre-
tend to be on amicable terms, and the
two conspirators, the count and the
cbaperone. were not to learn until the
last day of the visit expired that their
hopes had failed.
at will endeavor to make your visit
as little irksome to you as possible,
explained the heir of Reitzenberg'
and we can behave as If there was no
enmity between us.
"Yes"-there was still a little doubt
in her voice and manner MINK
that l can trust you"
Come" he said gently. Baroness
Irma, is it truce between us signed
and sealed?'
He took her hand in his, and, bend
ing over it, raised her fingers 10 MS
lips.
49,
The master of, the castle was the
first to commence hostillties. One
dav. toward the end Of the three
months visit, Irma came into the
drawing room to find the whole party
awaiting her arrival, and in an instant
she perceived that something was
wrong. Frau Won Wolde had been
shedding tears, the old counts brow
was clouded with anger, and Albrecht
-Irma hardly dared to look at hlm'
so changed was his aspect 1t was too
clear that the termination or the pleas
ant companionship Of the last few
weeks was to be war.
"My dear Baroness Irma, said the
count, advancing to meet his young
guest with ceremonious politeness, /
am exceedingly pleased to see you.
Your visit here has given me great
satisfaction. You honored this house
with your presence, with the full con-
sent of your guardian and my esteem
ed cousin, Frau Won Wolde. had
hoped, not without grounds, that the
friendship between you and my heir
was gradually ripening into a deeper
and more lasting feeling. The alll-
ance is one which must give satisfac-
ton to all interested in our families.
Imagine my distress on hearing to-day
from my nephew that you have re-
fused his proposal of marriage!"
Irma looked toward Count Albrecht.
Something that she read in his wrath
full mien made her hesitate as she an
swered: 1T is quite true, We are
friends and nothing more"
at cannot be. my dear young lady, that
so young a maiden should have given
away her preference without the consent
or knowledge or her guardian? Answer
me candidly, Are your affections already
engaged?"
The color serged into Irma's cheeks and
left them pale again. She glanced at Frau
Won Wolde. There was no help for her
there THAT is question which you
have no right to ask. Count Reitzenberger,
and which refuse to answer. must beg
you to excuse me-"
"The Baroness Buchow is right" burst
in Albrecht "She has suffered enough at
our 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. l refuse to be a
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 troubles as they rested
on hers. He did not offer to take her hand
in farewell. He stood there in mute dis
tress as she passed by-a fair girlsh fig
ure in her white dress, her laces and blue
ribbons-and she passed him without a
word. The truce between 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 pretend
ed to read. But though she kept her eyes
on the pages, she read there only Count Al
brecht's parting words-he accepted her
offer of friendship gratefully! Driven 10
bay, as it were. in order to save her. that
was what he had said. During the last
three months she had come to understand
something of his uprightness, his high
sense of honor. He would never marry a
woman-though'r were princess-to
whom he could not give his love.
1T was my fortune" sighed Irma.
1'that made him nearly hate me at first"
Did he hate her now?
She shut up her book and wandered
stiu farther into.the wood. down a hillside
covered with fern and moss toward the
stream that ran between high rocks. chat
tering and foaming on its way. On the
farther side Of the stream was a tract OF
open country, dotted with clumps OF trees
and underwood and bright wit, heather.
The stepping stones were half covered
with water to-day. The current was run
ming fercer that its want. She bethought
herself Of a rustic bridge few yards far
Their down.
The bridge hung high in the air sup
ported by rough pine stems. Il was a
picturesque but a fragile affair. Half way
across Irna put her hand on the rail.
How noisy the stream was. The rail
snapped or at her touch, one plank tot
tered under her fest, another fell with a
splash into the water. She had plenty Of
courage. She was light and active. She
knew, moreover, that she could easily
leap that formidable looking gap and
gain the bank. She was about 10 make
the attempt when she was stopped by 4
peremptory shout:
Gently, Gently jump from that pro-
jecting stem. 1t is safe"
She looked I'd. On the edge OF the hes-