New-York tribune., 1902-12-29

When Mildred the Erglish wife Of Anthony,
Count Harburg returned TO her fatners nome IN
the summer of the year 1884. it was generally
understood by the family that she had come upon
a welcome but temporary visit Mildred nsrsel
never said a word which could give color to an
other opinion. nor did she suggest by a woeoegone
appearance or a manner of distress that marriage
had not gone well with Anthony and herself She
talked openly OF her husband. she had amusing
stories TO tell of the Court Of Hanover and the
great people who came there and the pompous
ceremonies initiated from Versailles: and these
stories she told without a shadow of enbarrass-
ment- She could even speak of the mystery and
scandal of Philip Konigsmarcks disappear
ance
We may nope he is yell out OF the world" said
her father old Colonel ChantreII. who had fought
through the siege of Tangier. and could never for
get There of his stamp in our little
crowded town Not of them but was a curse
! have doubt Philip k0nigsmarck was
curse to very many
ITO very many. sir. indeed returned Mildred
Even TO women whom he spoke with But
she made her statement in calm and natural a
voice that not OF those present attached a
particular significance to the words.
1t became apparent. however. that something had
occurred For summer sobered into autumn, and
autumn grew dreary, the paths beneath the trees
of the park became litter of russet leaves, the
mists crept up from the Channel and wound in and
among the stems-and still Mildred did not
return to Hanover. Her father. who at once
adored and feared her. very we'll content TO
see his favOrtte daughter In her old seat at the
breakfast table. and asked no questions There
were younger sisters however. who not
pleased. Mildred had more than her share OF the
family good looks and she had way with her, be-
sides She had wish to usurp; but inside the
house and in the county outside she was forced
into usurpaton- The younger sisters grew restive.
and one Of them at last put the question directly
and resentfuIly during dinner.
When do you return TO Hanover
Il shall not return Mildred answered
Bless my souII" exclaimed Colonel ChantreT-
| Then Anthony Will be coming to Englaud?
Il am not aware Of it," said Mildred
Colonel Chantreu blessed his soul again But he
| saw his daughters dark eyes resting quietly upon
| his face and apparently daring him 10 ask
| more questions. He thought the whole that
| silence was the proper paternal course to follow
| IN such remarkable circumstances The sister.
| however, not easily deferred
| Have you left Anthony, them" she asked
| No Anthony has left me- Mildred answered.
and then of her accord she told her story. She
| had the natural desire Of woman to hide the
| signs of suffering, and she shrank from pity as
| from hot iron II had indeed been almost a
pleasure to her during these last months notice
| how her old companions envied her for the good
fortune OF her marriage which set her in so brill
| liant a company Therefore she spoke now in the
| caImest voice and with just look in her eyes to
| warn her audience that sympathy would not be
| gratefully received Surprise, however. not sym
| pathy, uppermost in those who listened
| There must be explanation, they exclaimed
|
| that any explanation was needed II was all quite
| obvious and simple and clear. Even that last vain
| journey through the pine forest and villages did
| not perpIex her. it had something dreanlike which
was quite IN keeping with the rest And certainly
| no exclamation was discovered Mildred re-
manned quietly in the house From her window she
overlooked that very in the bay which had had
| SO much TO do with her mistake, but 1t sent no
| second change in her fortunes She was twenty
| four when she told her story in the year 1884 but
| ha5 bay,r rhraz before
| Of All Halloween
II a night seasonaby cold and the sisters.
with a few guests who were staying. were glad 10
gather about the great log fire burning in the hall
| Then the conversation turned upon the old tradi-
tion that 4 girl who was destined marry within
the twelve months would. II she ate apple look
Ing into her mirror o'clock that night, see
| her husband over her left shoulder Mildred
ChantreI argued neither for against the belief
| she listened quietly without indeed. taking part
| in the discussion but she to carry an
apple up with her to her room And certainly
she left the freside before the rest; although IN
the heat the discussion her disappearance passed
| for a whlle unnoticed by the others
As matter OF fact II was a quarter to nine
| when she went upstairs She locked the door. set
| a couple Of lighted candles upon her dressing
| table one on each side OF her looking glass, and
| having made these arrangements IN u1ethodfcal
| wav she drew up her chair the fire and waited
| for the hour TO strike. She waited as quietly as
she had listened 70 the debate in the hail. without
| increduity. and at the same time without any
eagerness OF expectation But as soon as the clock
| ,rou the stables began chime the hour she took
her stand before the mirror and ate her apple.
For few moments she nothing in the depths OF
| the looking glass She indeed upon the verge
os turning away. at all disappointed. as she
had not been expectant, when II seemed 70 her that
son1ethinz moved behind her in the room She
saw to-, gle1n Of red. She bent forward toward
the nirrC
But she had placed the candles too much in front
OF IT, and II threw back the light OF them upon her
ewes and made impossible for her to clearly
into shadows OF the behind She understood
her mistake and moved the candles further away
| on each side She saw clearly The gleau1 Of
red was scarlet coat. and above 1t in the darkness
she saw the whiteness OF face man Of the
| middle height and OF ordinary proportions stood
behind her in the shadows OF the But Mil