The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-01-20
Ru MRS. ALExANDE

impatience.
supper was over, and not ChaDc,
had offered itself for cross-examining
az he had intended with coDdescendin,
gallantry, the fair girl or woman, wh'
had 80 excited his fancy
How was he TO open up his advance
II another opportunity offered, whei
| she had so severely rebukcd him.
OF course an abject apology nigh
too seriously vexed with her, with him
self-everything, 10 Ike admitting be
was in the wrong.
He feared he had outraged the po
liteness due 10 hosts, even on com.
pulsion.
lie tried 10 tell himself that tho
whole affair was not worth a thought
that tomorrow the whim woDld have
passed away. and even while he rea'
sODed thus sagely he watched with
almost fierce eagerness for her return.
But only the lively little Gerichtsa mt
mann re-eDtered after escorting his
visitors to their carriage.
Even enemies in the shape Of guests
were almost welcome to the kindly,
h0spitable Herr Cheering.
lie advanced, rubbing his hands
cheerfuliy, and performing one or two
bows. while he struggled TO maintain
the grave and cold aspect he thought
suited TO the circumstances, but under
which rippled the bright, kindly smile
he could not quite suppress.
HE trusted the Herrschaft had been
duly provided with all they required.
lie saw that already they had supper
ended. He would not detain the Herrn.
AT a disordered table TO sit is not agree
able. Pray go into the salon, my wife
will lead you there" at which hint the
silent hostess rose and preceded her
guests to the adjoining room.
There was something OF quiet sad
ness in the lady's bearing which i'm
pressed the Prussian Ofiicerswith kind
ly respect, and Burchardt suggested
in quick aside TO the Rttmeister that
it might be as well if they retired 10
their own apartments.
mo; certainly not. II is more agree.
able here" he replied, sharply.
Eyes. much more agreeable" echoed
the others.
Fahnrich and the lhree officers
grouped themselves near the quiet
lady OF the house, who had already
taken refuge in her knitting Conver-
sation proving somewhat difficult, Won
Planitz and Burchardt wandered away
to smoke in the veranda; for though
In the salon the lamp was necessary, q
splendid harvest moon made the gar
den and surroundings silyery clear.
Steinhausen, however, stood his
ground and tried every possible sub.
Ject with bis uDcommuplcatIye com.
paniOn.
He praised the villa and the scenery,
the richness OF the crops he had noticed
in passing through the country. the
fine flock of geese he had seen making
their way across the yard; but neither
thing like hearty response.
At last Stcinhausen took up the fam
lily photograph album, thinking he had
sufficiently paved the way TO the suD-
ject upper most in his thoughts.
"These family books are very inter
esting," he said, opening. IL like TO
trace the same type OF face through
varying forms. You have some very
charming portraits here. May be
permitted TO guess. from the likeness
to yourself. that this young gentleman
is your son?" showing the cadet be-
fore mentioned.
He is" returned Frau Cheering,
with sigh.
And here, no doubt is your Frau.
lein daughter" returned Steinhausen,
proceeding trumphantly, az he
thought, 10 acquire all the information
he SO much coveted, and pointing 10
the unsatisfactory portrait OF Lies
above described.
said the lady. with a tremor in her
voice.
Bite, bite" she added. with dep.
recatory motion of the hand.
ASK me no more about these pho
tographs; there are memories which
prevent my speaking OF them with the
calmness j ought TO show before n
stranger and she knitted little more
rapidly than before.
Steinhausen had nothing for il but
with a politely expressed apology on
his lips, and wrath in his heart-to
shut the book. and fall back on the
crops and the geese.
His unusual patience. however, did
not go unrewarded.
In a few minutes Clarchen entered
the room.
"Go. dear" said Fran Cheering. "call
Lies hither; am but poor company"
and, gathering up her knitting, she
left the room.
Lies is coming" said Clarchen.
standing irresolutely 10y the veranda
door, strongly tempted 90 join the
agreeable Won Planitz without: but a
dim sense OF what was due TO pa.
triotism and propriety held her back.
Steinhausen rose.
Young ladies of the "BackGschchen"
period were not 10 his taste. but for
the moment she was of importance.
And what do you do with yourself.
my Fraulein." he asked. good -humor.
edly, "all day long in thi- quiet place:
no concerts. no theater. no classes"
And lie pushed forward n chair for
her. seating himself on the ottoman as