Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-12-20
PART II. CHAPTER II.
Continued.

"Takc thou the lead, lieber Gerhardt
AID let us 60.
Here, Lies, Lies! Here is a cava'
lier for you. Major Won Steinhausen
Mcinc cousine has lost hers by this
sudden summons to the Adjutant.
"Go, ilcine Liebling. the Herr Major
will cake sood care of you, and you
can show him the way"
Need it be said with what avidity
Stenhausen pourced upon this golden
chance?
Tho stars in their courses fought
for him at last. he thought, as with q
studiously grave, composed air he Of
fered his arm to Lies, who had been
hidden by the wide expanse of the
Burgomeister's figure.
She looked pale and slightly con-
fused. but infinitely pretty, in a warm
winter costume of gray cloth and dark
brown fur, and cap of the same. over
which blue head "Tuch" Omitted
wooden scarf was loosely thrown to
shield their ears from cold and frost
bite.
She hesitated and drew back at his
approach.
Perhaps. Herr rfajor, you have al
ready made some other engagement.
| can go with"
1T is our duty at once to obey he
interrupted. with much decision, and,
drawing her arm within his own, he
led her away to his sleigh almost a
prisoner. so tightly did he hold her
hand against his side.
Won Steinhausen's movement ap.
peared to put an end to the hesita'
ton; the company began rapidly to ar
range themselves in their sleighs, and
the Burgomeister undertook the duties
of leader.
When all were seated he gave the
word "Vorwartz.' and they started in
the order prescribed by the rules of
sleighing parties.
First came the six "Einspanner'
horse vehicles) of the unmarried
gentlemen each accompanied by the
lady he had invited; next large
sleigh with four horses, conveying the
band: then eight or nine 'Iweispan.
ners" two-horse sleighs), each holding
four, and driven by married gentlemen,
closed the procession.
Behind each rode a servant, envel.
Oped in furs, on Il saddleiike seat, his
feet resting on a narrow ledge beneath
the body of the carriage.
Away they went, the horses tossing
their heads as if proud of their bells,
their gay trappings and the many-col-
ored tufts of hair that hung from
the arch above their heads.
The sleigh-bells rang merrily, the
drivers cracked their long whips, the
band claShed out a quick march, the
metal ornaments of the carriages gilt
tered in the sunshine. the little boys
shouted with delight, as the whole
cortege swept rapidly down n narrow
street past the Lazaret. and away
over narrow steep bridge that
spanned the river on which the town
was built, now fast locked in the frOsts
icy grasp, into the open country. away
past cottages, their windows thickly
framed with green pine boughs to keep
out the winter blast. past farmhouses
with their central dirt-heaps CONCEALED,
frosted over. and sparkling in the light.
past rare human figures like walking
bundles of clothes, who stopped and
stared after the gay company.
Away still, leaving all trace OF
houses and life behind, always ascend.
ing, sometimes so steeply that the
fresh. eager horses We're obliged to &c
slowly.
The goal was mountain village
which lay at the foot of huge, conf
cal hill or rather mass of rock
crowned by some beautiful ruins.
Falkenburg was renowned as an OBJ
iect for both summer and winter par
ties, and especially for sleighine
"Geselleschaft."
Nearly all the drivers were familiar
with the way; but to Steinhausen II
was quite new
IIc was therefore obliged to keep his
horse we'll in hand, to that animals
great disgust, manifested by bounds
and prdncings which fully exercised
his drivers skill and strength Of wrist
Steinhauscn had wrapped and packed
uD his companion in the luxurious fur:
Of his sleigh with the tenderest care
for which she thanked him with ;
glance and smile Of unusual friendli
ness. and then an awkward silence
fell upon them.
"You are half frightened, I see," ex
claimed Steinhausen at last, lookin;
down at Lies, as she unconsciousl!
shrank nearer to him during some O
their steed's wilder performances.
"No, scarcely frightened, little un
comfortable. and / fear for you, 81
lately recovered.
This tiresome horse is too much"
''No. he is not" said Steinhausen
shortly.
But. mein Gnadige you know tn
roadway venture to give Mohr HI
head, and pass on to the front?
'It is this holding in that makes hin
troublesome"
"Yes," she returned, II know til
road Well
With dexterous hand. Steinhausel
shaved. periously close, past the fore
most sleigh. and then or they wen