Hutchinson gazette., 1902-02-20

fort0d him-the leader OF the Rhine
korps was already an object OF deepest
interest to Beatrix, and In that grow
Ing love Paul believed he could see the
strongest possible fertilization against
all harm.
lie remembered his promise to Hill
degarde, and was deslrous of keeping
1t without delay. The school must be
given up-other duties seemed to call
him to fields OF more activity,
SO Paul began to prepare to leave
Heidelberg by the nlght express, the
Dutch cannon ball train OF the period,
that would land him In the German
capital In phenomenally short time.
That tho influence of the schemer
Countess Aimee would follow him to
Berlin, he never once thought, believ-
Ing he would leave her far behind,
That was because he did not know
the willy woman and her astonishing
powers as we'll as he should have done
In order to defeat her clever plans.
Paul had been well watched,
The government spy hovered near,
and there was besides another who
worked in the interest Of the countess
great times these two honest
worthless had in lodging each other
while keeping an eye on the main
chance, 40 embodied In the American,
Paul ignored them as much as pos
slble--he had quite enough to think
about in the premises,
Should they give him too much trou-
Bile later on perhaps he would take a
turn out Of them in fashion peculiar
to the wild and woolly West and after
a way, to weaken their enthusiasm.
Karl was not surprised when he
heard what sudden alteration Paul
was making in his plans, for Karl was
OF n phlegmatic temperament and dis
posed to take the most extraordinary
things as he found them.
"One favor, comrade,' he said while
shaking hands at the train later in the
night.
Granted before you speak," replied
Paul
Speak a good word for me when you
apply for n commission, God knows |
would like to be at your side If the
war comes, and 1t grows closer and
hoarser along the Rhine every day"
ut shall be zwei," was what Paul
called back as the express quilted the
platform.
When young Rhinelander shook the
sacred dust of Heidelberg, with all its
pleasant student recollectlons, from his
feet, and started in the direction of the
capital, he took 1t for granted that he
would be closely watched, since at the
time he was an object Of sollcitude to
several parties.
lie little guessed, however, to what
ends some of these spies might 60 in
order to prevent him from carrying out
his designs.
To the countess 1t was matter Of
considerable moment whether or not
he reached Berlin with the design Of
seeking an audience with those high In
authority.
And she would go to considerable
trouble in order to prevent this same
thing, being a woman Of remarkable
will power.
Through the night the Berlin train
painted, and Paul, having made himself
as comfortable as the conditions would
allow, endeavored to sleep.
But he found sleep would not come,
so he reviewed what had passed during
his interview with Hildegarde
How plainly 1t all came before him
he could easily shut his eyes and see
her again as she stood there blushing
in confusion.
He loved to dwell upon this scene.
Somehow, there were features con-
nected with It that told him he could
not be an object of indifference In ner
eyes.
Then. again, when he remembered
the blot that rested upon his family
name he groaned In secret.
Could she, would she forglve-these
high-class German families, as he well
knew, were very punctllious about
such things, and in many cases the
breath Of scandal had severed arrange
| ments for a wedding.
SO Paul was miserable, at times let
ting his mind dwell upon a picture
painted by fancy in her lightest mood
and then dashing over the bright scene
a pail Of mingled doubt and despair.
All this while the train was booming
on, crossing broad plains, rattling over
bridges, and stopping occasionally at
towns en- route.
Paul, finding It utterly impossible
for him to sleep, began to amuse him
self by observing his fellow-passen-
gers.
This is always an interesting study
for any one fairly fond Of reading hui
man nature, for nowhere may more
pronounced types be found than in a
second-class Continental railway car
riage.
There were several persons in the
compartment with him.