The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
Rx MRS. KAN

| uuNSI-Sld1uCu llooPS1 Wv
ed the steps. and, saluting, handed a
dispatch to Rittmeister.
Steinhausen took it, broke the seal,
and opening It. glanced at its contents
q look of fierce discomfort d~arkenlng
his brow as he read; then, crushing 1t
somewhat in his hand, said to his
brother officers:
I'VE march early tomorrow, gentle
men. We must be in Dresden by
noon"
Then to the soldier:
You can so. 1 have no further
orders"
Hans, take him to the Kitchen; give
him food and drink" said the kindly
Frau Cheering.
March to-llorrowt' cried B%urchardt,
"That is a misfortune! One would
like to rest a month long in such a
heavenly house as yours gnadlge
Frau j..
And no chance for a ride now, lieber
Fraulein,'' said the Fahnrich to Clar-
chen.
Does any other party succeed to
yours?' asked Lies.
"Ach! 1 am sorry" exclaimed the
hospitable Gerichtsamtmann.
I'VE shall not soon find gentlemen
so courteous and accommodating as
yourselves" to which civility Burch'
ardt made a suitable reply, and some
talk ensued, unheeded by Steinhausen,
who was sunk in profoundest silence
This order shattered his half-formed
plans; it forced him to turn his BACK
on the first morsel of real, vivid inter
est and delight that he had tasted
for years. to forego the elucidati2n OF
the mystery which tantalized and at
tracted him.
1t seemed a lifetime since the same
fierce eagerness had thrilled his nerves,
and it came back to him like renewed
youth.
A question from the judge broke the
spell and compelled his attention.
Pardon me! I did not hear"
81 merely asked if the view from the
| balcony above answers your expecta'
| tons, Herr Rittmeister"
what view?" asked Steinhausen,
| quickly. II have not yet had a chance
Of seeing it."
\ WHY: Lies cried her father, I'M
patiently, why did you neglect my
| request?
Now. perhaps, the Rittmeister may
| leave without seeing the best view
, from the villa or from anywhere else
in the neighborhood.
please conduct him at once to the
upper balcony. I would gladly accom-.
pany YOU: but letters I have neglected
| this afternoon must be written, and
pray do not miss this fine sunset
Lies rose silently, hesitated an in
slant, and then, bowling to Steinhau-
sen. led the way through the salon to
a staircase ascending to the first hoor.
Here the Prussian officer exclaimed:
IT believe it would only be polite in
me to relieve you from the perform
ance of q task so evidently unwel-
come: butt should like to see the
view of which your father spoke
ut is no unwelccme task to show you
the beauties of a land so little esteemed
by your countrymen.'
Little esteemed! Why do you say
so%
That is Of no consequence. Pray
follow ne. and confess that SaXony al
least has beauty Of which you cannot
deprive her,"
Che smiled as che spoke with some
thing Of q jest and earnest, preceding
him upstairs ard through another
salon which Steinhausen had not yet
seer.
The lcrg French windows CT this
apartment opened on a balcony which
ran along the north side or the house,
and, passing through n OF them
Lies lc:nt against the balustrade, and
With q silent but expressive gesture
stretched cut her hand toward the
wide landscape, and tScn let it slowly
fall to her side. "
P~rc.cccupied as S%te.nhausen was by
his eagernes5 to improve this prob
ably last tete-a-tete with the object OF
his admiration, he was for q few sec.
onds rivetcd by the unusual beauty OF
the view before him.
Below relied the broad silver silent
highway" Of the El5c.
A widc-sprcadirg plain to the left
was spriIklcd with villages, each clus'
tcring round church or tower; and fal
away the domes and stecples Of the
capital were Cirlly discerlible.
At tie ether side Of the river the
banks stretched more O. less steeply
up 20 the forest heights, which again
led 10 to the Bohemian mountains; and
to thc right. Like isolated giants, stood
the rocEy masses Of the Sillenstein
and the royal, fortress-crowned 40
nigstcin. all stepped il the golden haze
of q glowing autumnal sunset, al
sleeping il q stiffness so profound as
almost to be- felt.
Steinhausen looked at the fair scene
in silence. and the grave expression
of his companions face %deepened and
softcned into sadness.
She lcant her elbows on the parapet
and rested her cheek on her clasped
hands.
At length Q low sigh, unconsciously
breathed, struck On the Rittmeister's
ear.
He turned his dark, stern eyes upon
the figure beside him.
Tomorrow" he began. in a softer