St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-01-03
The Story
| of the Ghost
BY MAURICE Won H0LLENBECK.
DARON MAX Won VELDENZ, of

DARON MAN Won VELDENZ, of
- the cavalry of the German i'm
perlal guard, despite his massive
frame and his six feet three in his
stockings, was much perturbed in
mind. 1t was fine morning in June,
ana he held in his hand dainty note
winch had come to him by the first
Berlin post. He had got away from
Inc mess table to mediate in the pri-
'acy OF his own rooms on the missive.
The face which short hour ago
was radiant with health and cheer
lnlness was now drawn and haggard.
1t was not long, this perturbing
note, and ran as follows:
My own darling Max-Your.E Eva is
broken hearted. \ bolt out of the
hiue has suddenly descended, blight
ing the tender flower of our happy
nope. How wept since the news of
doom came over Goethe's Violet SO
cruelty crushed by the callous and
needless stranger! But, dearest
Max, the Won Salitz family is poor;
SO, alas! ever dear one, are you. But
still what happiness seemed in store
Tor loving hearts until Gen. Helm Won
Grubsch came here! He is one of the
Won Grubsches of Dusseldorf, and is
immensely rich. He is of grave,
sel1-contained aspect, and with a
heavy mustache, has round
trimmed beard. He is not altogether
displeasing in appearance, but, my
cwn Max, what of that? do not
love him; l love you, and you only.
Eut papa came to me last night and
says, Baron Helm Won Grubsch has
asked for your hand. He is wealthy
ard powerful. He will restore Salitz
castle: You must marry him, Eva
y, my Max, the nightingale sang last
night, and l SO sad. Come, o, my
own one, see my father. Tell him of
our love, and surely he will relent.
Your loving, broken hearted,
EVA Won SALITZ.''
Max Won Veldenz decided on the
spot to obtain weeks leave, and
congratulated himself on being first
1avorite 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, a romance
IL stone EMPOWERED in fairyland of
forest.
Along the edge of the deep trans
lucent lake there ran a sylvan path,
with here and there cunningly con-
trived rustic arbor-a happy spot
known well from their childhood to
Max and Eva. 1t stood midway be-
tween the rugged grandeur of
Neldenz castle and the picturesque
structure which was the home of the
last Won Salitz. This sylvan path
stretched now before Max like leafy
tunneling, along which he saw Eva
advancing swiftly to meet him. But
how sad, disconsolate she looked,
how different from the Eva of the
joyous Easter tide. His loving heart
yearned towards her in her sorrow,
became more entrancingly beautiful
through that veil of fearful thought
which seemed to wrap her round.
She shrank from his embrace, as
she would have done from a sacrilege
His heart sank within him; he knew
he was too late.
"You are betrothed, Eva? You are
to be his wife?" '-"
1T is SO, Max. My father besought
me, weeping. 1t 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 l were sel1-willed,
and wander forth a beggar. All, Max,
it was terrible to hear him talk so,
he, my father"
He scarcely knew what to say. He
owed something to himself, 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 brusquely interrupted
by a resonant voice. ..,r,rs' -
"Why, am l dreaming? Why, this
is surely Max Won Veldenz! Why,
Max, thought you were dazzling the
Berliners with your Workmanship or
exercising your squadron. Let me
introduce you" .aHa.. a,. - b. =.
Eva had gone a shade paler. Max,
when he turned, recognized the aris-
tocratic face and figure of Count Won
Salitz. Beside him stood military
looking man, whom he guessed from
rva's description to be his rival. Z
eral the Baron Helm Won Grubsch,
CAPTAIN the Baron Max Won Veldenz.
We have been close nei ghbors all our
lives, general, as l have told you.'
.And now, Eva" continued the
count, when the ceremony of intro
dnction was over, Ego on to the cas-
tie with the general, while l bring up
the rear with Max"
"You have heard of Eva's betrothal,
MAXI" said the count as soon as the
others were out of hearing. "She is
to be congra tulated, dear girl. The
General is a fine fellow, and immense.
~ rich"
,,hasis on the last two words.
"I have heard" said Max. but is
= too late, count?'
what too late?' calculated the
other. =, ..,
,you must know" said Max, chat
, hove loved Eva ever since we We're
children. And, count, that affection
- mine was returned. Is it not hard
~ senarate our hearts, count? l am
- rich. but have enough, and who
,nows?-some of my mothers broth
ers nre wealthy. Count, do you know
80, cad YOU have made life for me