Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-10-05
Nv MRs.IALExANoer..

while ne Seelleu oHiy " see Aut uunl9s
trayel-stained trooper who now ascend
ed the steps, and, salutlng. handed a
dispatch to Rlttmeister.
Steinhausen took it, broke the seal.
and opening It, glanced at its contents.
a look Of fierce discomfort darkening
his brow as he read; then, crushing it
somewhat in his hand, said to his
brother officers;
ave march early tomorrow. gentle
men. We must be in Dresden by
noon"
Then 10 the soldier:
"You can go. have no further
orders"
"Hans, take him to the kitchen; give
him food and drink" said the kindly
Frau Cheering.
nNarch tomorrow cried Burehardt.
aThat is a misfortunel One would
like to rest a month long in such n
heavenly house as yours, gnadige
Frau"
"And no chance for ride now, lieber
Frauleln," said the Fahnrlch to Clar-
chen.
"Does any other party succeed to
yoursr asked Lies.
"Aehl | am sorry" exclaimed the
hospitable Gerichtsamtmann.
"We shall not soon find gentlemen
SO courteous and accommodating as
yourselves" to which eiyillty Burch-
ardt made a suitable reply. and some
talk ensued, unheeded by Steinhausen,
who was sunk in profoundest silence.
4 This order shattered his half-formed
plans; 1t forced him TO turn his back
on the first morsel of real, vivid inter
est and delight that he had tasted
for years. to forego the elucidation of
the mystery which tantalized and at
tracted him.
It seemed a lifetime since the same
fierce eagerness had thrilled his nerves.
and it came back to him like renewed
youth.
A question from the judge broke the
spell and compelled his attention.
"Pardon mel did not hear"
81 merely asked If the view from the
balcony above answers your expecta-
tlons. Herr RittmeisterY
"What view?'' asked Steinhausen,
quickly. "I have not yet had chance
Of seeing it."
"Why, Lies" cried her father, i'm
patiently. "why did you neglect my
request?
"Now, perhaps, the Rittmelster may
leave without seeing the best view
from the villa or from anywhere else
In the neighborhood.
'tPlease conduct him at once to the
upper balcony. 1 would gladly accom-.
pany you; but letters have neglected
this afternoon must be written. and
pray do not miss this fine sunset"
Lies rose silently, hesitated an in
stant, and then, bowling to Steinhau-
sen, led the way through the salon to
a staircase ascending to the first floor.
Here the Prussian officer exclaimed:
81 believe 1t would only be polite in
me to relieve you from the perform
anee Of task so evidently unwel-
come; butt should like TO see the
view Of which your father spoke"
sit is no unwelcome task to show you
the beauties of land so little esteemed
by your countrymen."
Little esteemed. Why do you say
sol"
"Thnt Is of no consequence. Pray
follow me, aud confess that Saxony at
least has beauty of which you cannot
deprive her"
She smiled as she spoke with some
thing of jest and earnest. preceding
him upstairs and through another
salGn which Steinhausen had not yet
seel.
The long French windows Of this
apartment opened on a balcony which
ran along the north side Of the house,
and. passing through one Of them.
Lies leant against the balustraGe. and
with silent but expressive gesture
stretched out her hand toward the
wide landscape, and then let 1t slowly
fall to her side.
Pre-oecupled as Steinhausen was by
his eagerness to improve this prob
ably last tete-a-tete with the object of
his admiration, he was for a few sec
onds ripeted by the unusual beauty of |
the view before him.
Below rolled the broad silver silent |
of the Elbe
A wide-spreading plain 10 the left |
was sprinkled with villages, each clus.
terillg round church or tower; and far
away the domes and steeples of the
capital were dimly dlscernible.
At the other side Of the river the
banks stretched more o. less steeply
up 70 the forest heights, which again
ed up to the Bohemian mountains; and
10 the right, like isolated giants, stood
The rocky masses OF the Sillenstein
and the royal. fortress-erowned Kus
nigstein, all STEPPED in the golden haze
1f glowing autumnal sunset all
sleeping in a stiffness so profound as
almost to be felt.
Steinhausen looked at the fair scene |
In silence, and the grave expression
Of his companion's face deepened and
into sadness.
She leant her elbows on the parapet, |
and rested her cheek on her clasped
hands.
At length low sigh, unconsciously
Dreathed. struck on the Rittmeister's
rar
He turned his dark, stern eyes upon
the figure beside him.
s.To-morrov," he began, in softer
tone than usual, and paused-'tenor
row, then, l leave Bergfelder, and per-
haps may never again behold this
tIIers or that of the
"Tell me, now that l am a moment
slone with you, why you hate me and
all Prussians.
isThcre is much l want to ask; but
this first"
Il co not bate You; why should I |
hate an unoffendlng strangerf Your
nation! Well. do not love IT,"