The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-08
thought a bitter nmile; zen the con.

thought a bitter umile; Zen the coll
trary, it is in many ways a relief
Steinhausen's heart beat e1ultingly
at this extraordinary avowal. and yet
an odd sort of disappointment narred
his complete satisfaction.
Lies was to him not only a charming
woman, the touch Of whose hand sent
a subtle, delicious thrill through every
vein. but an ideal woman, tOo-ard his
first ideal!
For a moment he did not know bow
to reply.
For a moment he did not know how
to reply.
He feared to presume on her strange
he hoped peculiar-confdence in him.
But her ann left him il doubt,
and while he doubted. the first sleigh
of the party they had left behind anne
round a urn of the road under the
great rock, and rapidly approached.
Steinhausen uttered a strong express
sion Of disgust.
II did not think they were so close
upon our heels" he said.
Lies made no reply, but after an in
stant's silence, said, as she played
somewhat nervously with the scarf she
had taken from her head:
Tell meas we have fallen into a
confidential tone-why Frau 0 Stein
hansen is not with your
FRAU Won, Steinhausen" he repeated,
greatly puzzled. who is she%
"Your wife, of course" said Lies,
opening her great blue eyes.
MY wife! l have none-I new mar
ried. Who told you So"
II thought understood you to say
that"
You misunderstood or miSconstrued
anything 1 could have said,' he in
terrupted, eagerly.
"Ah, Lies! distance, time, various
distractions may have dimmed the
first vividness of the impression you
made upon me, but no other has ever
interfered with it.
Must I never tell you Of the agony
it is to feel that you are another's-
another who does not value the jewel
he possesses"
He stopped. for the long line Of
sleighs were all in sight, and the first
almost at the place where they stood.
Lies still gazed at him as if be-
wildered, then a sudden, bright. sweet
smile lit up her face; a quick blush
fitted over her cheek, she looked down
and had just begun to speak:
Il think 1 begin to see how the mis-
take" when the newly arrived
sleigh driver shouted from beneath:
You were not so far ahead, after
all. Herr Major, though you did break
our rules so boldly"
Better break rules than bones" re-
turned Steinhausen, Fastening down
the steps to assist the lady who occu-
pied the second seat in the sleigh to
'extricate herself from her furs. .
She was a pretty, simple girl Of sew
%enteen, the Burgomeister's daughter,
and as soon as she was liberated from
her profuse wrappings she ran up the
steps to link her arm through that Of
Lies, and began chattering at q rapid
rate.
The rest Of the party now drove up
in quick succession, and the large
of the Restauration was crowded
with gay, laughing, noisy, tIlkative
groups. which contrasted with the
daathlike silence and stiffness which
reigned without.
Most of the gentlemen characters
had delayed a few moments to see
personally to. the accommodation of
their horses, but they Don joined the
rest. and then. coffee was brought, and
the pleasant confusion Of finding seats
ensued.
During this time Steinhausen care
fully bestowed his attentions on every
other lady except Lies, yet never lost
sight of her.
He saw that she talked with much
animation with nearly all tie ladies,
and many of the gentlemen.
He noticed a light in her eyes, a
bloom on her cheek that made her. in
his opinion, quite lovely: and he at
tributed both to the excitement Of
wounded feeling.
He saw. too, that brute of a husband
Of hers speak to her with an angry
brow and Q look that made Stein
hansen long to tear him limb from
limb.
And how sweetly she smiled upon
him in reply! SteinEausen wondered
at her.
1t would be wiser to show more
spirit. Sc, internally chatting. he sat
down with the rest to take his coffee.
Now the ladies, according TO German
sleighing custom, attended sedulously
to the wants of their chilled cavaliers,
whose hands, nunbed with cold,
despite the thick uncovered driving
gloves, could scarce at first hold a plate
Or pick cut the slices Of rich cake
which were handed round,
Go be Continued.l
The Untidy Housewife.