The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-03-17

dened with vexation. Yet there was
nothing in Albrecht Won Reitzenberg'f
appearance to annoy her; on the con.
trarY, no was young, very good-look.
ing, tall, and of dignified bearing.
"Will you allow me to come in ?'
he asked, standing on the threshhold.
The girl took up her work again.
"You can come in il you wishP" she
said, indifferently.
He walked across the room. ] have
a proposal to make to you, Baroness
Irma. Will you give me your atten-
ton for a little while?"
She looked at him Indignantly; she
had sweet oval face and deep gray
eyes.
al prefer not to listen to you,
Count Albrecht.
81 thought that you would say so |"
there was something like a ring OF
triumph in his voice), "but indeed
my proposal is very harmless. Let
us come to an understanding"
There was uncertainty, distrust, in
her eyes.
"Yes," continued the young officer,
81 know that you have every reason to
be offended. You have been most un-
fairly treated.
'I have been invited to this house
under false pretences. / 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 at all. 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. as the heir of Reit.
zenberg Castle-you will excuse my
mentioning my name first ?-have re.
ceived orders to offer my hand and
my debts, in marriage, to the Bar
oness Irma Won Buchow, who, on at
tanning her majority, will become pos
sessed 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 ignorance of the plan, but that her
friend and chsperone could not resist
the temptation of giving her hint as
to how matters stand, after she had
become the guest of the castle. Is
this so ?"
'Yes." She stood by his side now,
and the sunlight Just touched the coils
of her auburn hair. 81 have been de-
ceived, cruelty deceived"
"Under the circumstances, nothing
remains for me but to give you the
opportunity of expressing your opin-
ion as to this tyrannous family COM
pact even more decidedly than you
have done already. Baroness Irma
of Buchow, will you consent to give
me your hand in marriage?"
"Count Albrecht of Reitzenberg, I
thank you for the honor which you
have shown me. l will not.
They stood facing each other, and
as Irma looked at her strange wooer
she saw FAINT smile in his eyes. Her
own anger was beginning to evaporate
he really was behaving we'll, consider
ing that the Reitzenbergs were re-
nowned for their hasty tempers.
"You admit" she said, after
pause, ''that have been awkwardly
placed"
81 admit that you have been inhos-
pitably, abominably treated blush
to think that a member of our family
could have dreamed of such scheme. |
In order to show you how penitent l
am, now that have received my dis
missal, l will Immediately leave this
house and rid you of my presence"
''If 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 re-
naming here for three months as was
arranged, she will reproaoh me for
your absence, she will argue and make
me dislike you more than ever, if