The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-01-06
CHAPTER 1
Continued.

voice murmured some words the Ils-
tener could not catch, and then the
song was resumed with peculiar ten
derness in the strain.
Steinhausen rose. cautiously holding
him sabre TO avoid making any noise,
and approached the window, which
was open, in order TO peep through
the jalousies unseen.
"That is no Dienstmadchen's song"
he thought. ut is trained. refined
voice, and expressive, too"
Looking carefully through the blind
he discovered the singer.
The room occupied by Stsinhausen
was near an angle OF the square
formed by the house and Offices on
three sides, the gateway and low walls
right and left making il the fourth.
The chief entrance was beneath the
apartments assigned to the Prussian
officers; but TO ,he right Of Steinhau-
sens window, in the side OF the house
opposite the gateway, was smaller
door, or rather French window, to
which two or three stone steps led
from the yard.
1t was open, and on the stone steps
before II stood the songstress, slight
figure in white, with black sash and
ribbons in her abundant hair parted
and drawn back from the face into
rich coils, and the face Itself. with Il
dreamy look, toward the window
where the unseen watcher had taken
up his post OF observation.
Her right arm rested on the rail
which defended the steps, and the
hand held an open letter, while the
left dropped TO her side, clasped a
small key basket
It was long since Steinbausen had
looked upon 80 charming n figure. An
inde1inable, soft, womanly grace per-
vaded every line and marked every
gesture, while the lace undersleevei
falling back, showed q wrist and arm
wonderfully round and fair
AS he looked the song ceased again,
for several pigeons came futtcring
down. some TO strut and bow at her
feet. some, more audaCious, Ierching
themselves on the Iail at her elbow.
She put the letter, with sort OF ten.
der care. inside the folds OF her dress
ION the left side, Steinhausen noticedD,
and, searching in her basket, pro-
duced some grain or seeds, which
she threw TO the pigeons, speaking
softly TO them, the murmur OF her
voice reaching Steinhausen where he
stood fascinated in an unaccountable
degree.
There was nothing about the quiet
figure which deserved TO be called
beautiful"
He had seen dozens OF women far
lovelier and more distinguished.
But why attempt TO describe the in
describable?
Steinhausen. scofler and skeptc as
he was, was suddenly and completely
captiyated
He would have scorned 10 admit II
even 10 himself i'm so many words, yet
he was conscious of wild, intense
wish TO talk with this fair girl face 70
face. TO ask her history, 10 attract TO
himself the delicate tenderness which
she lavishcd on the mute creatures
around her Zone had just taken seed
from her lips
It was no whimsical. intermittent
Kindness that had thus familiari2ed
them with her presence.
Leaning his arm against the side of
the window frame above his head,
Steinhausen gazed through the down
slanting jalousies TO his hearts con-
tent, unseen and safe.
But the villa was rousinC itself from
Its afternoon repose.
Sounds of voices and the occasional
clattcr OF pots and pans from large
apartment TO the right Of the steps
where the lady in white stood broke
the stiffness.
Several hens and chickens which had
been la2ily luxuriatinG in beds Of sand
and gravel under the shade of the
walnut tree now crept out and came
clucking and chirping toward the gen
eral benefactress TO share whatever
was going.
The tramp OF heavy boots sounded
from the stables. and trooper with n
couple of buckets came across the yard
and proceeded TO fill them from the
stone trough; having done SO. lie ad-
vanced step. and stood gazing very
unconcernedly at the object of Stein
hausen's admiration.
1t is that insolcnt brute. Martin" he
muttcred. with infinite disgust.
"These fellows must not give them
selves the airs Of conquerors here"
and he frowned portentously as n
pleased grin spread, itself over the
soldiers brood red face.
A large Newfoundland dog at that
moment came bounding from the farm
yard and proceeded 10 bestow his
boisterous caresses on the central oh
ject. upsetting her basket and scatter
Ing the keys about
"Down. Nero. down. thou hast for
gotten all thy masters teaching" cried
tho young lady. loud enough TO be dis
tinctly heard: at the same time the
trooper came quickly forward. and.
with amazing -oliteness. assisted in
collecting the keys. restoring them 10
the basket with an "Erlauben Sic mir.
gradige Frau
she bent her head in acknowlcdg.
ment. while a slow grave smile parted
her lips.
"CnadlGe Frau" repeated Stein.
hansen. Impossible" But bis watch
was over: n bright. dark-eyed little
girl OF thirteen or fourteen. her fair
hafr I'm tonsr nloitc fiaJ otcN with bfo IL