The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-09
n~ MRS.. tALEoSANpER.,

4
now that they kept on Indifferent
topics.
She was evidently familiar with the
country and gave him many partieu-
| lars Of its history and traditions.
At length, as Steinhausen was be-
ginning to think they had had enough
Of Indifferent subjects. and that his
| fair companion was rather too much
at her ease, the road, which had hith-
erto been constantly ascending, ap-
preached the first rocky, pine
sprinkled hills that guarded the en-
trance to the valley and village which
was the object Of the excursion, and
began to descend the side Of pictur-
| esque gorge, at the bottom of which
in summer time gurgled and chafed a
| little stream, now still and silent in the
iron grasp of winter.
The hills rose high at either side,
studded with huge gray rocks which
stood out on all kinds Of fantastic
shapes, loaded with snow on one side
and bare on the other, as the wind
| had drifted; the great solemn pine
trees looked dark and weird over the
exquisite dazzling white which shroud-
ed the earth; the death-like. utter ST.
lence was almost oppressive.
They might have been the first hui
man visitors that had ever broken
in upon the profound solitude, SO far
as appearance went.
A sense Of their complete isolation
seemed to force itself upon Lies Gehr-
ing.
she turned once or twice to look
back and said:
How far we have left the rest be-
hind"
eyes; they win not be up for this
half-hour," returned Steinhausen, cool
| ~. but that is no matter. What
curious rocks" pointing to gray mass
high above their heads and in front of
them.
at is called the 'Basket-woman.' I"
she replied, land here on the left is
the Stein Book
"See! you can trace the head and
horns quite well. The shapes Of the
rocks here are very curious"
VERY curious, indeed" said Stein
hansen, looking about him. 'They are
strangely worn anu cut.
Learned people say that great
lake or sea once filed up this valley
and the country round, and these rocks
are worn and shaped my the action of
tides and currents.
II believe Bohemia was once an in
land sea, and we are close to the from
tier.'
"Close to the gborders?" replied Stein
hausen, laughing and cracking his
whip.
ut is temptation to cross It. and
bid our party a long farewell"
And glancing at his companion, he
laughed again at the expression, half
annoyance, half fear, that crossed her
face.
"You believe me capable Of any wick
edness, l suppose" he continued.
"Do you not also believe that, what
ever temptation may assail me, my
first thought is and ever will be for
you?
"You may trust in my deep regard
for you"
Lies was silent, and when she spoke
again it was to direct him which Of
two rather faint tracks to take.
They had traversed the windings of
the gorge, which now opened out in
an oblong valley or basin, at one side
Of which was small ''Dorf." the
houses looking like white hillocks
above the universal snowy mantle that
lay thick and soft upon the earth.
Over the village lowered sudden
mighty mass of rock rising six or seven
hundred feet quite clear from all the
other hills and crowned by the grace
| full ruins of q "Kloster.''
The sides were plentifully dotted
with pines and gnarled fir trees; but
here ard there great sheer surfaces Of
rock showed bare and uncouth with
q sort Of savage strength.
Underneath the read wound past the
first outlying better houses, through
the narrow street, and finally. by Lies
directions, they stopped at larger
and more pretentious "Restauration'
THAI could have been expected in SO
small q place.
| 1t was built on the side Of the hill OF
rock, and was reached by q fight OF
steps.
| The view over the valley was very
charming, and the principal room was
| quite surrounded by windows that
commanded it.
| a respcctable-looEing woman was
standing at the door to receive them
while within. warm stove and long
tables spread for coffee, with endless
piles Of cakes. showed they were ex
pected.
Stcinhcusen threw the reins to his
groom and assisted Lies to disentanglt
herself from her wraps and to alight
then the horse and sleigh were led CT
to the stables, and they assembled the
steps to the little terrace before the en-
trance to the "Restauration."
Here Lies paused. and looking bach
along the road by which they had JUS
come, said, rather anxiously:
II can see no sign Of them yet"
s'I thought heard faint sound Of
music,s returned Steintausen; "they
are not far off," he continued, ani
ventured to add:
care you afraid Of Herr Haupt
mann's displeasure at our demarch 2
sNot at ALP she answered; he is fal
100 fnt4ch 0cruniod with Erpfchnn II