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

added, with all irrepreSsibie burst OF
angry feeling, It'll you came and
spoiled everything"
Steinhausen laughed.
Are we such terribly bad fellows rs
to spoil the harmony Of your life. mein
%kidchen?" he said.
You must forgiv:. and learn to love
US!
we too. can give music-ine music.
Have you never heard a Prussian
banda"
Never; only your penny Whistles"
returned Clarchen, shortly.
What! Herr Rittmeister. are yon
and the little one quarreling" asked
Burchardt, coming in from TIE rer-
anda.
"Ah, mein Fraulein. the Rittlneister
is a cruel, hard-hearted beiDg-not like
me-
so come out on the balcony and
tell US some more Of the legends You
repeated in the garden this after
noon"
Clarchen hung her head as if a
little ashamed of having been betrayed
into such a familiar footing with her
foes: but she was rescued from the
dilemma blythe words:
Excuse my sister, mein Herr: The
dew falls, and she is better indoors
Lies had entered unperceived behind
them.
Steinhausen rose and stood with an
air of Difference until she should seat
herself; but she walked to a large or
namental work basket, which stood at
the end of the room, and taking from
it a large piece Of half-6nished white
embroidery, handed it to the young
lady with q significant smile.
Clarchen, with a slight laugh and a
blush, at once sat down to work, and
her sister: taking a small velvet case.
placed herself on a low reading chair
near the ottoman, and drew forth a
finer. but not less elaborate, specimen
of silk work.
Burchardt seated himself by Clara,
and proceeded to tease her in a kindly
fatherly fashion about her patriotism,
her hatred of. Prussia, her military
ardor. ETC.; and Steinhaasen, at last
master of the position, threw himself
on the ottoman, lounging toward the
fair needlewoman. whose occupation
permitted him to look fIedly at the
sweet face, the quiet grace of neck
and shoulder. the pretty. white. deft
fingers.
my father" she said suddenly, rails.
ing her eyes fully, and fearlessly TO
his, charged me to make his excuses
to you-business of Importance detains
him in his .Arbeitzimmer.'"
1.-The courtesy of all within Villa
Bellevue leaves nothing to complain
of"
A long pause, which Steinhausen felt
terribly puzzled to break-his COM
panion looked SO profoundly calm. so
coldly composed, that he felt NOR
severely checked than if she had tes-
tilted the utmost scorn and dislike, be-
sides q sense Of irritation created by
the contrast between her repose and
the strange longing he experienced to
| seize her soft small hands and cover
them with kisses. To this pleased sur.
prise she broke the silence, saying with
an arch smile:
.You see there are pleasant corners
in Saxony."
"It is a charming country. and full
of precious things" he returned, with
much animation.
Even after all we have given to
you" she added. .
"Given!" cried Steinhausen. SHOULD
you not have said you have taken
from us?'"
Eyes, taken from u.s." returned Lies,
thoughtfully, without raising her eyes
And we are greedy STILL" continued
S%teinhausen, drawing nearer to MS
companion.
"Saxony has still gems left, Which
some of us at least long to annex"
She looked up in 4 little surprise
but his eyes told his meaning, and in
| spite of her elf-command a faint flush,
| stole over her cheek and faded slowly
away, as she replied:
Peace at least secures from further
annexation for the present"
"But does not forbid it for the fu'
t1ire," cried Steinhausen, eagerly.
You should be ashamed to acknoVl
/ ecge your national grcel," she re
turned, with a smile.
II am far from ashamed Of the greed
I acknowledge" said Steinhansen,
significantly.
To be continued. Il