The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10

, knew Of nobody at tina moment. but that
he had mentioned the subject by acci-
dent ia your Uncle sigismund-7-"
"Uncle aigismund! The very lastr'
$50 I should have thought, But we
were both wrong Your uncle has q suit
able person, born and bred on one Of his
own estates. 40 I understand; q young
man who has Just completed excellent
studies-hs strongly recommends him"
She sat trembling from head to foot.
trying not to tremble.
"You hsve engaged" she said st last.
"this proteae Of Uncle Sigismundr'
sYes. Don't b. absurd, Eleanor. had
| forgotten to tell you about It, had
% much In my head. what with the
she rose from the table,
II am going UP to wish the children
| goodnight" she said. Then she burst
out: Uncle Si6ismund! A vaurienl A
panier perccl man Of the woridi A
voltairean! A dandy To him you apply
for teacher to educate my child"
! He stared at her. 0
Il do not understand you in the slight
est" he said. What queer. violent ex-
pressions you use! Uncle Sigismund--"
mo, you don't understand me In the
slightest" sho said, passing out through
| the door he held open for her. An hour
room, a. always Of evenings. He smoked
| at his bureau. surrounded by ledgers. She
with q low lamp at her right hand made
| tea. The long silence seemed to irritate
| him, though often II she spoke he would
beat his foot on the fioor and repeat fig-
urea aloud,
..why don't you 90 and play the piano7''
he said. You are giving that up altogeth-
err" Then, AZ he remembered about kiss
Ing tina servants" he added graciously;
when married you they said you were
the finest musician in Vienna"
There was always Bangowslki," she re-
piled. a little bitterly.
"Of course didn't mean professionals.
But you never touch the piano now"
mo: why should II Do you want me
to 20 and sit alone In that big room Of
evenings? In the winter there isn't even
. fire!"
"You could have a fire lighted. And.
besides. this isn't winter"
"True, you are quite right. There is no
reason why shouldn't play the piano."
But
"But don't. This man who is coming
pardon. do not let me disturb you at your
work.
mo; am very anxious to get through
with all this before the shooting party
comes down."
when is thatr she asyked pouring out
the tea.
'T have asked most Of them for this day
care to have besides the usual lott"
, mo, thank you. And the tutor. when
does he comet"
about the same time. darssay your
uncle will bring him."
I'VE shall hardly have time TO pay much
attention to him them"
DO you intend to pay him attentions?"
She did not answer. After all. woman
cannot strike man; though a man can
hourly strike a woman She refused to
revert to the subject again. yet 1t was con-
stantly in her mind. She was passionately
proud of her eldest son. passionately fond,
under frigorific reserve, of all her faxen
children.
When tho tutor appeared amid the flow
OF guests. abe received him with uninten-
ttonal indifference. Uncle Sigismund, a
fine old beau Of seventy. with slim waist
and bright complexion, introduced timid
insignificant, dark-eyed young man-IIerr
Goertx. The duchess hoped Herr Goertz
would be happy at Stolzenau, and turned
to some one else. AT dinner Uncle Sigis-
mnnd sat beside her and was very gallant
and little risque. telling many amusing
stories about the wicked world he knew
so well.
Late at night the duchess knocked at her
husbands dressing room door. His valet
was with him. The duchess motioned the
man to retire.
This Herr Goerts." she began abruptly.
who Is to be the teacher of Wilhelm--I
know nothing of him. nor do you
He looks just the kind of person that
sort Of person ought to look" replied his
transparency. winding his watch.
Ernest, all I wish to say is this: I win
let that man become Wilhe.m's tutor on
one condition. on one condition--do you
understand meT
"Well?"
THAT II ever should wish him to leave
the house he shall go!'
"Oh, of counsel Why?'
HE is probably unsuitable. My Uncle
Sigismund's idea of a tutor is sure to be as
bad as bad can be. I will not have VIII
helm sacrificed to Uncle Sigismund's no.
lions. I shall watch this man. II he be
anything like what expect him to be, he
must co.
VERY well. Don't watch him too much
at first; he already seems sufficiently ner-
vous Wilhelm will grow up all right. He
is beginning to shoot rabbits quite nicely
almost as well as did at his age. Good
night
"Sieep we'll" The duchess lay awake
some time thinking of her half a dozen
children, and OF Uncle Sigismund's stories,
and of Vienna. Then she fell asleep to the
meaning OF the wind among the pine trees,
1t was not till after the departure of the
guests that she again realized the presence
of the tutor Then, first. she discovered
him. as It were. He was a pale young
man, tall. dark uninteresting till he lifted
his eyes Wilhelm, when Intercepted,
/ shrugged his shoulders and said that tutor
knew a lot.
at Is you who know nothing!" exclaimed
his mother, annoyed.
'I can shoot" replied Wilhelm. compla-
Gently, land can talk languages Papa
says that Is enough for a Prince StolSenau,
mamma"
"Your father laughs at you" she replied,
and added, loyalty: HE himself can do
great deal more" She left Wilhelm re-
iecNng on his fathers abilities. That even
Ing, in the dizziness of the dukes room, she
rang the bell for a servant.
Tell Herr Goertz that wish to see him
here" she said. The duke looked up In
annoyance from his newspaper. I'VE shall
not disturb YOU said the duchess