The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
"Why?" asked Steinhausen; receiv.

| torical facts of centuries past-from
the old B~randenburg days and the
Seven Years war, down to the present
unhappy struggle. Prussian policy
has always been the same, aggression
and annexation"
S%teinhausen laughed.
What can you expect?" he said;
"ours is no sanity sphere of impossible
virtue, but a world of ordinary human
ity. where might makes i~ndefensibie
right"
1T is a robbers MAXIM said Lies
haughtily, and turning, stepped pack
into the salon.
Steinhausen followed sharply, plac-
ing himself between her and the door;
Lies stopped in some surprise.
rs that all? Have you no more to
advance against US"
Il have, perhaps, already said too
much. considering what hospitality de-
mands,' she replied.
Hospitality! meme Gnaaige," e4-
claimed the %Rittmeister, with a pro.
voking laugh, do you not mistake the
position?
I'VE are not here by invitation. but
in obedience to our generals order-as
victors!
1T is true, we have been well re-
ceived and entertained. but had it been
otherwise, we should have taken all
we required and more; as conquerors,
we are masters-at least, for the
present" -,
Lies looked at him astonished. as II
She could not, at once, quite compre-
bend the brutality Of this speech; then
the sensitive lips began to culver, and
in spite of her proud, carriage. the large
blue eyes were suddenly suffused with
indignant tears.
Let me pass" she said; you
are" she stopped; Steinhausen nm
ished the sentence for her-"a rude
barbarian!" and he placed himself reso.
lutely against the door. .
Yes! you are so earnest yourself
that you take my half jest seriously;
will you believe my whole earneSt:"
he went on, eagerly, hurried by an i'm
pulse he felt was utter folly, yet which
he could not resist.
Il cannot, and will not, leave you
| without some explanation-some solu-
| ton of the doubts which are so mad
dening! =
"Do YOU not see you have cast q
spell upon me?
Short as the time is. resent. the
avowal as you may, I must and will
tell you that I love you-love you in
tensely."
He tried to take her hand. .
On twenty:four hours acauaint.
ance"' she replied. with good-hpmored
mockery. although she turned very
pale and looked anxiously at the door.
You dare not scorn the feeling you
| have evoked" exclaimed Steinhausen.
| quickly; then, seeing the alarm that
would speak in her eyes in spite OF heI
| efforts to seem coldly calm.
'Mein Lieber," he continued. you &c
not fear me; Sweetest! best! 1 love
YOU; I would not disturb or distress
| you for worlds; tiff you are free, 20
not reject me!
"Nay, let me hold your hand one mo-
ment," resolutely catching and kissing
| it; land if-as from what l can gather
NAV be the case-you are unhappily
| linked to one who cannot appreciate
| the treasure fortune has given him, let
me atone for the past! the bonds must
be strong indeed if love and daring
! such as mine cannot break them; tell
me truly, are you free"
Il am not. Herr Rittmeister," said
Lies. greatly disturbed, and even II
were-this is madness"
There is, perhaps, a tinge OF mad
ness in it," returned Steinhausen, still
holding her hand; but there is truth
and reality in it also" he urged, grow
ing more eager as she shrank from his
advances.
! Il must tear myself away tomorrow;
let me write to yoni Leave me some
straw to,cling to; 1 cannot lose you
/"
Herr Rittmeister,' interrupted Lies
collecting herself and at last releas'
ing her hand.
II cannot listen to such folly; if you
think for an instant, you must see
there is almost an insult in such an ab.
rupt avowal.
Il cannot imagine what has sug.
gested such ideas as to my position;
surely. my father has no. been so I'M
prudent as to-but," ~interrupting her.
self, even if you were not an utter
stranger-an enemy-a man of whom
1 feel a sort Of slight fear-I must not,
dare not, listen to your words.
To be continued.