The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-01-05
Sh-G--S-S-$9~

@SgC1% In the grand saloon a
bright fire cracked at the bottom Of a
great chimney, and through the half
closed windows the freshness of the
moonlight and the murmur of the Ba-
varian forest entered like a caress. The
chase that day had been a fatiguing
one, and in the choice circle which
gathered around His Highness, the
conversation became familiar and
without constraint. 1t was in the
midst of this that the valet swung
open the doors and announced the
Count and Countess of Alleneck, and
all heads were turned with eyes full of
curiosity. Even the Prince, ordinarily
so blase, sat wondering what might
come.
1t was the first time that the Count
of Alleneck had appeared socially for
many years, and many foolish and TN
true stories had been circulated about
him. He had married, so it was said,
but far below him, and lived, retired,
on his W estate and yielding only to
the formal demand of the Prince, had
come to present his wife to the init
mate circle OF the court.
But what Il difference between them!
He was a man of noble appearance, of
face and noble bearing, and she,
q common woman, with short hair and
a peasants face, wearing a black dress
which fitted her badly, and without
taste. The circle which unpitiably
stared at her, did not stop to see the
rare grace of her eyes, nor the kindli-
ness which covered all her features. 1t
only saw the birthmark, written in un-
deniable traits-plebeian!
She came forward with timidity,
made a rustic courtesy, and said cor
daily, in a high voice:
81 thank you for this honor, sir
Prince. My husband has always said
that we have a most kindly Prince
for master. We have named our boy
Louis Ferdinand, out of respect to our
Prince"
AS she spoke she looked furtively at
her husband. Had she said the wrong
thing that the room was so silent? He
understood the i~ll-concealed mockery
Of the company. and felt the GOODNESS
of the Prince, who heard the words
without reply, and the big slash in the
forehead Redeemed.
Turning to his wife affectionately,
he said:
Come, Anna Marie, 1 wish to show
you. the park and the hothouses. There
are some splendid specimens of cedars
and orchids there"
No one detained them. They went
out in the moonlight.
A silence of stupefaction followed
their departure, and hen a babel of
voices filled the room.
b Prince, slowly. slightly shrug-
ging his shoulders, said: 1T is ridicu-
lous." This was the signal. the rails
Ing of a latch which opened the door
to the torrent of criticism. What a fine
opportunity.
"She's no lady" "Poor Alleneck,"
said another. TOO bad that he seems
so satisfied" Crafty woman, 1 won
der how she inveigled him." said a
third.
Major Xylander, the favorite both of
the Prince and Alleneck. answered
General Van Orff jokingly.
"She is not a woman of quality" the
general had said.
BEG pardon, to me she has many
qualities
"But she is low born"
Wrong again; she was born in a
little village 1000 feet above the sea
level"
ooh, but you are an incorrigible jok-
er. What may her name be?"
anna Marie Scholastika Hosi,'' said
Xylander, with as much Importance
as if he was detailing the complete
pedigree of a duchess.
Everybody laughed.
snow" said the Major. ''with the
permission of the Prince, let me tell
you a story. 1t reads lik> a fairy tale.
but you may well be assured it Is per-
fectly true. 1t commences a+Sedan
where $1,000 dead and wounded
strewed the hilltops of lily and Ho-
mig.
"The German ambulance found
there that day a man stripped CT every
thing and literally covered with
wounds. On being taken to the mill
tary hospital, it was weeks before he
began to recover, but as his strength
OF body increased, his intelligence
made no progress. He remembered
nothing-neither lis name, nor his
country. In the hospital he was known
by his number only-two. Finally dis