The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-01
R~ MRS.
PART II. I.
Continued.

pay, SdIu SttLAudusVh: WIZ hoo WA
trived to secure a table suited to a
tete-a-tete supper, and was attending
assiduously to the wants Of bis com
panion.
Here's to our speedy and complete
fusion!
ITO a United Germany, Eb. meme
Gnadige? l think Saxony is we'll dis
posed to rest under the shadow of the
Black ,iagle."
"You think So" she said. IN a tone
of dissent, yet not refusing to cliDh
her glass against his.
THAT is your deep-rooted conceit.
You account for all shades of national
feeling in the way least offensive to
your self-love.
Hanover shows herself q sullen IT.
seconcilable-that is but q narrow ia
naticiSm, which binds her to the ad-
yantages of union with her powerful
neighbor.
"Saxony, enduring her anguish in
the silence of pride, is supposed to hug
her chains.
"Ah, Major Won Steinhausen, long
years will elapse before the forced fu-
sion you exult in becomes real broth
erhood."
$50 your ideas are still the same!!'
he exclaimed.
Would to Heaven you were IN
changed in every way.
But Prussia is right to seize what
she desires at the most favorable mo-
ment.
Hesitation, delay, might have blight
ed her hopes, destroyed her prospects,
as they have done mine.
"You cannot affect to misunderstood
me-" he added, as he caught a look of
astonishment in her eyes.
"You are q little enigmatical, / must
say" she replied, as a fat little man
IN uniform, came almost at q run,
across the oom to clink bis glass
against Steinhausen's.
80 glad to have you among us
again, lieber Herr Major. Six weeks
ago I never thought you would leave
the Lazaret, except feet foremost"
Thanks to your good care, my
friend"
Then more people cam to clink
glasses, and Steinhausen had to rush
to one or two distant tables to per-
from a similar ceremony, and a break
in his conversation with Lies was IN
avoidable.
Perhaps this spirit of enjoyment, per
haps q sudden return to more gener-
Gus food and drink than&he had lately
been accustomed to, combined; with the
mixture of bitterness and delight
which arose from his meeting with
Lies in her new condition, all helped to
excite in Steinhausen q reckless deter
mination to enjoy this possibly last
chance of free intercourse with his lost
love, and, coute quill coute, to express
his feelings to her before they separ-
ated.
Something in her and bear
ing gave him an underlined sense Of en-
enlargement.
His ~scarce-veiled admiration was not
repuised with the cold dignity he
would have expected from Lies as a
wife.
She was certainly glad to see him,
and even her contradictions and con-
tentions We're more playful and indul-
gent than formerly.
Why had she allowed herself to be
drawn or forced into marriage with a
fellow in every way inferior to her?
Why had be (Steinhausen) not sought
her out more perseveringly?
Life had evidently gone hard with
the kindly family of Bergfelder since
those sunny autumn days of four years
back, and hence perhaps this accused
marriage.
At this point he drove away, with an
effort, those whirling, intersecting cir,
tles of thought, and fastened back to
his partner.
."There!r' he cried. Il think l have
touched glasses with all my Bernstadt
acquaintance, and 1 may repose my
self.
There is a beautiful moonlight view
from q balcony next the cardroom."
Are you prudent to risk cold while
you are still a convalescent?" she
asked.
mo- returned Steinhausen, with an
expressive glance. mo cold will touch
me tonight. But you-" He caught
up a large fur-lined mantle as they
passed a stand full of helmets and
military cloakS. You have not the
same safeguard, and at least for an
other blessed hour you are my care"
Lies made no reply, and they reached
the balcony in silence.
Steinllausen carefully wrapped the
cloak lie carried around the slight
figure of his companion, and they stood
@ moment contemplating the scene.
The garden and lower portion of the
town sloped somewhat steeply dow1
from the Burgomeister's residence, the
s~now-laden, frozen trees nearest gilt
tering in the CLEANS of light from the
brightly illuminated house; then came
the irregular. pointed snowy roofs, ant
beyond, the great quiet hills, sleeping
I'm the silvery beams poured upon then
from the now sinking moon.
at is lovely" said Lies, softly.
"When last we looked on a fair seen,
together" began Steinhausen, quickly
II was doubtful, anxious, but not hope
less!
why were You so unsympathetic. 81
uncommunicative: 4 word Of eIpiana
tion might have saved me much suf