The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-04-11

her head and looking full at him, you
can answer that question yourself!
Herr Won Steinhausen is sufficiently
well read to be able to recall the his
torical facts Of centuries past-from
the old Brandenburg days and the
Seven Years war, down to the present
unhappy struggle. Prussian policy
has always been the same, aggression
and annexation
Steinhausen laughed.
"What can you expects" he said:
"ours is no sanity sphere of impossible
virtue, but world of ordinary humane
ity, where might makes indefensible
right"
at is a robbers MAXIM said Lies
haughtily, and turning, stepped back
into the salon.
Steinhausen followed sharply, plac-
| ing himself between her and the door;
Lies stopped in some surprise.
lis that all? Have You no more to
advance against us?"
II have, perhaps, already said too
much, considering what hospitality de-
mands," she replied.
Hospitality! meme Gnadige," ex-
claimed the Rittmeister, with q pro-
voking laugh, do you not mistake the
position?
"We are not here by invitation, but
in obedience to our generals order-as
yictors!
ut is true, we have been well re-.
ceived and entertained, but had it been
otherwise, we should have taken all
we required and more; as conquerors.
we are masters-at least, for the
present"
Lies looked at him astonished. as If
she could not, at once, quite compre-
bend the brutality of this speech; then
the sensitive lips began to culver, and
in spite of her proud carriage, the large
blue eyes were suddenly suffused with
indignant tears.
"Let me pass" she said: you
are" she stopped; Steinhausen fin
ished the sentence for her-''a rude
barbarianw and he placed himself reso-
Ilutely against the door.
Eyes! you are SO earnest yourself
that you take my half jest seriously;
win you believe my whole earnestY
he went on, eagerly, hurried by an i'm
pulse he felt was utter folly, vet which
he could not resist.
~ cannot, and will not, leave you
without some explanation-some solu-
ton of the doubts which are so mad
dening!
"Do you not see you have cast a
spell upon me?
"Short as the time is, resent the
avowal as you may, must and will
tell you that love you-love you in.
tensely."
He tried to take her hand.
ON twenty-four hours acquaint.
ancev' she replied with good-humored
mockery, although she turned very
pale and looked anxiously at the door.
"You dare not scorn the feeling YOU
have evoked" exclaimed Steinhausen
quickly; then, seeing the alarm that
would speak in her eyes in spite Of her
efforts to seem coldly calm.
ssMein Lieber," he continued, you do
not fear me; Sweetest! bestl l love
you; would not disturb or distress
you for worlds; if-if you are free, do
not reject mel
may, let me hold your hand one mo
ment," resolutely catching and kissing
it; 'sand if--as from what can gather
may be the case-you are unhappily
linked to one who cannot appreciate
the treasure fortune has given him, lei
me atone for the past! the bonds must
be strong indeed il love and daring
such as mine cannot break them; tell
me truly, are you free?"
81 am not, Herr Rittmeister," said
Lies, greatly disturbed, "and even if ]
were-this is madness!'
"There is, perhaps a tinge Of mad
ness in it, returned Steinhausen, still
holding her hand "but there is truth
and reality in it ALSO" he urged, grow
ing more eager as she shrank from his
advances.
81 must tear myself away tomorrow;
let me write to you'll Leave me some
straw to cling to; cannot lose you
-
Herr Rittmeister,'' interrupted Lies
collecting herself and at last releas.
ing her hand.
Il cannot listen to such folly; if you
think for an instant, you must see
there is almost an insult in such an alb.
rupt ayowal.
"I cannot imagine what has sug.
gested such ideas as to my position,
surely. my father has not been so inl-
prudent as to-but," interrupting her
self, even if you were not an utter
stranger enemy--a man of whom
l feel a sort of slight fear-T must not,
dare not, listen to your words. 49,
TO be continued.
An Early NumeraI System.