The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-22

coming up at this moment, and oners
ing his arm to the little dark-eyed lady,
who accepted it and walked away with
him. The sound Of a well-kDown waltz
now came from the salon.
"Ah," cried the Hauptmann, Il
promised to try this waltz with a little
Backfschchen, who said she did not
mind a one-armed partner"
So saying, he walked away. and
Stein hansen, was once more virtually
alone with the object Of his interest.
"A Backfscuchen,' be repeated, fol
lowing the current Of his thoughts:
land sh0Nwwhere-is your bright little
sister Clarchen?"
"Clarchen," said Lies. "She is mar
ried-married three months ago, TO a
very ~scle~--l professor of, history at
Leipsic, very much older than herself,
and what an ordinary observer would
think peculiarly unsuited to her: but
they arr, ana will be, I believe, the
happiest couple possible"
And you? exclaimed Steinhausen,
gazing at her with an indescribable
mixture of pain and pleasure.
How has it been with you all these
long years since you lrned from me
so abruptly that autumn evening in
the salon at Villa Believer"
She sighed and looked down.
Our life has been somewhat cfek-
ered.' she replied, softly.
"My,dear fathers plan for raising
water and turning his property into,a
fruitful land proved a sad, costly fail
ure."
we were obliged to leave our sweet
home -
She stopped abruptly.
Il know that" said Steinhausep.
"You were all gone when 1 revisited
Bergfelder, and it seemed like looking
on the face Of the dead to be there
and not find you!"
You revisited Bergfelder!!' she ex-
claimed, raising her eyes to his in much
surprise.
How, when?"
about eighteen months after the
happy days I spent there" returned
Steinhausen.
"Does it surprise you that I re-
turned"
Yes" she said, after a moments
pause.
1T does surprise me very much
Did you think"
Il had soon so much that was painful
to engross me, that I ceased to anticl-
pate anything so pleasant as a visit
from you, Herr Majcr," interrupted
Lies.
She spoke in a tone Of conventional
politeness.
And where do the Herr Water and
Lieb Mutter now reside:" resumed
Steinhausen.
In Leipsic," she replied, with a
Slight, unconscious sigh.
How they must miss you!' e1-
claimed. Steinhausen.
Miss me,">repeated his companion:
"oh, yes! but then"
Bite, mein Herr, interrupted the
Burgomeister.
Bite. lead this fair lady to supper.
the tables are SET" and the worthy
man FASTENED on.
Permit me-" said ~te;nhausen, Of
fering his arm.
Il did not anticipate so great a
pleasure when 1 carelessly accepted
the good doctors permission to partake
of this festi7ity; I began to think thai
my evil fortune would never again per
nit my eyes to be %gladdened by the
sight of you, and it is a JOY to meet
you-you must know mat"
Lies laughed.
Il am happy to bestow pleasure sc
cheaply."
"Ay. but to receive it may De costly"
said Steinhausen in q low tone.
TO this she made Ut reply, ard they
entered the principal salon. now. after
the German fashion, thickly studded
with little tables, round which merry
parties. from three to seven, or even
ten in number, .congregated.
Each table was carried in ready
decked, while the busy waters
slided about laden with divers
good things-great pike, adorned WITH
artistically sculptured cucumber, and
picked r1uchrooms swimming i'll rich
est mayonnaise, On long, slender Meis
sen dishes; saddles Of venison ready
carved in slices, and .cunningly lald
together; fowls white as snow. or rich
". deeply, beautifully brown. SALADS
Of every description; huge tur
keys served hot with cranberry
sauce; cakes in the endless p%rofusion
and variety peculiar to Germany; and
if the humble "Wurst' of everyday
life obtruded itself among the more
recherche viands, it only completed
the cosmopolitan character OF tue
feast.
ITO no ContinuoG0