The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-02
~ MRs. ALE2SAMpER.

|
She re-entered the cardroom, and as
Steinhausen assisted her to take off
the cloak he noticed that she had
turned very pale and her hands trem-
bled.
"You have taken cold!' he. exclaimed.
II should not have asked you to go out
there"
ut is nothing, Herr Major-a mo-
mentary chill"
'.Ha, meme quite Freundenw cried
the Burgomeister, a little breathless
from mounting the stairs. II have
been looking for you everywhere.
Herr Major, you have your horses
here, NIGHT wahr?
"We have just been arranging a
sleighing party for to-morrow-to Fal-
kenberg. Herr Adjutant Stromer will
be the leader. You will join us, will
you mott"
with pleasure, gewiss! do not
care what Kiesburg- the doctor
says"
He comes, tool He says it is all
right.
I'VE assemble at noon, here in the
market place, and"-to Lies, as he
rubbed his hands exultingly the
Hauptmann has consented to stay over
another day."
So saying, he hustled away to COM
piete his arrangements.
You will be my companion, will you
not?" asked Steinhausen, eagerly.
IL fear cannot" said Lies, hest
tatingly
"The party was spoken OF before
supper, and / promised the Adjutant
to accompany him, only Otto did not
think he could remain-but I suppose
Gretchen wishes to go.''
A slight sigh, which Steinhausen In
terpreted hastily to mean that Greet
chen, the little dark-eyed, doll-like
cousins wishes were paramount to
hers.
What scoundrel, to have such
pearl, such a priceless jewel, and not
to prize her beyond all else!
'Oh, suppose he thought you did
not care about sleighing," suggested
Steinhausen, his heart beating at the
possibilities suggested by this indif-
ference.
ooh, he knows like it-better than
almost anything else"
"Can you not manage to throw over
Stromer, or-will you leave it to me?'
think the engagement had much
better stand"
Lies forgive me; cannot call you
by any other name you are unspeak-
ably cruel.
''In week or two must rejoin my
regiment. l may never look upon your
sweet face again. Right or wrong
grant me this hour Of happiness come
in my Sleigh
II would be wiser and better should
not" she returned in a low tone, and
Steinhausen felt her arm tremble in
his; and you--you must not, ought
not, to forget the barrier of which you
spoke"
They paused in the doorway to ex-
change these words, and the band just
then began the delightful "Soldaten
Lieder Valse."
Steinhausen's keen eye caught the
figure Of the detested Hauptmann lean
ing over chair on which the pretty
little cousin was sitting, his eyes, bear
ing, attitude, all expressive of the
warmest, tenderest feeling-he glanced
at his companion, and saw that she,
too, observed it.
swell, wellr' thought Steinhausen,
with all the eager fire Of his nature, lis
there no way Of severing these tangled
cords?"
But he only said, as the magic of
the music extinguished his small re-
naming stock of prudence:
SAT least grant a last request; the
worst criminals are not refused that;
one turn-a first, and perhaps last,
tour de valse.''
Lies made no reply, but as he put
his arm round her she raised her hand
to his shoulder, and they whirled away,
Of doctors, barriers and all
other considerations, floating to the de
licious music!
A sudden bump brought Steinhau-
sen's thoughts at last down to earth,
or rather the parquet.
1t was the Hauptmann and his IA
vorite cousin, who were looking into
each others eyes. and Enthusiastically
happy.
They sailed on Indifferent to the col
lision, but, In the sudden effort to hold
up his partner, Steinhausen felt the
quick beat of her heart against his
own, as no doubt the sight Of such
evident faithlessness must have cut
her to the soul.
mo, do not stop yet; once more
round" as she made a slight motion
as If to stop; and he continued in low,
deep tones:
IF forbidden anything beyond, at
least accept friendship the most de-
voted.
II see and understand all; and re-
member, IL can in any way tighten
your sorrows, you may command my
life"
He pressed her passionately to lis
heart
"Major Won Steinhausen, this is too
much" she returned. stopping reso-
lutely
'You disturb and distress me.
aYou should not forget the obliga-
lions Of which you have yourself
spoken.
ar soawoa1v ,,7,dorstond van TsroYnssn