The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-04-11
~ MRS. ALE,<ANDERy

Steinhausen took it, broke the seal,
and opening It, glanced at its contents,
look of fierce discomfort darkenine
his brow as he read; then, crushing il
somewhat in his hand, said to his
brother officers:
1--WE march early tomorrow, gentle
men. We must be in Dresden by
noon:''
Then to the soldier:
"You can go. have no further
orders"
"Hans, take him to the kitchen; give
him food and drink" said the kindly
Frau Cheering.
.'March to-lnorrowt' cried Burchardt
"That is a misfortune! One would
like to rest a month long in such a
heavenly house as yours, gnadige
Frau
"And no chance for a ride now, lieber
Fraulein," said the Fahnrich to Clar-
chen.
"Does any other party succeed to
yours?" asked Lies.
Zach! / am sorry" exclaimed the
hospitable Gerichtsamtmann.
1--WE shall not soon find gentlemen
so courteous and accommodating as
yourselves" to which civility Burch-
ardt made 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 elucidation 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 mel ! did not hear"
81 merely asked if the view from the
balcony above answers your expecta-
tons, Herr Rittmeister
what viewy' asked Steinhausen,
quickly. IT have not yet had chance
of seeing it"
"Why, Lies" cried her father, i'm
patiently, why did you neglect my
request2
"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. / would gladly accom-
pany you; but letters 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 floor.
Here the Prussian officer exclaimed:
II believe it would only be polite in
me to relieve you from the perform
ance of a 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 land so little esteemed
by your countrymen."
Little esteemed! Why do you say
sop
THAT is of no consequence. Pray
follow nae, and confess that Saxony at
least has beauty Of which you cannot
deprive her.
She smiled as che spoke with some
thing Of a Jest and earnest, preceding
him upstairs and through another
salon which Steinhausen had not yet
seen.
The long French windows OF this
apartment opened on balcony which
ran along the north side of the house,
and, passing through one Of them,
Lies leant against the balustrade, and
with silent but expressive gesture
stretched cut her hand toward the
wide landscape, and then let it slowly
fall to her side.
Pre-cccupied as Ste,nhausen was by
his eagerness to Improve this prob
ably last tete-a-tete with the object of
his admiration, he was for few Sec
onds riyeted by the unusual beauty Of
the view before him.
Below relied the broad silver silent
highway" Of the Elbc.
A wide-spreading plain to the left
was sprjnklcd with villages, each clus-
tcring round church or tower; and far
away the domes and steeples Of the
capital were Cirlly disceraible.
At the other side of the river the
banks stretched more O. less steeply
,,v - 4ha fcracf bainhfc which aC0in
led up to the bohemian mountains; and
to the right, like isolated giants, stood
the rocky masses OF the Sillenstein,
and the royal, fortress-crowned Ko-
nigstein, all stepped in the golden haze
OF a glowing autumnal sunset, all
sleeping in a 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 ciasped
hands.
At length a low sigh, unconsciously
breathed, struck on the Rittmeister's
ear.
He turned his dark, stern eyes upon
the figure beside him.
''To-morrov, he began, in a softer
tone than usual, and paused-''to NOR
row, then, 1 leave BergfeldcG, and per
haps may never dgain behold this
loneliness" (Hers or that OF the
oaa4er, d