The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-02-07
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
As came along the road. the dust of
which had been laid that afternoon by
an odorous summer rain. the principal
thing which struck my eyes was the
quaintness and unquestioned age of
the old inn. 1t was relic of the days
when feudal lords still warred with
one another and the united kingdom
was undreamed of. 1t looked to be
300 years old and might have been
more. From time to time it had un-
dergOne' various repairs. as shown by
the new stone and signs of modern
masonry. the slate peeping out among
the moss covered tiles. 1t sat back
from the highway and was surrounded
by thick rows Of untrimmed hedges
and was partly concealed from view
by oaks and chestnuts. The gardens
were full of roses all in bloom, and
their perfume hung heavy on the
moist air And within a stones throw
Of the rear the Danube noiselessly slid
along its green banks. All knew
about the inn was that it had been by
il within Of nature the birthplace of
that beautiful. erratic and irresponsi-
be young person, her serene highness
the Princess Hildegarde. 1t was here
thought to find Hillars. though it was
idle curiosity as much as anything
which led me to the place.
The village was five miles below.
could see the turrets of the castle
which belonged to the princess. She
was very wealthy and owned as many
as three strongholds in the petty prin-
cipality of Hohenphalia. Capricious
indeed must have been the woman who
was ready to relinquish them for free
dom.
The innkeeper was pleasant. ruddy
checked old man who had seen serv-
ice. He. greeted me with some sur
prise. Tourists. he said. seldom made
this forgotten. out of the way village
an objective point. l received a room
which commanded fine view of the
river and stretch of the broad high
way. | was the only guest. This very
loneliness pleased me. My travel stain
ed suit l exchanged for knickerbockers
and belted jacket. went down to
supper. 1t was simple affair. and
was made to feel at home. From the
dining room l caught a momentary
flash of white skirts in the barroom.
"Ah." thought, "a barmaid! If she
is pretty, it will be diversion"
In the course of my wanderings
had seen few barmaids worth looking
at twice. When the table was cleared,
l lit cigar and strolled into the gar
dens. The evening air was delicious
with the smell of flowers still wet with
rain. The spirit of the breeze softly
whispered among the branches above
me. Far up in the darkening blues a
hawk circled. The west was a thread
Of yellow flame; the moon rose over
the hills in the east; Diana on the heels
Of Apollo! And the river! 1t was as
though nature had suddenly become
lavish in her bounty and had sent q
stream Of melting silver trailing over
all the land. There is nothing more
beautiful to see than placid water as it
reflects summers twilight The blue
Danube!> Who has heard that magic
name without the remembrance of q
face close to your own, an arm. bare,
white. dazzling. resting and cleaning
like marble on your broadcloth sleeve
and. above all, the dreamy. swinging
strains of Strauss? There was a face
once which had rested near mine.
Heigho! l fingered with my cigar and
the night reveal itself.
And then. right in the midst of my
1reams. small foot planted itself. /
turned my head and saw a woman.
On seeing the bright end of my cigar,
she stopped. She stood SO that the /
light of the moon fell full upon her
ACE. My cigar trembled and fell.
"Phyllisp' ! cried. springing to my
feet, almost dumfounded. my heart I
nigh suffocating me in it's desire to
cap forth. "PhyllisLand here? What
Ices this meanT
The woman looked at me with
puzzled frown. but did not answer.
Then as started toward her with out
stretched arms she turned and fed
INTO the shadows, leaving with me
nothing but the echo Of her laughter,
he sodtest, sweetest laughterl made
10 effort to follow her. because / was
,ot quite sure that had seen any
hing. 3.5
"Moonlightr' I laughed discordantly.
Phyllis in this deserted placea
aw how impossible that was. I had
,een dreaming. The spirit Of some
rood nymph had visited me and for q
lrief space had borrowed the features
4 the woman Loved. n rain 4 |
81 so ......s $3.50. ], Z