Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-12-13
PART II. CHAPTER I.
Continued.

tcIc-d-tclc Suppcl, dhu was otICAoAh6
assiduously to the wants Of his COM
panion.
Here's to our speedy and complete
fusion!
ITO a United Germany! Eth, meme
Gnadige2 I think Saxony is well dis
posed to rest under the shadow of the
Black Nagle."
"You think so?" she said, in tone
of dissent, yet not refusing to clink
her glass against his.
"That is your deep-rooted conceit.
You account for all shades of national
feeling in the way least offensive to
your self-love.
Hanover shows herself a sullen ir-
reconcilable-that is but narrow ia
naticism, which binds her to the I'D.
vantages of union with her powerful
neighbor.
"Saxony, enduring her anguish in
the silence Of pride, is supposed to hug
her chains.
"Ah, Major Won Steinhausen, long
years will elapse before the forced fu-
sion you exult in becomes real broth
erhood."
$50 your ideas are still the same"
he exclaimed.
"Would to Heaven you were I'm.
changed in every way.
But Prussia is right to seize what
she desires at the most favorable mo-
ment.
Hesitation, delay, might have blight
cd her hopes, destroyed her prospects,
as they have done mine.
"You cannot affect to misunderstood
mew he added, as he caught look Of
establishment In her eyes.
you are little enigmatical, must
say" she replied, as fat little man
in uniform, came almost at a run,
across the room to clink his glass
against Steinhausen's.
$50 glad to have you among us
again, lieber Herr Major. Six weeks
ago l never thought you would leave
the Lazaret, except feet foremost"
Thanks to your good care, my
friend
Then more people CAM to ciink
glasses, ana Steinhausen had to rush
to one or two distant tables to per-
from q similar ceremony, and break
in his conversation with Lies was I'M
avoidable.
Perhaps this spirit of enjoyment, per-
hapS q sudden return to more gener-
Gus food and drink than he had lately
been accustomed to, combined with the
mixture of bitterness and delight
which arose from his meeting with
Lies in her new condition. al helped to
excite in SteinM .usen a reckless deter
mination to enjoy this possibly last
chance of free intercourse with his lost
love, and, coute quill coute, to express
his feelings to her before they separ
ated.
Something in her manner and bear
ing gave him an underlined sense of EN-
enlargement.
His scarce-veiled admiration was not
repulsed with the cold dignity he
would have expected from Lies as Il
wife.
She was certainly glad to see him,
and even her contradictions and CON
tentions were more playful and indul.
Ent than formerly.
Why had she allowed herself to be
drawn or forced into marriage with a
fellow in every way inferior to her!
Why had he (Steinhausen) not sought
her out more perseveringly?
Life had evidently gone hard with
the kindly family of Bargfelder since
those sunny autumn days of four years
back, and hence perhaps this accursed
marriage.
At this point he drove away. with an
effort, those whirling, intcrsecting cir.
Giles of thought. and fastened back to
his partner.
"There! he cried II think have
touched glasses with all my Bernstadt
acquaintance, and may repose my,
self.
"There Is a beautiful moonlight view
from balcony next the cardroom."
Are you prudent to risk cold while
you are still convalescent?" she
asked.
NO" returned Steinhausen, with an
expressive glance. mo cold will touch
me to-night. But you" He caught
up n large fur-lned mantle as they
passed q stand full Of helmets and
military clOaks. "You have not the
same safeguard, and at least for an
other blessed hour you are my care"
Lies made no reply, and they reached
the balcony in silence.
Steinhausen carefully wrapped the
cloak he carried around the slight
figure of his companion, and they stood
a moment contemplating the scene.
The garden and lower portion of the
town sloped somewhat steeply down
from the Burgomeister's residence, the
snow-laden, frozen trees nearest gilt
tering in the CLEANS of light from the
brightly illuminated house; then came
the irregular, pointed snowy roofs, and
beyond, the great quiet hills, sleeping
in the silvery beams poured upon them
from the now sinking moon.
ut is lovely!' said Lies. softly.
"When last we looked on fair scene
together" began Steinhausen, quickly,
Il was doubtful, anxious, but not hope
less.
"Why were you SO unsympathetic, so
communicative? A word of explana-
ton might have saved me much suf-
feriEg.
..Now a real barrier exists between
us! suppose an insurmountable one"
Yes" said she. and had Stein
hansen been less disturbed he might
have observed that the Eyes" was more
interrogative than Affirmative; then
sou must respect the barrier"
1t was the nearest approach to re-