Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-05-03

chairs. Yes: how simple il was. The
innkeeper knew. lie had known u al
these years threw my white cravat
on 10 tie table aud picked up the most
convenient tie ln ten minutes from
the time the idea came to me ] was
completely dressed In travelling gar
uculs. tai a day AMI a half. IL
would take - hours 10 fetch the tnn-
keeper refused to entertain the
possibility of not iindinS him at the
inn. | sworc TO heaven that the nup-
tials Of the Princess Hildegarde OF
Hohenphalia aud the Prince Ernst OF
Wortumborg should not be celebrated
nj noon Thursday. ! went into the
bedroom.
pembroke"
what is itg' came drowsily.
81 am going on journey"
"One of those cursed orders you get
every other day. he asked.
mo. Its one on my own account
this time. shall be back in II hours.
] Goodby."
My brow was damp; my hands
| .remblcd like an excited woman's.
! Should | VIM had broken cigar In
| my pocket | Iii the preserved end nj
the top of the feeble carriage lamp.
I had the compartment alone. Sleep!
Mt l. Who could sleep when the
ear wheels and the raunug windows
kept saying: The inuGecper knows!
The innkeepcr knows" Every stop
was heartache. All, those eight hours
were eight separate centuries To me!
looked careworn and haggard enough
the next morning when | stepped on
the station platform. | wanted moth,
ing TO eat, not even cup Of coffee TO
drink.
TO find conveyance TO the inn was
not an easy task. No one wanted to
take the drive. Finally | secured a
horse. There was no haggling over
the price. And soon was Looping
through the snowdrlfts in the direction
of the old inn. The snow whirled and
eddied over the stubble fields, the
winds sang past my ears. the trees
creaked, and the river flowed on black
and sluggish. 1t was n dreary scene
1t was bitter cold, but had no mind
for that. on. on | went. Two miles
were left In the rear. The horse was
beginning to breathe hard. Sometimes
the snow was up to his knees. What
If the old man was not there? The
blood sank upon my heart. Once the
horse struck slippery place and near
~ fell, but caught him in time |
could now see the inn, perhaps a mile
away. through the lcafiess trees. 1t
looked dismal enough. The vines hung
dead about it, the hedges were Wild
and scrawny. the roses knew to he
no more, and the squirrel had left his
summer home for n warmer nest in
the forest. A wave of JOY swept over
me as | saw thin stream of smoke
winding above the chimney. Some one
was there, On, on. Presently flew
up the roadway. A man stood on the
porch. 1t was Stahlberg. When |
pushed down my collar, his jaw drop
|, ped. flung the reins to him.
where is the innkeeper?" / cried
with my first breath.
"In the hall, herr. But
| was past him and going through
the rooms. Yes. thank God, there he
was, sitting before the huge fireplace
where the logs cracked and seethcd
his grizzled head sunk between bis
shoulders lost in some dream. tramp
, ed in noisily. He started ont Of his
dream and looked around.
Colt" he cried. He wiped his eyes
and looked again. as It n dream or is
. it your
"Fesh and blood"' | cried. "flesl
and bloodr'
closed the door and boltcd it. HI
followed my movements with a mix
turc- of establishment and curiosity Ii
his eyes.
Now" | began, what have yot
done with the proofs which you tool
from your wife-the proofs of the OK
stence of twin sister of the Princes
Hildegarde of Hohenphalia q"
ITO EE CONTINUED