The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-21
Es MRS. ~aLExANDER.J

her hand, which she held up as she
approached the steps of the veranda.
"See. dear mother. + have picked
five schock pease, so We have enough
for a regiment"
She smiled as she spoke, a bright
but very leeting smile, gone almost
before you caught the brightness; and
her face reassumed its habitual ex-
preston, thoughtful. earnest, pensive,
almost sad, with a yearning depth in
the clear blue eyes.
"A ~regimentr!' repeated Frau Cher
ing.
Part of one will 10 doubt.help to de-
YOUR them"
Hans has just told me a hussar has
been here to speak to your father-the
avant courier. I suppose, of the ex-
pected party"
What. more!!~ cried Lies, Ter coun-
tenance clouding over
when will the end come? When
shall we be relieved from these in
fictions?
1T is too hard to be obliged to lavish
on our enemies care and comfort our
own dear ones are forbidden to SHARE"
1T must be nearly over now, Lies.
But tell me, child, is all prepared
the sleeping rooms, the" LINZ;
Yes. mother, ALL"
so soon as the last left yesterday,
Suschien and I made all ready for the
| newcomers. whom my father thought
might arrive.
You may trust me-"
Il dol always do, Liebling.
"You are the best of little Haus-
Fraus."
The young lady kissed her hand to
the mother.
Il will take these pease to the kit
chem she said, land look once more
to our good Marie's preparations.
I'VE must be we'll provided for such
visitors"
She walked away with a quiet dig
nity. of movement which hardly suit
ed her youthful face and figure.
An hour later, and the quiet little vii
lage was all alive with soldiers and
horses, the rattle of sabres and jim
gle Of accoutrements.
Before every door groups of weary,
dusty men and horses were gathered,
seeking quarters and presenting bill
lets.
A party Of ten or fifteen, followed by
two officers. slowly rode up the hill to
Villa Bellevue.
The officers. distinguished looking
men in spite of their travel-stained as
pect, laughed and talked cheerily. en-
livened by the prospect of rest and re-
freshment, as they admired the view
and augured we'll for their entertain.
ment from the air of comfort and cul-
tivation which they observed.
A few yards from the gate of the
villa, the clatter of horses hoofs drew
their attention, and Herr Fahnrich v.
Planitz, the younger, and consequent
~ the most curious, turning in his sad
die. exclaimed:
1T is the Rittmeister-it is Won Stein
hansen"
Whereupon they drew rein till Joined
by another officer, evidently of the
same regiment, a tall, broad-shouldered
man. splendidly mounted, although his
charger showed signs Of hard work.
so you're here, Won S~teinhausen."
Cleared off your invalids?" were the
remarks addressed to him.
Yes. it's myself, though I dare say
I look ghostly enough. I have seen
the wounded safely housed, sent off
a report, and been in the saddle since
daybreak.
Come along, comrades. If this vii
la is our destination, it looks delicious
~ cool and shady.
What visions of iced Rhenish and
seltzer seize my brain at the sight Of it!
Come on"
So, in a deep, rich voice, with a ring
of command IN its tones, spoke Won
Steinbausen, and pressed his weary
horse up the hill, and in a few minutes
more the three officers dismounted at
the entrance of the villa, where Hans,
whose whole aspect was a silent. sto-
lid protest against the presence of the
foe, stood waiting by his mistress's
| orders to direct the military guests TO
their respective quarters.
Zach. Himmel!.' said Won Steinhau-
sen,as he swung down from the sad
die.
Il feel as if l could sleep all round
the clock. I'll just take a mouthful
and then to bed.
You must present yourselves to the
'Gnadige Frau if there is one, without
me.
Make my excuse; say / prefer sleep
to dinner. but at the 'Abend Brod' l
hope to make my bow. Adieu.
Come, old sulky, show me my
ROOM" and following Hans, he disap-
peared into the interior, his comrades
calling after him, "Schiafen Sic
wohl."
The ROOF into which the reluctant
Hans ushered Herr Rittmeister Won
Steinhausen was we'll calculated to in
vite repose.
Its windows looked upon the Hof. or
courtyard, at the other side of which
were the stables and farm Offices.
They were sheltered blythe villa it.
self from the morning sun. and fur
ther shaded by a large walnut tree,
under which q spring bubbled up and
filed a large. rough stone basin; its
overflow. escaping in a tiny rivuler,