Middletown transcript., 1906-01-20
FRAU a. D. =
BY ANNE WARNER

that awful American, you could have
perhaps married the Herr Dokter and
been a mother to those dear little ones" "
''Do you think he wonld know where
could get a good horse?" asked T,abelIe.
II do not know" !" said Lini. "But he
is snei a nice man. His wife Was SO
happy Itwas great pity that she must
die 2
Perhaps Icould advertise in the news
paper" the caller suggested.
Yes, you could do that. said Lini.
pouring out more coffee but will AK
my husband. | always ask my husband
everything cannot see how ,..;: live
without having your husband BY to ask
as 10 everything.
Perhaps. when l come to-inorrow, the
leFr Baron will have some information
f5r me, said Isabelle, rising Il must
60 now. Don't forget to find out all you
can, viii you, dear ?"
No" said Lini, embracing her affec-
tionateIy. "All that one can know my.
husband will know, and all that he tells
me will tell you. -
Then they kissed each other, and Isa-
belle walked home, her head full OF the
horse, aud her heart full of an odd and
painful void which she choked down
whenever she clloked up. Lini was SO
aggravatingly foolish on the husband sub
iect.
Lini spoke to her husband when he
came home that afternoon, and he re-
iected somewhat and then justified his
wife's ardent admiration of : his omni-
science by knowing exactly where Isa-
belle could "beeome a horse" as his
countrymen put it.
As result Of some careful arranging,
Lini had the Frau Major to meet Isabelle
over the cofee-cups the next day, and
the Frau Major invited the American to
ride with her husband and herself and
the Herr Leutnant upon the following
afternoon. %
I'VE three ride together every day at
four, said the Frau Major, "and it would
be great pleasure to have madame with
us. Four is nnre agreeable than three"
''Ah, Thought Isabelle, ~ am to take
care of the husband for her /; and che
thinks that do not see how it is," and
she looked at the rosy little woman sitting
opposite-and felt sudden quick beat Of
self-reproach, for the Frau Majors eyes
were as big and blue and true as baby's.
THAT will be delightful, = she said aloud.
II cannot thank you enough" Then
they talked it all over, and talked about
some other things, and then Isabelle de-
parted, because she was going to a con-
cert at six o'clock.
'.She is very agreeable" said the Frau
Major, when she and Lini were alone
together. "And what beautiful figure
Is she widow ?'
No." said Lini, uneasily lit is one
of those terrible American tales. She
has a husband, but they have quarreled
and she has left him."
Frightful p said the Frau Major,
opening her eyes largely. "But why did
he allow her to do so? / might be ever
SO angry, but my husband would never
permit me to 90 to America for that. He
will not permit me to go to Berlin until
he goes, and that is not until the autumn. ;"
Then the Frau Major smiled agreeably
over her tale of woe, and took another
cake.
"Yes, that is true" said Lini, pouring
some more coffee into her friends cup
sit is very singular-that way they all do
across the water. II it was my husband.
| might be quite furious and still could
not 60" She took another cake. 'But
then, also-I would not if | could. Am
| not his wife ?"
The Frau Major drank her final cup of
coffee, and signi6ed that she must depart.
Lini kissed her on both cheeks, and,
by dint Of strong self-control, suffered her
to terminate her call.
The next day WIS the ride. Isabelle
took cab and went to her horse and
there she saw great row OF carriages and
automobiles, and quite royal outfitting
of white-lined stalls aud liyeried stable
men. The cab passed on to a DIOR be-
yond, and she went upstairs and found
the major and the lieutenant and the
majors wife having coffee before they
started. The major was stout, hand
some, blond man, with a military mus
tache and splendidly fitting riding
breeches. The lieutenant was thin and
dark and wiry. They all went down to
the horses together, after the contents of
the coffee-pot had been duly absorbed,
and Isabelle's heart rose high when she
saw their mounts brought out. Then in
second every bit of sunshine faded, tor
the lieutenant walked over to his horse,
put his hands on the saddle and gave it a
quick pull to test its frmness-and the
way he did it was exactly the way Harry
had done every time that they had rid
den together. 1t was too provoking the
way that little incident clonded all the
great joy she felt out of-spirits directly
but then the major aided her to mount
Lisbetil, and once she was mounted on
Lisbeth all domestic problems faded.
They rode ont tie Garten-strassa and