The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-02-26

OVereOat.
Thus armed, arted off to see my
new friends, not quite willing to con
fess even to myself how much longed
to behold the fair Agnes once more.
"Idiot that you are" l said sternly
to myself, "what do you expect from
those little hands? What save cup
of Chinese tea?'
Torgau is small place. and soon
enough was | ut the house OF the chie1
magistrate. go
AT its half open door was woman's S
form, apparently a servant maid. She
conducted me into dimly lighted YES
tibule, said softly, with shy simper
Good evening"" tripped up stairs and
signed to me to follow.
The Herr Direktor lived in a flat, it
seemed, approached by common stair.
case. and up this l followed my guide,
my heels ringing clear and loud Oh the
uncarpted flags.
Hush, hush, for heavens sake,'
whispered the servant maid myster.
iously.
confess to shock of surprise. l
stopped.
- as this not the right hour?"
"Yes, yes, but hush" She placed a
warning finger on my mouth.
"Good gracious, is someone ill in
the house?' whispered in low voice.
"In that case | will come another even
ing"
mo, no, only be very quiet, Herr
Corporal"
And thereupon she seized my hand
and drew me up the stairs with many
warning signs.
l was utterly bewildered and could
make neither head nor tail of the busi-
ness. We were on the upper floor.
With a dexterity that looked suspic-
iously like constant habit she caught
the doorbell in her hand so that its
tinkle should not be heard. She GER
tainlv showed wonderful knack in
her proceedings. She opened the door,
and before l knew where was found
myself in the kitchen. Then the bell
rang, evidently in the sittingroom,
whereupon she promptly pushed me
still further into the kitchen and left
me breathlcss with amazement to stare
about me.
a neatly laid table stood in the mid
die Of the room, which was but dimly
lighted by two candles stuck in two
empty champagne bottles. l was still
gaping and gazing when she returned.
ut was nothing. They have not
finished yet. They sit so long at Ia
ble. The master wanted more butter. y
Then she REDEEMED up, giggled shy
ly and with downcast eyes continued:
Il am very glad, Herr Corporal, to
see You. 1t is great honor" and
there she paused, smoothing down the
folds of her apron. She evidently ex-
pected me to say something.
A sudden light broke on my bewild.
cred senses. | understood it all, the
suppressed merriment in Feuerstacke' s
face, the warmth OF my reception by
the maid. That idiot of man, that
dense pated Gottleib Feuerstackle, had
imagined my message was for the maid
servant and not for the quality. Was
| not serving as private soldier like
HIMSELF And was not the cook the
object of his highest admiration?
| could have laughed aloud. The
oldmad spirit of university days rush
ed upon me. Never even in those joy
Gus wild times had l met with such a
rare adventure as th,s-never on nv
word of honor!
GLOW very kind of you, my dear.
BY the way, what is your name?"
''Hannah," she whispered, with
downcast eyes.
What an adorable name! Han
nah!' | quite forgot all about the per
lis of my position and raised my voice
to its natural pitch. She cast on me
such an eloquent glance, imploring me
without words not to let ''theln," as
she called the family, get wind of my
vicinity.
Now she glided gently hither and
thither, collecting and placing on the
table all manner Of dainty fragments
from the dinners of a week past, plac
ing them IN tempting confusion at my
disposal.
,Aglin the bell rang. Hannah was
wanted. She obeyed the call at once
and presently returning placed before
me, with conscious pride, smoking
omelet auxfines hcrbcs, seasoned will
bacon sauce.
Good Hannah! What would she moi
do for corporal?
But fate was at hand The sitting
room door opened. Steps were hearo
in the passage. In another instant
the kitchen would be invaded, bu1
thanks to Hannah's promptitude the
dangerewas avcrted. With immense
presence of mind she laid her great
coarse hand on my lips, blew out the
candles at one breath, opened the door
closed it behind her, met her mistres