The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-01-16
Select Story.
A HAPPY BLUNDER.
From the Strand Magazine.

When l left the university, l had, as in
duty bound, to go through my course of
military service and in due time found my
self enrolled as soldier in an infantry
regiment then stationed at the town of
Torgau, in Thuringia.
The officers were extremely kind to me
and invited me to become a member of the
club they had formed among themselves,
so that ] soon became quite at home. In
the morning there was the everlasting
''Right, left; right, left, at dinner the
soothing perfume of the ''Maibohle' and
in the evening dreamy repose and excellent
cigars in the shady casino gardens.
The civil and military society mingled
freely, contrary TO the usual custom, and
the legal world and such landed proprietors
as lived in the neighborhood made them
selves particularly agreeable.
The chief magistrate. old Herr Hammer,
was president of the club. He played
good game of bowls, emptying good many
schoppens in the course Of it, and kept the
whole company entertained with his cheer
full fand of humor. OF course | was pre-
sented to him, and he recognized in me
the son of his old comrade in university
and volunteer days. He was delighted to
see me, and at the close of the evening he
took me ACROSS the gardens to the casino
veranda, where his wife and daughter were
drinking true Thuringian mocha with
number of other ladies. was presented
to the fair circle Frau Hammer was still
pretty women She knew my good
mother, greeted me with warmth and
begged me with charming friendliness to
come and pay her visit as soon as my
military duties would allow.
''No stiff evening CALL dear Herr Eisen-
stein, I beg. When you have no better
way of spending your evening, then come
in and see us and have cup of tea with
u.s..
''Well, well, muttered her lord and
master, 'you will get something better
than tea | can tell you, my dear fellow.
Don't be afraid. Wife, you frighten all
the fellows away with your tea.
We laughed at his comical expression
as he uttered this warning. | thanked
Frau Hammer for her friendly invitation
and decided at once to take advantage of
it. Had | not looked into the blue eyes
of the magistrate 17-year-old daughter,
the fair Agnes? Did | not read in those
liquid depths that visit from me would
not be entirely disagreeable to her? Of
course | would seize the first happy chance
that left me free to spend an evening in her
society.
The happy chance did not occur for
some days, but at length | had free even
ing and decided to make prompt use of it,
| called my soldier servant who, as the
stern captain of our company was fond of
reminding me, was in reaAty my fellow
soldier, and sent him in the afternoon to
the Frau Direktorin with carefully
worded message, saying, if it would not in
convenience her, | would do myself the
honor of calling on her that evening.
After much explanation Gottlieb Feuer-
stacke at length understood where he was
to go and turned, giggling in an idiotic
manner, and informed me with scarcely
suppressed smile that visit from me at
s. 45 O. clock would be Extremely agree
able. -
1t struck me that this was rather late
hour to fix for sociable evening call-in
fact, rather ceremonious hour-but no
doubt the Herr Direktor liked to stand
upon ceremony even in so small a matter
as the present thought no more of it,
but when the hour came for departure |
waxed my mustache in the correct style,
cast few drops of ''new mown hay on
my pocket handkerchief, placed it in my
pocket above my beating heart and wrapped
myself in my great military overcoat.
Thus armed, started off to see my new
friends, not quite willing to confess even
to myself how much | longed to behold
the fair Agnes once more
Idiot that YOU are, = | said sternly to
myself, ''what do you expect from those
little hands? What save cup OF Chinese
tea?'
Torgau is a small place, and soon enough
was at the house of the chief magistrate.
At it's half open door was a woman $
form, apparently servant maid. She
conducted me into dimly lighted vesti-
bule, said softly, with shy simper,
''Good evening, tripped up stairs and
signed to me to follow.
The Herr Direktor lived in fiat, it
seemed, approached by common stair
case. and up this l followed my guide, my
heels ringing clear and loud on the uncar-
peted flags.
"Hush, hush, for heavens sake, =
whispered the servant maid mysteriously.
confess to shock of surprise. I
stopped.
''Is this not the right hour?''
eyes, yes, but hush y She placed a
warning finger on my mouth.
''Good gracious, is someone i'll in the
house | whispered in low voice. In
that case l will come another evening.
''No, no. only be very quiet, Herr Cor
poral. .
And thereupon she seized my hand and
drew me up the stairs with many warning
signs.
| was utterly bewildered and could make
neither head nor tail of the business. We
were on the upper floor. With dexter
ity that looked suspiciously like constant
habit she caught the doorbell in her hand
so that its tinkle should not be heard She