The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-13
PART II. CHAPTER 20 IN
Continued.

The whist party were soon occupied
with their game, but not so absorbing
ly as to prevent a good deal of talk
between the deals and rubbers.
The first game was nearly over;
Steinhausen had just settled his cards.
when, raising his eyes, they fell upon
a gentleman in civil attire certainly,
but Enthusiastically soldier from his
bearing, standing in the doorway op-
posite
While Steinhausen looked he turned
and walked across the room, and the
Major perceived that his right coat
sleeve was empty from below where
the elbow ought to have been.
The face-a broad, strong, sensible
countenance, with hOnest-looking
brown eyes, aeemed quite familiar to
Steinhausen.
Another moments thought, and the
water-color portrait which had inter
ested him 30 painfully during his short
but memorable sta- 1T Villa Bellevue
came back distinctly to his minds
eye.
Yes. it was the original of that we'll
remembered picture who had just
passed; if so, where then was his wife
or fiancee?
Won Steinhausen felt as If there had
been no cessation in his interest and
curiosity since he bad spurred his
horse in bitter impatience, and with a
sense of defeat, away from the sleepy
little village of Bergfelder, so vividly
did the old feeling spring again into
being at this unexpected rencontre.
His first impulse was to call Burch-
ardt's attention to this one-armed
stranger; but he recollected in time
that probably his comrade had never
seen or noticed the picture.
Pray, Herr Doctor" he said, 1urn-
ing slightly in his chair, "who is the
gentleman who has just passed? :!
think l know his face
"Which?'' said the doctor, throwing
down the ace of hearts with triumph
ant thump.
'TOh, the man that has lost his arm;
there he is, talking to lady with the
Tower of Babel in curls on her head"
"Oh, that man! No! I don't know
him; he is a stranger; the Burgomeis-
ter has mixed gathering tonight.
HE must come from distance; he
is no Bernstadter.
Won Steinhausen forced himself to
give his full attention to the game.
Time enough to hunt up the stranger
afterward.
But though Steinhausen played well
and won the game, his fancy teemed
with images of the past and conjec-
lures of the future
Was he really to meet the Saxon
heroine, VINO had charmed him, as the
wife Of another
And, if so, hoT would she receive
alim?
Looking back after the lapse Of a
few years. and in the cOOlness of retro
spection, he confessed to himself that
the fiery impulse he had permitted to
master him must have seemed little
like insanity to The object CT her adora-
tion.
Still his heart beat quickly as he rose
from the table the winner Of nearly a
thaler tstakes We're not high in Bern
Btadt,. and looked about for some one
to question.
The gentleman who had reused these
memories had disappeared.
"Burchardt," said Major von Stein
8hausen. Il wish you would try to find
out who it, is that is minus his arm.
though a civilian.
Il fancy he is connected with our
Bergfelder friends
as it possible?'' cried Burchardt.
with much animation. How! Why
do you think so:''
Il will tell you after returned his
friend.
Come, let us have look at The
dancers"
He caught glimpse Of himself as be
spoke in long glass, and thought:
My fair foe must have good men,
ory if she recognizes me-" for the re-
Election given back was Of tall figure.
considerably thinner, paler, more
gaunt-lookins than of old, with thick
beard covering the lower part Of his
face.
The ballroom was now quite full, and
fhe company therein assembled was
whirlinS and floating to the sound Of
the Blue Danube" wa!ta, and for q
few minutes Burchardt and Stein
hansen looked Oh; then the former
moved away TO speak 10 some ac-
luaintance and Won Steinhausen, sunk
in deep thought. saw the forms Of the
dancers as i'll 9 dream.
Suddenly the Burgoueister spoke 20
him.
They Keep il ur saply. Herr Major
he said
Il thirk we have good snow Of
beauty. ] wish you could joia them
The fairest maiden of them ali
would be pleased to have one Cf the
heroes al tyeudu IOI Il tdNdllei.
That measure is Impossible for rne.
Herr BurgCmeiSter, returned Stein
hausen, Sravely.
But tell me who is The gentleman I
observed upstairs. soldieTly-lookin
man, though in civil dress, who has lost
an ARM
"Oh! tEG: is 7 Saxon neighbor Of
onrs-a relation Of my wife's-E err
Hauptmann Cheering; he is here with
his wife and sister. think, young