The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-09
PART II. CHAPTER II.
Continued.

| sudden summons to the Adjutant.
GO, meme Liebling, the Herr Major
will take good care of you. and You
can show him the way
Need it be said with what avidity
Steinhausen pounced upon this golden
chance2
The stars in their courses fought
for him at last, he thought, as with a
studiously grave, composed air he Of
fered his arm to Lies, who had been
hidden by the wide expanse of the
Burgomeister's figure.
/ She looked pale and slightly con-
fused, but infinitely pretty. in warm
winter costume Of gray cloth and dark
brown fur, and cap Of the same. over
which blue head "Tuch" emitted
wooden scarf was loosely thrown to
shield their ears from cold and frost
bite.
She hesitated and drew back at his
approach.
Perhaps, Herr Major, you have al
ready made some other engagement.
can go with
1T is our duty at once to obey" he
interrupted, with much decision, and,
drawing her arm within his own, he
led her away to his sleigh almost a
prisoner, SO tightly did he hold her
hand against his side.
Won Steinhausen's movement APP
peared to put an end to the hesita-
ton; the company began rapidly to ar
range themselves in their sleighs, and
the Burgomeister undertook the duties
Of leader
When all were seated he gave the
word "Vorwartz." and they. started in
the order prescribed by the rules of
sleighing parties.
First came the six "Einspanner"
(one-horse vehicles) of the unmarried
gentlemen, each accompanied by the
lady he had invited; next large
sleigh with four horses. conveying the
band; then eight or nine 'Zweispan-
ners" (two-horse sleighs). each holding
four, and driven by married gentlemen,
closed the procession.
Behind each rode servant, s.ivei-
oped in furs, on saddle-like seat, his
feet resting on narrow ledge beneath
the body of the carriage.
Away they went, the horses tossing
their heads as if proud of their bells,
their gay trappings and the many-col-
ored tufts of hair that hung from
the arch above their heads.
The sleigh-bells rang merrily, the
drivers cracked their long whips, the
band clashed out quick march, the
metal ornaments of the carriages gilt
tered in the sunshine, the little boys
shouted with delight as the whole
rortege swept rapidly down narrow
street past the LaZaret, and away
over narrow steep bridge chat
spanned the river on which the town
was built, now fast locked in the frost's
Icy grasp, into the open country, away
past cottages. their windows thickly
framed with green pine boughs to keep
oct the winter blast past farmhouses
with their central dirt-heaps CONCEALED,
frosted over, and sparkling in the light,
past rare human figures, like walking
bundles of clothes, who stopped and
stared after the gay company.
Away still, leaving all trace of
houses and life behind, always ascend
ing, sometimes SO steeply that the
fresh eager horses were obliged to go
slowly.
The goal was mountain village
which lay at the foot of huge, conf
cal hill. or rather mass Of rock,
crowned by some beautiful ruins.
Falkenburg was renowned as an OBJ
iect for both summer and winter par
ties, and especially for sleighing
sGeselleschaft."
/ Nearly all the drivers were familiar
with the way; but to Steinhausea it
was quite new.
He was therefore obliged to keep his
horse well in hand, to that animals
great disgust, manifested by bounds
and prancings which fully exercised
his drivers skill and strength Of wrist
I Steinhausen had wrapped and packed
up his companion ia the luxurious fura
Of his sleigh with the tenderest care,
for which she thanked him with a
glance and smile of unusual friendli-
ness. and then an awkward silence
fell upon them.
''YOu are half frightened, see" ex-
claimed Steinhausen at last, looking
down at Lies, as she unconsciousIy
Rhrank nearer to him during some Of
their steed's wilder performances.
mo. scarcely frightened, little IN
comfortable, and fear for you, 50
lately recovered.
This tiresomc horse is too ruch."
"No, he is not" gaid Steinhausen,
shortly.
but, mein Gnadige, You know the
roadway venture to give Mohr his
head, and pass on to the front?
1T is this holding in that makes hin
Troublesome
YES" she returned, Il know tbs
road wells
With dexterous hand, Steinhauser
shaved, perilously close, past the fore
most Sleigh, and then of they went
like the wind, leaving the rest. who
shouted reproaches after them fol-
/ breaking the line Of march, far behind
the black horse, relieved Of the in1ig-
nifty Of having to follow another set
i tled down into steady rapid trot
That's all right" said Lies CHAR
ioteer. Now we can talk IN com
fort"
But he exercised TIE privilege with
exceeding caution, determined not tc