The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-30
young man in uniform-an open, kind.

| young man III VullOfm-dD open, klDO-
ly face.
While be looked his soldier servant
entered with q tray On which was
spread tempting luncheon and a foam
ing beaker.
"Got sic dank," said Ritrme,stcr. es.
throwing himself into the easy chair.
he seized the glass. while be held
out one foot that his servant might re-
move his boot.
Good quarters, Karl. he continued,
setting down the half drained glass.
Not bad, Herr Rittmelster; plenty
OF everything but folks little sulky-
However. / have scarce been here aA
hour"
"Hence, Karl. DO not let any one
| come near me, but at five. arouse me,
If have not already reused you"
Good, Herr Rittmeister," and soon
the weary soldier was wrapped in
profound slumber, while the Junior
oficers-Von PlanitZ and First Lieu
tenant Burchardt-after an elaborate
toilet, proceeded 10 pay the visit OF re-
spect which Prusslan officers rarely
omitted, albeit cOnquerOrs received on
cOmpulsion.
When Won Steinhausen awoke the
sun had accomplished the circuit OF
the villa, and was glnting its yellow
evening rays through the qulvering
spaces of.the leaves, and touching the
water in the basin with gold.
A few minutes OF delicious con-
scious repOse, Of dreamy uncertainty
as TO where he was and how he came
there, and Karl entered with automat-
ic punctuality to rouse his master, and
lay out his dressing things.
SO the Rittmeister, recalled 10 the
realities Of existence, rose 10 dress
himself and write some letters before
joining the supper table.
The realities Of existence had not
been all rose color TO Steinhausen, but
that was his own fault.
Well born, and well endowed by ma
ture, few men had had better start;
but a dash Of fierce eagerness In his
pursuit Of whatever pleasure or whim
attracted him had led him into trouble
in various ways, and made him some
enemies, and want OF wholesome
checks in early youth had permitted a
crust Of pride and sellishness TO form
over the better and warmer nature
which lay beneath.
Some years before the breaking out
OF the war, Won Steinhausen had
found himself on the brink Of ruin;
gambling and other debts pressed mad
deningly upon him.
A proposed marriage with beauti-
full and wealthy widow was broken
OFF, when suddenly distant relative,
who resided too far from Berlin TO be
well Informed as TO his kinsman's do
ings, died. leaving the whole of his
large property to the drowning lieu
tenant
From that day Won Steinhausen was
different man-harder, stcadier in q
sense. and certainly a better member
Of society.
The fair widow made some graceful
advances. which Won Stcinhausen had
politely, but positively ignored, and now
he had won for himself high reputa-
ton, not merely for courage, but for
solderly ability.
His toilet finished, his rich Red Hus.
sar uniform, thickly laced with gold
accurately adjusted he sat down 10
write his letters before leaving the
room.
A tail figure. every inch q soldiers,
with deep dark eyes cleaning under
black brows, and crisp, dark-brown
hair clustering round somewhat rug
ged temples; face sunburnt to almost
Eastern swath!ness. and lined here and
there as man OF his age ought not
to be; his mouth was hidden 10y n
heavy dark mustache. through which
white teeth cleaned when he laughed,
ms he often did, not without touch OF
scorn, and without any accompanying
soiiitss in the eyes.
1t was the hour Of universal repose
in Germany. The confused murmur
of sound he had heard when he first
awoke had gradually died away, and
profound stiffness made itself felt.
After his third letter Steinhausen
laid down his pen, and leaned back i'll
his chair 10 enjoy the delicious silence.
Presently sound stole upon the
stiffness like a gentle ripple over the
face Of a sleeping babe.
Max Won Steinhausen listened, and
then tapped his boot in time TO the
well.known German air:
... "When I come. when como, y"
''' When | come back again
very softly and sweetly sung-so softly
that but for the extreme quiet Of the
afternoon hour il would not have
reached Steinhausen's ear.
TO he continued.