The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-11
R- MRS.
II.
Continued.

Continued.
81 had two nephews among The
wounded-one is scarcely expected to
recover, and his unhappy mother had
had no opportunity of bidding him
farewell before the regiment marched
to Koniggratz."
At this name Frau Cheering moved
somewhat ~restlessly, and glanced. at
her daughter, whose color rose visibly
and becomingly.
Nevertheless" said the noble Frau
lein, with. a rather sentimental up
turning of the eyes, "he fell gloriously
for his Fatberland, and in the arms of
victory"
"Ahw cried Burchardt, 1T has been
a sharp, short affair, this Bohemian
campaign, and must prove to the enc
mics of Prussia"
1.-THE folly Of adhering to obsolete
treaties with effete allies" put in Stein
hansen, contemptuously.'
{ Better write All is lost, save
honor after our fruitless struggle,
than break faith one pledged" muir
INJURED Lies; but the loud babble Of
voices which arose, each rehearsing
the adventures and exploits of his or
her relatives and regiments, drowned
her. ~roice-only Steinhausen, listening
intently, caught the words with a hard
smile at her enthusiasm, which in
some indefnable way angered him.
The subject. being an irresistible
torrent. of self laudation, the speakers
were. carried away-quite forgetting
that their triumphant success was a
bitter defeat to their Saxon hosts
that the desperate hand-to-hand en-
counters so glowingly described in
fiicted cruel wounds perhaps on those
dear to the listeners. .. .
Frau, Ghering's soft dark eyes filled
with tears; CIarchen's little hands
clenched themselves Ticiously; and
above the delicate lace round Lies
throat a quick pulse could be seen to
culver impatiently, as, from war, the
conversation wandered to: political ar
rangements, and the wisdom d.fore-
sight of Prussia was Wanted as COM
( pared with the folly, weakness or vac
illation of the other States.
At length a passing but unmistak-
able allusion to the prompt decision de-
manded from Saxony as to her alliance
with Austria filed the cup Of insult
to the brim, and Lies, rising with an
air, of decision remarkable in one so
young, although turning rather pale,
said very distinctly:
"Allow me, here in my fathers
place, to remind the company Herr-
schaften) that to discuss politics or
religion in mixed society is contrary
to good breeding-to discuss either in
a party so unfortunately constituted
as this one, is contrary to good feel
! ing" :,
She sat down, and a profound silence
fell upon the guests.
I The gentlemen accepted the rebuke
and looked down on their plates, while
the Prussian ladies laughed nervously
and angrily, and, with some head
tossing anc bridling, turned to Frau
aGhering, remarking on the lateness Of
the hour, and the necessity Of return
ing to 2irna. .
But the opening of the door to ad-
init a gentleman created a happy di-
version.
The newcomer was a short, neat
figure, with an alert, genial look,
chiefly owing to a peculiarly promi-
nent nose, which seemed to lift his
upper lip into a constantly varying
! curve, generally expressive of mingled
fun, kindliness and simplicity; a we'll
paped head, covered with what would
we been boyish curls had not time
cached them to a pale, silvery gray,
ID a very g~entlemanlike, active, not
say dapper figure, completed the
ersenality Of Herr Gerichtsamtmann,
whose entrance was welcomed by all.
, His first address was to the lady
strangers; to them, Prussians or not
I enemies or not, he was radiantly polite.
- HE was made infinitely unhappy
by finding he had detained them, but
now he was quite at Their service, and
as they had supped, would they ac-
company him into his Arbeitzimmer
and explain their business-if the re-
! mainder Of the company"-a' circular
ybow-"would excuse him"
MANY thanks, Herr Amtmann," said
the Baronin, rising in a stately man
ner.
my son has decided to purchase a
Gut not far from here in your district,
intending to settle in Saxony, and I
have called upon you to ascertain un-
der what conditions one could raise it
from a Bauer to q Ritter Gut-for, of
course. it would be intolerable to per-
sons Of our rank to occupy an inferior
position in Saxony."
"Ah" returned the polite judge
bng-drawn "Ah"
&A'eThis is q matter which bristles with
difficulties.
'"If the gnadige Frau will follow me
4 will lay a few of them before her"
He wayed.his hand toward the door.
The Baronin looked at her watch.
81 fear, mein Herr, I must ask you
to write them to me.
81 am staying in Dresden, at the
Hotel de SAKE, but we have scarce
time to catch the last train"
Zach ia! the gnadige Frau has ten
minutes to spare, in which 1 can ex-
plain much-the abolition of the Frohn-
dienss. the Forest rights, the-Erlauben