The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-20

was DeBlnnlnS TO eNdpOrdle, ne tStsliy
vas behaving well, considering that the
Reitzenbergs were renowned for their
hasty tempers.
You admit" she said, after pause,
that have been awkwardly placed"
IT admit that you have been inhospit-
ably, abominably treated! l blush to
think that member of our family
could have dreamed of such a scheme.
In order to show you how penitent i
am, now that l have received my dis
missaI, I will immediately leave this
house and rid you of my presence"
eff you do that, Count Albrecht, 1
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 me dislike you
more than ever. if
IF possible?"
His good humor was irresistible; she
burst into a merry laugh.
For another half-hour the rejected
sutton remained in conversation with
the heiress, and at the END of that time
they, too, had made plot. Albrecht
was to remain at the Castle, he and
the Baroness Irma were to pretend to
be on amicable terms, and the two
conspirators Che count and the chap
erone) were not to learn until the last
day of the visit expired that their hopes
had failed.
81 will endeaver to make your visit
as little irksome to you as possible"
explained the heir of Reitzenberg, land
| We can behave as if there were no en-
nifty between us"
eyes" (there was still little doubt
in her voice and manner). 'I think that
can trust you"
! Come" he said gently, Baroness
! Irma, is a truce between us signed and
| sealed?"
| He took her hand in his, and, bending
over it, raised her fingers to his lips.
! The master of the castle was the first
to begin hostilities. One day, 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 some-
| thing 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 him, so changed was his aspect. 1t
was too clear that the termination Of
the pleasant conlanionship of the last
few weeks to be war.
my dear Baroness Irnla," said the
count, advancing to meet his young
guest with ceremonious politeness II
an exceedingly pleased to see you.
Your visit here has given me great
satisfaction. You honored this house
4 with your presence, with the full con-
sent of your guardian and my esteemed
cousin. Frau Won Wo1de. l had hoped,
not without grounds, that the friend
ship between you and my heir was
gradually ripening into a 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 from my
nephew that you have refused his
proposal of marriage"
Irna looked toward Count Albrecht;
something that she read In his wrathful
mien made her hesitate as she answer
; ed: 1T is quite truej we are friends
and nothing more"
1T cannot be, my dear young lady
that SO young a maiden should have
given away her preference without the
consent or knowledge of her guardian!
Answer me candidiys are your affect
ions already engaged 2"
The color surged into Irn,a's cheeks
and left them pale again She glanced
at Frau Won Wolde. There was no helI
,r her there '"This is question which
IT. IL u a.k~
berg, and which refuse to answer.
must beg you to excuse me-"
1.-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 hon
ors me with her friendship, accept II
gratefully Listen to me my uncle. re-
fuse to be party to your scheme"
He rose and held the door wide open
There was no smile ON his face now
his eyes We're 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
fair, girlish figure in her white dress
her laces and blue ribbons-and sh,
passed him without a word. The truce
!, between them was over.
The forest spread its wide wings ever
as far as the Castle garden. Trina loved
the green paths and quiet shades, ant
here she came with her book the morn
ing after her interview with the Count
and pretended to read. But, though she
kept her eyes on the pages, she reat
there only Count Albrecht's parting
words-he accepted her offer of friend.
ship gratefully! Driven to bay, as i
were, in order to save her, that was
what he had said. During the las
three months she had come to under.
stand something of his uprightness
his high sense of honor. He would neve,
, marry a woman-though she were {
princess-to whom he could not give hi.
love.
ut was my fortune" sighed Irma
chat made him nearly hate me at first. ;
Did he hate her now?
She shut up her book and wandered
still further into the wood, down a hill.
side covered with ferns and moss
towards the stream that ran between
high rocks, chattering and foaming OF
it's way On the further side of the
Which