New-York tribune., 1902-12-22
ComfesSe Err1esfine.
BY IvOR LLOYD
I'm Tao P1tS.)
PART Z


orally pledged at the 'Lombards" in the Hign-st
OF klatscheourg
Indeed it always there. except when they
received This occurred once in two months. The
evening before the reception Martin Petersen, the
old family factotun. under cover OF the gathering
darkness, slipped up the High-st-. large bas-
ket under his well worn cloak He returned with
the basket tightly packed with much Of the old
silver it would hold and two more journeys suf
feed to bring the greater part of it to the house Of
it's rightfuI owners. This silver was priceless and
had been in the family for hundreds OF years
There were some candesticks said to be the work
of Cellini, and nlarvellousy beautiful dishes,
whose designs suggested that they had been
wrought for sacred purposes They had fallen into
the hands Of the Won Rosenkrantzes at the time OF
the Reformation. The spoons with their daintily
twisted handles, were the work of craftsman
Of Southern Germany in medieval times. They had
been presented TO the Won Rosenkrantz who had
been loyal servant of the unfortunate Queen
Louisa by that royal lady herself. And there were
other treasures too numerous mention.
The Grain arranged these beautiful things the
tables with her hands, after they had been
carefully cleaned and polished by old Martin Her
tables thus royalty set out, she felt for that one
evening perfectly happy. and tried forget that
her treasures must return the Lornbards on the
following day. This necessary, owing to the
fallen fortunes of the family. The Iadys late hus
band had. by an extravagant life, reduced their
income to a sum which would barely have sUffced
to keep simple burgher household Of Klatscheburz
together Her son. officer in the Blue Hussars
had tastes similar those OF his father and re-
quired constant pecuniary help from his mother to
enable him 10 live the life which he found best
suited him
The Grafn did not blame him. The family must
not forget that they different from other
people Carefulness and economy are virtues among
the Bourgeoiste, but Won Rosenkrantz-especially
If he be an officer (and how could he follow any
other profession D-rnust do his duty in that state
OF life TO which he has been called II was humiIi-
attng TO be obliged TO pawn the family plate. but
it would have been still more humIiating think
that Otto Won Rosenkrantz not keeping up the
family character for lavish extravaganza among
the Blue Hussars. Then. he was the only son. and
the girls had really cost very little. The two
younger were still at the school for young ladies
OF noble family in Munich. where they received
their education free
The eldest, Ernestine had left this institution
about year OF course. the chief anxiety OF the
Grain TO get Ernestine married. but eligible
with the requisite number OF noble ancestors
were rather scarce and young maids proverbi-
ally obstinate and sometimes refuse to accept elder
ly wtdowers with bald heads and equity feet. even
though their pedigree may be unexceptionable
Then there Lieutenant Braun But he was
not to be thought Of True, he officer in
the Blue Hussars-a circumstance which had made
the Grain remark in despairing way: 81 wonder
what the country is coming TO, when the sons Of
tradespeople get commissions in the best regt-
mentsr'
For in truth Braun was a nobOdy-a cipher-a
person who could only be admitted on sufrerance
the Grafn's receptions-in short. an Individual
without grandfather. The fact that he had lent
by no means inconsiderabIe OF money to the
young Graf Rosenkrantz-a sum which the lat
had expectation Of ever being able to repay
could not raise him in the opinion OF the Gratn-
To lend money to Won Rosenkrantz was an honor
il itself II the money repaid. the
honor accruing the lender was. OF course. all the
greater Virtue was it's reward
Nor must accuse the Grain OF being unrea-
sonable. when we consider that Braun's father was
a common rubber manufacturer OF Harburg-a
maker Of haircombs. holder Of patents. an en-
ployer OF labor; in short. person we do not
recognize
1t was rather a pity-even the Grain admitted
that For Braun was q presentabIe young man
enough. and smart officer as any in the Blue
Hussars- But that is only external" said the
Grain with sigh, do gather grapes from
thorns? From such a stock nothing good can
come I not deceived by his gentlemanly ap-
pearance and manners They outward
veneer to conceal the commonness OF what lies be-
Meath"
So Lieutenant Braun. when he came to ask for
Eruestine's hand. was fatty refused. and on his
persistng in his suit. forbidden the house. and
the receptions knew him no more
krantz to of his chief cronies. they sat to-
sits rather nuisance that the Cram won't let
Ernestine marry Braun He's good fellow. and so
rich, He would be useful as a connection: But
what would you? cannot go against the Cram.
and poor Ernestine has no spirit She would never
set herself in opposition TO our mother
And in the mean while little Ernestine Rosen-
but not altogether hopelessIy. for, being a young
lady Of some resource. she resolved schemes for
The ancestral home of the Won Rosenkrantzes Is
quite feature OF the little town Of katscheourg.
struggling Friedrich Wilhelm Strasse who would
its its windows vi S decoraied dec With 0rd % @ It's
general effect reminds one of some Italian palace
Ernestines chamber had the same character Of
la fase9 & fogpo b seemed 9bs1rd s g for
small person. and the forlorn hangings of vel
lighter and brighter hued- The old glass. blurred
the straight-backed chairs offered little suggestion
street. but the garden which sloped down TO
the river which @ at that part was SO broad as to
resemble lake Every morning; II sne "akeo
early enough, Ernestine could the rise over
morning she looked out for something else as we'll
For very early in the morningi whenever he was
river shore, dark cloak thrown his shoulders
Just for one moment he was visible. and then he
had hidden himself behind hedge of clipped yews
knew of these secret Interviews except Martin. the
cid servant and he kept the secret
This had been going on for perhaps six months
and there seemed to be no chance Of any change in
We shall marry at this rate reflected
Ernestne, We may go on like this till we are old
and gray Ernestine was just nineteen.
1t was early spring The hlacs and magnolia
ower Every iittls bourgeose in Katscheburs was
thinking about the new dress she would have at
" Whitsuntde. and debating whether il would be
safe to invest in white muslin and blue ribbons. or
whether Whitsuntide falling early, something less
summery in character would be desirable
Ernestine RosenkrantZ had no hope of hav-
Ing & dress Whitsuntide. The dress she
wore had been paid for. She was rejecting
upon this circumstance in the garden, when sud
den idea seemed to occur to her II brought
blush her colorIess cheeks
Dare I?' she asked herself Can l carry it
through? What will he think of me2''
The morning passed At dinner the Grain said:
Il am going 10 drive TO the Castle this afternoon.
Erna. We must leave our cards there L wish L
could take you, but that dress
rs much shabby. finished Erna-
Yes; you really must have a dress. my