The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-25
CHAPTER ".
Continued.

Il regret that it is my business
hour" she replied, "and my work is
not yet half accomplished"
Clarchen here returned with the re-
plenished sugar basin, and, setting it
on the table, restored the keys to their
proper place.
MAY I ask for a piece?" asked Stein
hansen.
With a natural impulse Lies dipped
her pretty fingers into the basin (of
course there were no sugar tongs), and
dropped a "~Stuckchen" into the RIFT
meister's cup, their eyes meeting.
She smiled archly, and said, in a low
tone: !.
"To sweet.p a little Of last nights
acidityr'
This delicious touch of %coquetry sur
prised and delighted Steinhausen,
opening up to him possibilities-say
of amusement-which sent a moment
airy thrill along his veins.
Better such bitter sweet than IN
alleged syrup from other hands," re-
turned Steinhausen, CALAMITY; but
Lies had turned away already and re-
entered the salon, and breakfast pro-
crossed to a happy termination, un-
broken by other visitors.
Steinhausen rose with some satisfac-
lion; an indefnable impression grew
upon him that this charming Saxon
girl-maid, wife, or widow, whatever
she might be-was not indisposed to
play with the impression that she was
too observant not to perceive she had
made upon Ter admirer.
Steinhausen, without any positive
intentions. resolved that the game
should not be all play-of course he
was too old a bird to be easily caught:
and marriag e-well, if he ever thought
Of marriage, it would be in the sense Of
an alliance.
Love- passion, fancy-he had learnt
to consider these emotions as a pass
ing madness. which must not interfere
with a, mans career; but Lies Che
would think of her only as Lies, that
implied no marriage or entaDglement),
there was some wonderful attraction
about her. a peculiar, frank sweetness
that, had he been familiar with Eng
lish poets, would have tempted him to
quote:
"Sure something holy lodges in that
l. breast"
: Not since his early fiery boyish days
had merged into skeptical manhood
had he received quite the same i'm.
preston. Yet he tried to laugh at him
self for his unusual fit of sentimental
ity, and as he stood thus resisting his
own thoughts and lighting his cigar,
up the veranda steps, alert, fresh and
neat, from his gray curly heaa' to his
well-blacked stout boots, came Herr
Amtmann, with a cheerful greeting,
and ever a fainter effort than the night
before at distance and dignity.
+ To have people under his roof, to
feed them with the milk and honey Of
the best viands. and his choicest wines,
was enough to endear them to the
kindly, generous, simple heart Of Herr
Cheering.
Nothing was too good for those that
wanted anything, and even from enc
mics forced" upon his hospitality he
could hardly withhold the tide Of
friendliness so ready, to flow toward
whoever had eaten of his bread and
salt"
While the best and amplest return
friend or foe could make was to praise
his house and grounds, id which he
took great pride-a pride displayed
with the most unaffected and childlike
candor.
1t vas in ignorance of this foible,
and in-all sincerity, that the Rittmeis-
ter, after the first greetings, began to
praise the beauty of the view and the
admirable order of the garden.
Il suppose, Herr Amtmann, you have
n clever Vogt (bailif). The duties of
your office must leave you but little
time for personal supervision"
ia! Gewiss!'' cried Herr Cheering,
rubbing his hands, with a chucklc Of
intense satisfaction. Il have indeed
q clever Vogt. Ny eldest daughter
manages notwithstanding. 1t is
wonderful, remarkable-so young and
yet such al organizer"
Indeed, most remarkable" ejacu-
lated SteinhaCsen. anxious to lead him
on.
Veg, the COWS, the planting, the
reapinC cvcr," with impressive en-
phacis; the c~hecse-she manages all.
at is much-a little too much for
one so young, 2nd-but Herr Ritz
ncistcr will laugh at q fathers ell
thusiasCl."
Tar from it," said Cscinhausen, a.
most piously. ...t
II should be glad to know something
Ct your system. for 1 have 4 Eittergut
in Silcsian, where they ~nisranasc
matters terribly"
''Ha! that Is ~Ead-vcry bad, indeed"
cried the host. full Of interest; "if after
dinner Teri Rittmeister would like 70
walk through Il fields, and look at the
barns, I am sure Lisabet would, that
is correcting himself, "she has her
prejudices, poor thing. which are not
to be wondered at; but 1, gnadiger
Herr. 1 will show you over my small
domains, and then you can judge-you
can judge
S%teiIhausen listened intcntly.
Why were her p%rcjCdices not to be
wondered at?