The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-21
young man in uniform-an open, kind

young man in uniform-an open, kind
" face. .
While he looked his soldier servant
entered with a tray on which was
spread tempting luncheon aHQ a foam
ing beaker.
Got sic dank," said Rittne.stey, as,
throwing himself into the easy chair.
he seized the glass, While he 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 Rittmeister; plenty.
of everything. but folks a little sulky.
However, I have scarce been here an
hour"
Hence, Karl. Do not let any n
come near me. bat at five arouse me,
if 1 have not already reused you"
"Good. Herr Rittmeister," and soon
the weary soldier was wrapped III
profound slumber. while the Junior
oficers-Von Planitz and First Lieu
tenant Burchardt-after an elaborate
toilet, proceeded to pay the visit OF re-
spect which Prussian officers rarely
omitted, albeit conquerors received Oh
c%ompulsion.
When Won S~ieinhausen awoEe the
sun had accomplished the circuit OF
the villa. and was GlintinS its yellow
evening rays through the GulFerlnS
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
Law out his dressing things.
So the Rittmeister, recalled TO the
realities of existence. rose to 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 we'll endowed by ma
ture. few men had had q better start;
but q dash of fierce eagerness in his
pursuit OF whatever pleasure or whlm
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 selfishness to form
owe the better and warmer nature
which lay beneath.
Some years before the breaking out
of the war. Won ~Steinhausen mad
found himself OF the brink OF ruin;
gambling and other debts pressed mad
deningly upon him.
4 proposed marriage with a beautl-
full and wealthy widow was broken
off; when suddenly q 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 S~teinhausen was
a different man-harder. steadier in a
sense, and certainly a better member
of society.
The fair widow made some graceful
advances. which Won Steinhausen mad
politely, but positively ignored. and now
he had won for himself a high reputa-
ton, not merely for courage, but for
soldierly ability.
His toilet finished, his rich Red Hus.
sar uniform, thickly laced with gold.
accurately adjusted. be sat down to
write his letters before leaving the
room.
A tail figure. every inch a soldiers
with deep dark eyes cleaning under
black brows, and crisp, dark-broWn
hair clustering round somewhat rug
ged temples; a face sunburnt to almost
Eastern s%wathiness, and lined here n
there as a man of his age ought not
to be; his mouth was hidden by a
heavy dark mustache. through which
white teeth cleaned when he laughed,
as he often did. not without a touch or
scorn, and without any accompanying
softness in the eyes.
1t was the hour Of universal Tepose
in Germany. The confused murmur
of sound he had heard whom he first
awoke had gradually died away. AND
profound stiffness made itself felt.
After his, third letter S~teinhauSen
laid down his pen. and leaned back in
his chair to enjoy the delicious silence.
Presently a 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 &C the
well-known German air:
"When I come. when I comes
When I come back again. g.
very softly. and sweetiy sung--so softly
that but for the extreme quiet Of the
afternoon hour it would not Fave
reached SteiAhausen's ear.
To be continued.