The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-03-14

had offered itself for cross-eyamining
as he had intended with condescendini
gallantry, the fair girl or woman, wht
had so excited his fancy
How was he to open up his advances
if another opportunity offered, wher
she had so severely rebuked him?
OF course an abject apology nigh
serve to open the trenches; but he wal
too seriously yexed with her, with him
self everything, to like admitting hs
was in. the wrong.
He feared he had outraged the po
likeness due to hosts, even on com
pulsion.
He tried to tell himself that the
whole affair was not worth a thought
that tomorrow the within would have
passed away, and even while he rea
soned thus sagely he watched with
almost fierce eagerness for her return
But only the lively little Gerichtsamt
mann re-entered after escorting his
visitors to their carriage.
Even enemies in the shape Of guests
were almost welcome, to the kindly
hospitable Herr Cheering.
He advanced, rubbing his hands
cheerfully, 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
He saw that already they had supper
ended. He would not detain the Herrn.
At 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 officers with kind
ly respect, and Burchardt suggested
in quick aside to the Rittmeister that
it might be as well if they retired to
their own apartments.
mo; certainly not 1t is more agree
able here" he replied, sharply.
Eyes, much more agreeable" echoed
the others.
Fahnrich and the shree officers
grouped themselves near the quiet
lady Of the house, who had already
taken refuge infher knitting. CONVEX
sation proving somewhat difficult, Won
Planitz and Burchardt wandered away
~ nxo01yo ~ +f,e x,o~a ,,x7o . eo~ ~, ,,,r.t,
in the salon the lamp was necessary. a
splendid harvest moon made the gar
den and surroundings silvery clear.
Steinhausen, however, stood his
ground, and tried every possible sub.
ject with his uncommunicatiye 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
scenery. crops, nor geese ELECTED any
thing like hearty response.
At last Steinhausen 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. II 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 isl returned Frau Cheering,
with sigh.
And here, no doubt, is your Frau
lein daughter returned Steinhausen,
proceeding triumphantly, as he
thought, to acquire all the information
he so much coveted, and pointing to
the unsatisfactory portrait of Lies
above described,
'.It is-it is-my eldest daughter, .
said the lady. with tremor in her
voice.
'sBitte. 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 / ought to show before a
Stranger and she knitted little more
rapidly than before.
Steinhausen had nothing for it 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 few minutes Clarchen entered
the room.
"Go, DEAR said Frau Cheering, 'cali
Lies hither; | am but poor company. z
and, gathering up her knitting. she
left the room.
lilies is coming" said Clarchen,
standing irresolutely by the. yeranda
door, strongly tempted to 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 "Backfschchen''
period were not to his taste, but for
the moment she was Of Importance.
.'And what do you do with yourself,
my Fraulein." he asked, good humor-
eddy, 'all day long in this quiet place
no concerts, no theater. no classes? ?"
And he pushed forward chair for
her, seating himself on the ottoman as
he spoke; but Clarehen did not take
the hint.