Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-05-23

how to reach the front.
He was therefore never more sur
prise3 IL his Mfe than %hen, upon
opening the letter, he discovered that'
instead Of the printed form he had ex-
tected, he saw feminine chirography.
He looked up. frowning.
You have made a mistake. ne SAID.
Surely not. Look on the other side,
returned the messenger. eagerly.
Here was his name beyond perad-
venture:
Herr Paul Rhinelander.
Hotel Royale."
With a feeling of establishment he
again whipped the paper over, ana
this time his eye ranged from the
Dear Friend" 1T the top to the sig
nature that he discovered below.
Then it was an electric slock per-
meated his whole system.
For that name was "Hildegarde!
He somehow or other forgot all about
the important order he had been eX-
pecting-iOve takes preference even
above the ambitions Of martial glory.
When Paul read the contents of the
note he was stirred. and for the time
being reason gave way to impulse.
Hildegarde was ii Berlin-unexpect-
ed trouble had come upon her and she
needed friends advice and assistance
could she presume upon his courtesy
to assist her in solving perplexing
dilemma. and. if thus inclined, would
he speed without delay to the house at
which she was stopping, since to-mor-
row might be too late?
Would he go? Well-it must be
something very unusual that could stop
him.
But where1he note failed to men
ton the name and number of the
straSse where she awaited him.
Again he turned to the messenger.
The lady gave you this letter her
self?'
With her own charming hand, myn-
heer'
You can take me to her at once"
That is what l am here for, myn-
heer'
Lead me to her, friend, said Paul,
endeavoring TO still the exultant strain
in his voice.
AT once, mynheer. Pray follow
came the reply.
They set off,
The messenger seemed fully at home
in the great German capital, and led
Paul hither and thither with the ut
most freedom.
Indeed if his movements had been
especially intended to confuse the
American, and make him lose all sense
of his bearings, they could hardly have
been better arranged.
Those numerous bridges over the
Spree seemed so much alike that
Rhinelander found himself utterly un-
able to declare which side of the river
he stood upon.
A stranger in Berlin can easily be
lost in some Of the districts that COM
pare with London's Whitechapel.
Paul was not paying much attention
to these things, his mind being upon
facts that seemed of more Importance
to him, facts that concerned the writer
of that note.
Why had Hildegarde come to Ber-
lin?
There must be some mystery back of
it, some story which she was DESTROYS
of confiding to him.
This thought increased his eagerness
TO reach her side.
She spoke of peril-how gladly would
he throw himself into the breach to
ward off any impending disaster-it
was a blessed privilege for which he
could not be too thankful.
Finally his guide led him into a
house.
Paul had vague feeling that the
neighborhood was hardly up to the
standard of responsibility he might
have set, but such minor matters
should not be allowed to disturb his
pleasant frame Of mind, as he antici-
pated speedy interview with the OBJ
ject of his regard.
AS he sat in stuffy little parlor and
awaited the coming of Hildegarde, he
remembered the occasion in Heidelberg
when he had last seen her, when she
blushed so beautifully under his COM
pliments. and aroused within his heart
so furious holy passion that the very
thought of it still had power to cleo
trify him.
He could not sit still longer, but,
thrilled with eager anticipation, began
to walk excitedly up and down the con-
fines of the little room.
Was that a voice-ah! surely his
keen ears should know the swish of
feminine skirts.
She was coming, then, his hearts
idol, his queen, and the miserable little
parlor would presently be glorified by
her radiant presence.
Closer still came the sound of femi-
nine garments, and Paul held his very
breath as his eyes were glued upon the
door at the other end of the room.
through which she must presently ap-
pear.
Then some one burst upon his start
led sight, a vision of beauty and SHIN
mering garments. such y might have
aroused the admiration of an anchorite,
but the effect upon Paul was only that
of sudden, keen and terrible chagrin
and cruel disappointment for he looked
not upon the bIushing countenance Of
Hildegarde, but the bold, handsome,
triumphant face Of Countess Aimee.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Countess Springs the Trap.
When this singular and remarkable
termination to his dream occurred
Rhinelander was in a state bordering
on chagrin and anger. He realized
that he had indeed made a fool Of him