The Washington times., 1905-07-16
CHAPTER III-(Continued).

CHAPTER II-(Continued).
In the parior the fire was casting
Grange flames; the homely supper was
sun TO be removed. For the first time
Anna realized the grip OF familiar
thlngs- Draw up the arm chair.
father" she said; then she turned again
to the newcomer. It's rather unsteady,
but you mustn't mind
He glanced at her. and 4 peculiar ex-
preston. a look that was 1ronical and
yet patient. touched his face 'eNo.
traulein." he said in somewhat slow
and. halting English, "I do not think
that shall mind" Then quite sudden
" and quite quietly he tainted in her
arms.
1t happened in a second; the whole
thing seemed as natural and as much
III sequence as scene upon the stage
Anna realized It on the instant, as she
bent to the additional weight; ,Solny
grasped the fact moment later, and
Letween them they laid him on the
giound. opening his collar for greater
ar h'r a space they watched him
breathi.s.ly; then with certain uneasy
haste Soiny rose from his knees. He
ieant deprecatingly against the table,
pushed his ,>,asses onto mis- forehead,
drew them down again, then spoke
III you don't really need me, Anna, :"
he said, hesitatingly; IF you don't
really need me, there's a sentence in
that manuscript that battles me- You
know have been much upset tonight. !"
His glance Wandered wistfully from the
unconscious hr-ure of the stranger to
the book still lying beside his plate.
X *
Anna followed his gaze then quite
Suddenly she laughed-a spontaneous.
irresistible laugh. ''Oh, father, you are
o.nerent from every one in the world,
Give me the cold water and bowl and
Iii let you re; L can see your fingers
twitching. Life is very amusing, after
ail.' She threw back ner head and her
Seeth cleaned. she had gained a new
standpoint, though an unrealized one
For long time, and very carefully,
she bathed the strangers face, then
Gtite calmly she tied up mis- wound; she
had none of the dread of unconscious
ress that troubles less steady brains.
She studied his features with candid
euriositg. her lips remaining parted in
the questioning attitude CT a child.
Father" she said suddenly, suppose
he never wakes at all?''
She hardly expected an answer, and
she received none. Solny was separated
from her by eight centuries. She bent.
laying her ear to the strangers lips;
tten she redoubled her splashings on
HIS face and hair. When at length his
throat trembled and his eyelids hesf-
tatingly stirred, his first sight of a re-
turning world was a pair of brilliant
eyes and a mouth that quivered in its
eagerness to smile; and the welcome
was SO exhilarating and so new that
Tc forgot his troubles. his pain. and the
incidents that had brought him there;
and accepting the moment as 1t was,
returned the smile.
"Ah. that's oetter! Anna drew a
long breath For a while / thought
you were dead. And, do you know, L
rover dreamt that you could smile-vou
have such gloomy eyes Father" She
raised her voice. Father, put away the
hook; he's awake again. Come and help
him into the chair
Solny shuff1ed round the table; his
glasses were firmly fixed and his eyes
under the mans lean arms and raised
him. Dear me-" he said, how thin
you are! 1 suppose you know nothing
of Merovingian manuscript? / have put
my hand upon marvel"
The man smiled again in spite of the
pain his movement caused. "I am Of
little use. / fear, In any way"
Anna interposed. Action was her
sphere: her face looked radiant Back
to your book, father, we shan't disturb
you for an hour. But first, where's the
French brandy?"
Soiny gazed round abstractedIy.
Where did / put the aey?" he said.
THE brandy is in the top cupboard, but
the key
Anna was trembling with impatience.
Never mind the key; you know Won
forget to lock the cupboard In any
case She sprang to a chair, poising
herself lightly. The strangers eyes fol-
lowed her attentively; She seemed all
youth and strength. "Of course." she
cried with a laugh. "Of course. The
cupboard is as open as the day" She
thrust her hand into the recess and
crew out a squat bottle OF old-fash-
icned make. Now this is pure gold"
she said seriously, "and must be taken
ir drops, like gold is melted In the
mint" she sprang down, and her eyes
flashed IN the briliiance of the fire.
"I'Il set the kettle to boil, and then
put three Jumps OF sugar in n tumbler
80. That's right, isn't It. father?'
Solny Inuttered an assent
And you'll feel as strong and well as
81 tonight had never been" She came
and stood by the newcomer. Already
the pain is better. eh?"
Already, Fraulein.''
That's right, But you mustn't call
ms F'rauIein; I'm just Anna. you know
to every one"
The man looked UP.
And you She stirred the fire
What sre you called?''
He looked down again. Johann" he
said shortly
She repeated the name. and moth
irg eise?'
Nothing else" He spoke after
pause.
She seemed satisfied You are Ger
nan, ch2''
Il come from Vienna
There was another silence; then the
girl spoke again. Listen to the kettle.