Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-08
IT he c t Q nv of the Ghost By MAURICE WON HOLLENBECK.

DARON MAX VON VELDENZ, of
 the cavalry of the German i'm perial guard, despite his massive frame and his six feet three in his stockings, was much perturbed in mind. It was fine morning in June, and he held in his hand a dainty note which had come to him by the first Berlin post. He had got away from the mess table to mediate in the pri- vacy of his own rooms on the missive.
 The face which short hour ago was radiant with health and cheer fitness was now drawn and haggard.
 1t was not long, this perturbing note, and ran as follows:
 My own darling Max-Your Eva is broken hearted. A bolt out of the blue has suddenly descended, blight ing the tender flower of our happy hope. How I wept since the news of doom came over Goethe's Violet, so cruelty crushed by the callous and needless stranger! But, dearest Max, the Von Salitz family is poor; so, alas! ever dear one, are you. But still what happiness seemed i'll store for loving hearts until Gen. Helm voa Grubsch came here! He is one of the Von Grubsches of Dusseldorf, and is immensely rich. He is of grave, heavy mustache, has a round trimmed beard. He is not altogether displeasing in appearance, but, ny own Max, what of that? I do not love him; I love you. and you only. But papa came to me last night and says, Baron Helm von Grubsch has asked for your hand. He is wealthy and powerful. He will restore SaliiZ castle. You must marry him, Eya.' o, my Max, the nightingale sang last night, and 1 so sad. Come, 0, my own one, see my father. Tell him of our love, and surely he will relent. Your loving, broken hearted,
 EVA WON SALITZ."
 Max von Veldenz decided on the spot to obtain weeks leave, and congratulated himself on being first favorite with his colonel. The next day he was speeding as fast as an express train could take him towards the Eiffel mountains, where above the lovely slopes of an upland lake stood the castle of Salitz, romance iii stone embowered in a fairylard of forest. .--
 Along the edge of the deep. trans lucent lake there ran h sylvan path, with here and there cunnipgly con- trived rustic arbor-a happy spot known well from their childhood to Max and Eva. It stood midway, be. tween the rugged grandeur ot Feldenz castle and the picturesque structure which was the home of the last Von Salitz. This sylvan path now before Max like a leafy tunneling, along which he saw Eva advancing swiftly to meet him. But how sad, disconsoIate she locked. how different from the Eva of the joyous Easter tide. His loving heart yearned towards her in her sorrow, became more entranciligly beautiful through that veil of fearful thought which seemed to wrap her round,
 She shrank from his embrace, as she would have done from sacriiege. His heart sank within him; he Lnew he was too late.
 ''You are betrothed, Eva? You are to be his wife?" s. .5.5
 "It is so, Max. My father besought me, weeping. It was so new. so strange to see him in tears. He i'm plored, he commanded. We are poorer than I knew. He would have to sell the castle if I were selt-wiiled, and wander forth | beggaS. An, Max, it was terrible to hear him talk so, he. my father.''
 He scarcely knew what to say. He owed something to hiTna elf. he thought, but her distress stirred him deeply. He would make one more effort to rescue her from the clutches of Mammon. But here his reflection was bruaquely interrupted by q resonant yoice.
 "Why, am I dreaming? Why, 4lis is surely, Max von Veldenz! Why, Max, l thought you were dazzling the Bcrliners with your hors ema nship Or exercising your squadron. Let me introduce you"
 Eva had gone a shade paler. Max. when he turned, recognized the aris- tucIdblC ldCc iI1l figure #OI CDunI JOn Salitz. Beside him stood military looking man, whom he guessed from Eya's description to be his rival.
 Permit me- said the count. Ger eral the Baron Helm von 6irubsch, Captain the Baron Max von Velden. We have been close neighbors all our lives, general, as I have told you,''
 "And now, Eva." continued the count. when the ceremony of intro dnctian was over, 'sgo on to the cas- tie with the general. while I bring up the rear with Max"
 ''You have heard of Eva's betrothal, Max?" said the count as soon IS tie others were out of hearing s'she is to bc congratulated, dear girl. Tie general is fine fellow, and imrlense- ly rich.'
 The count leant with a tender ern- phasis on the last two words.
 II have heard," said Max. But is it too late, count? ?"
 What too late?" calculated the other.
 ssx-o,, .,,,,s+ 1,,,oy,, e.;d SFax- ss414