Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-04-01


dened with vexation. Yet there was
nothing in Albrecht Won Reitzenherg's s
appearance to annoy her; on the con-
trary, he was young, very cookbook
ing, tall, and of digniied bearing.
"Will you allow me to come in?"
he asked. standing on the Threshold.
The girl took up her work again.
"You can come in if you wish?" she
said, indifferently.
He walked across the room. I have
proposal to make to you, Baroness
Irma. Will you give me your atten-
tion for little while?"
She looked at him Indignantly; she
had a sweet oval face and deep gray
eyes.
81 prefer not to listen to you,
Count Albrecht.
81 thought that you would say so |"
there was something like ring OF
triumph in his voice., "but indeed
my proposal is very harmless. Let
us come to an understanding"
There was uncertainty, dlstrust, in
her eyes.
eyes" continued the young officer,
81 know that you have every reason to
be offended. You have been most un-
fairly treated"
81 have been invited to this house
under false pretences. l came because
l thought that the visit would give
pleasure to Frau Won Wolde, who fills,
or is supposed to fill, the place of my
mother. / am sorry to speak disre-
spectfully of your cousin, butt
"Not ut ali. You are perfectly
right, and my relative Frau Won
Wolde is in the plot, and has been
from the beginning. l know all about
it now. My old uncle has just en-
lightened me. I as the heir of Reit.
zenberg Castle-you will excuse my
mentioning my name first t?-have re.
ceived orders to offer my hand and
my debts, in marriage, to the Bar
oness Trma Won Buchow, who, on at
tanning her majority, will become pos
sessed of 80 large fortune that she
could free the Reitzenberg estate with
q stroke of her pen. Nay. hear me
out; this lady was to have been kept
in ignorance of the plan, but that her
friend and chaperone could not resist
the temptation of giving her hint as
to how matters stand, after she had
become the guest of the castle. Il
this so?"
eyes" She stood by his side now
and the sunlight just touched the COLL
of her auburn hair. 81 have been de
ceived, cruelty deceived"
.'Under the circumstances, nothing
remains for me but to give you tn,
opportunity OF expressing your opin
ion as to this tyraDnous family com
pact even more decidedly than yol
have done already. Baroness Irm
of Buchow, will you consent to Civ
me your hand in marriage?"
Count Albrecht of Reitzenberg.
thank you for the honor which yol
have shown me. will not"
They stood facing each other, an
as Irma looked at her strange wooe
she saw faint smile in his eyes. He
own anger was beginning to evaporate
he really was behaving well, consider
Ing that the Reitzenbergs were re
nowned for their hasty tempers.
"You admit" she said, after
pause, THAT have been AWKWARD
placed"
81 admit that you have been inhos
pitably, abominably treatedl blusl
to think that member of our famil,
could have dreamed of such n scheme
In order to show you how penitent
am, now that have received my dis
missal, l will Immediately leave thi
house and rid you of my presence"
''If you do that, Count Albreeht,
shall be worse off than ever. Yo
don't know your cousin, Frau vo
Wolde. She will insist upon my re
naming here for three months as wa
arranged, she will reproach me 10
your absence, she will argue and max
me dislike you more than ever, ip--