Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-03-22
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
The INTERCEPTED LETTER

1t happen,L-this affair which I re
gret to have taken part in, but ser
wants must do what they are bid, o.
what would become Of the masters?-
upon the night of the Duchess bal
There was never a finer ball they 81.
1000 candles burnt or more; but
do not know the truth Of that. I'm
doubleday It was colossal. / remember
how the windows of the schloss twink
led with the lights early in the even
ing, when 7 went with Iians end Lud-
wig after the Frcnchman, and at that
time not half the candles were lighted.
Colossal!
/ repeat that this affair happened
upon that night. But when one begins
to recall 1t, one is compelled to admit
that II did not all happen then. Earlier
than that-perhaps week earlier
the Countess Amelia my mistress was
jealous Of the Frenchwoman, and set
me to spy upon her in the hope that
she might turn out traitor. Others
besides my mistress would have been
glad at such discovery--for example,
the Fraulein Won Alkenstein, whose
servant Ludwig was. She lost cap
able servant In Ludwig, for the
F'ranchman handled his sword well.
The reason for these high-born ladies'
jealousy is easy to explain. The
Frenchwoman had bewitched the city.
A city is not easily bewitched, you
say? | retort that beautiful woman
can effect anything. was myself
moved when saw her; and, II that is
not enough, go on to tell you of the
facts. In one week six duels were
that at a time when all about us were
wars and rumors of wars; when the
French King was in a prison, and
, Paris ito which ] afterward marched
! with the Marshal Blucher) ran red
, with blood. Six duels, mind you, and
the sixth was fought between Captain
won Gulan and Lieutenant Muller on
the very morning before the ball Who
were these gentlemen? They were the
betrothed, the one Of my mistress, the
other of that Fraulein Won Alkenstein
whom ! have mentioned. II was set
about that the duel was caused by a
quarrel over the cards and wine; but
most people knew better than to be-
lieve that. My mistress knew better,
and knew that she knew when l went
in to make my report later on that
same morning.
What have you learnt, Fredrich?"
she said, and her eyes, which were
blue and pale, had no more wink In
them than hawks.
/ was glad then that l had learnt
something, for II had not l must still
have made up some story, SO keen was
she to have some proof against the
Frenchwoman.
81 saw a man, dressed like peasant,
coming along the Rhein-strasse at dusk
last night. He stopped at the house In
which the Frenchman, Herr de st. Ar
mand, and his daughter have their
apartments; and, not seeing me, Who
was watching among the trees, made
as II to enter.
Where are you FROM said /, step
ping out. He looked fierce; then
grinned. From Wesen, SIR he said,
and l knew at once that he lied. For,
as the gracious lady may condescend
to remember, am from Wesen my
SELF"
Eyes, yes, vest" said she. What
them"
"They do not speak like that
said. He was Frenchman-I am
ready to swear it. And in my opinion
he was just then from Paris-with a
letter."
You saw the letter."
mo; but-I-I heard from one who
saw the letter-not the inside Of it,
naturally" | explained. THE person
said that 1t bore French seal. Also
that the man who brought 1t was ord
cred to wait and rest until the morrow.
Then he was to go back with another
letter."
"Ah!" The Countess dropped her
eyes then and smiled.
"You have done well! The man is
still in the town, of course?"
Hans watches him." / replied, and
she nodded and dropped into thought.
When she spoke again 1t was to this
effect:
you have done well, Friedrich; very
well; and | shall see that you are re-
warded Moreover, ! think you have
understood why | set you to watch
this Mile. de st. Armand"
Most certainly; gracious one," said
], for understood very well that 1t
was owing to her jealousy and the
rumors that were going about the city
concerning the madness OF Captain Won
Cuban for this lady. 1T Is because
Because says she, taking me up,
"in city that is SO full of foreigners,
so full of these emigres, as they call
them, one cannot be too careful of what
goes on, for 1t is not easy to dis
tinguish between the true and the false.
Among them 1t is certain that there
are spies, who send forward to this