The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-22
PART II. CHAPTER !. :,asl
Continued.

SOhS3heSSs
The whist party were o occupied
with their game, but not SO absorbing
ly as to prevent a good deal of talk
between the deals and rubbers.
The first game was nearly over;
Steinhausen had just settled his cards.
when, raising his eyes, they fell upon
a gentleman in civil attire certainly,
but Enthusiastically a soldier from hrs
bearing, standing in the doorway OPP
posite.
While Steinhausen looked he turned
and walked across the room, ;and' the
Major perceived that his right coat
sleeve was empty from below where
the elbow ought to have been.
The faee-a broad, strong, sensible
countenance, with honest-looking
brown eyes ceemed quite familiar to
Steinhausen.
Another moments thought, and the
water-color portrait which had inter-
ested him so painfully during his short
but memorable sta- at Villa Bellevue
came back distinctly to his minds
eye.
Yes. it was the original of that we'll
remembered picture who had just
passed; if so, where then was. his wife
or %fiaIcee?
Won Steinbausen felt as If there had
been no cessation in his interest and
curiosity since he had spurred. his
horse in hitter Impotence, and with a
sense Of defeat, away from the sleepy
little village of Bersfelder, SO Vividly
did the old feeling spring again into
being at this unexpected r%enconte.
His first impulse was to call Burch-
ardt's attention to this one-armed
stranger; but be recollected in time
that probably his comrade had never
seen or noticed the picture.
Pray, Herr Doctor" he said, turn
ing slightly in his chair, who is the
gentleman who has just passed? !
think l know his face"
which, said the doctor, throwing
down the aee of hearts with a triumph
ant thump.
"Oh. the ma that has lost his arm;
there he is, talking to a lady with the
Tower of Babel in curls on her head"
"Oh, that mani No! I don't know
him; he is a stranger; the Burgomeis-
ter has a mixed gathering tonight.
He must come from a distance; he
is no ~Bernstadter."
Won S%teinhausen forced himself to
give his full attention to the game.
Time enough to hunt up the stranger
afterward.
But though Steinhausen played well
and won the game, his fancy teemed
with images of the past and conJec-
lures of the future.
Was he really to meet the Saxon
heroine, who had CHARMED him, as the
wife of another?
And, if SO, how would she receive
him?
Looking back after the lapse of a
few years, and in the GOODNESS of retro
Spection, he confessed to himself that
the fiery impulse he had permitted to
master him must have seemed a little
like insanity to the object Of her adora-
tiOn.
Still his heart beat quickly as he rose
from the table the winner Of nearly a
thaler (stakes were not high in Bern
stadt). and looked about for some one
to question.
The gentleman who had reused these
memories had disappeared.
"Burchardt," said Major Won Stein
hansen, II wish you would try to find
out who it is that is minus his arm.
Though a civilian
Il fancy he is connected with our
Bergfelder friends"
rs it possible?" cried Burchardt,
with much animation. How! Why
do you think So"
Il will tell you AFTER returned his
friend.
Come, let US have a look at the
Dancers"
He caught a glimpse Of himself as tic
spoke III a long glass, and thought: .
My fair foe must have a good men,
Dry if she recognizes me-" for the re-
Election given back was Of a tall figure,
considerably thinner, paler, more
:g~aunt-looking than Of old, with 4 thick
beard covering the lower part Of his
face.
The ballroom vas O quite full, and
the company therein assembled was
uhi,lipT nr16 fin1finn 70 rho Snr1n1 of
the Blue Danube waltz. and for q
few minutes Burchardt and Stein
hansen looked on; then the former
moved away to speak 10 some ac-
qu%aintance and Won Steinhausen, sunk
in deep thought, saw the forms Of the
dancers as i'll { dream.
Suddenly the ~Rurgomeister spoke 70
him.
They keep it up gayly, Herr Major
he said.
Il think we have q good now Of
beauty. l wish you could join them"
The fairest maiden Of them all
would be pleased to have Il Of the
heroes of Sedan for O cavalier"
THAT measur is impossible for ne.
Herr Burgomeister," returned Stein
hansen, Grayely.
But tell Ute who is the gentleman I
observed upstairs. a soldie"ly looking
man, though in civil dress. who has lost
an .arm"
oh! th:: is q Saxon neighbor Of
ours-a relation of my wife's-Eerr
Hauptmann Cheering; he is here with
his wife md sister. I think. 4 young