Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-10-19
PART II. CHAPTER 1.
Continued.


Continued.
The whist party were soon occupied
with their game. but not so absorbing
ly as to prevent good deal Of talk
between the deals and rubbers.
The first game was nearly over;
steinhausen had just settled his cards.
when, raising his eyes. they fell upon
a gentleman in civil attire certainly,
but unmistakably a soldier from his
bearing, standing in the doorway op-
posite.
While Steinhausen looked be turned
and walked across the room, and the
Major perceived that his right coat
sleeve was empty from below where
the elbow ought to have been.
The face-a broad. strong, sensible
eountenance, with honest-looking
brown eyes. seemed quite familiar to
Steinhausen,
Another moments thought, and the
water-eolor portrait which had inter
ested him 80 painfully during his short
but memorable stay at Villa Bellevue
came back distinctly to his minds
eye.
Yes. 1t was the original Of that we'll
remembered picture who had just
passed; if so, where then was his wife
or fiancee?
Won Steinhausen felt as if there had
been no cessation in his interest and
curiosity since he had spurred his
horse in bitter impatience, and with
sense Of defeat, away from the sleepy
little village of Bergfelder, so wildly
did the old feeling spring again into
being at this unexpected reneontre.
His first impulse was to call Burch-
ardt's attention to this one-armed
stranger; but he recollected in time
that probably his comrade had never
seen or noticed thespicfure -.rs-Nll
pray. Herr Doctor he said. turn
ing slightly in his chair, "who Is the
gentleman who has just passed3 /
think l know his face"
tWhich?" said the doctor, throwing
down the ace of hearts with triumph
ant thump.
'Oh, the man that has lost his arm;
there he is. talking to lady with the
Tower of Babel in curls on her head"
"oh. that man! MOI don't know
him; he is stranger; the Burgomeis
ter has a mixed gathering tonight.
"He must come from distance; he
Is no Bernstadter."
Won Steinbausen forced himself to
give his full attention to the game.
Time enough to hunt up the stranger
afterward.
But though Steinhausen played well
and won the game. his fancy teemed
Eitn images Of the past and conjec
lures Of the future.
Was he really to meet the Saxon
heroine. who had charmed him. as the
wife Of another?
And, if SO. how would she receive
him?
Looking back after the lapse of
few years, and in the eoolness of retro
spection, he confessed to himself that
the fiery impulse he had permitted to
master him must have seemed little
like insanity to the object of her adora-
ton.
Still his heart beat quickly as he rose
from the table the winner of nearly a
thaler (stakes were not high in Bern
stadn, and looked about for some one
to question.
The gentleman who had reused these
memories had disappeared
''Burchardt," said Major Won Stein
hansen, 81 wish you would try to find
out who it is that is minus his arm,
though a civilian.
II fancy he is connected with our
Bergfelder friends"
rs it posslble?" cried Burchardt,
with much animation. How! Why
do you think so?''
II will tell you after" returned his
friend
Come, let us have a lock at the
dancers"
He caught a glimpse of himself as he
spoke in long glass, and thought:
"Afy fair fee must have good mem
Dry if she recognizes me-" for the re-
Election given back was of tall figure,
considerably thinner. paler, more
saunt-lookinS than Of old, with thick
beard covering the lower part of his
face.
The ballroom was now quite full, and
the company therein assembled was
whirling and floating TO the sound of
the "Elue Danube" waltz. and for a
few minutes Burchardt and Stein
harsel looked on; then the former
moved away to speak TO some ac-
luaintanca and voE Steinhausen, sunk
in deep thought, saw the forms of the
lsncers as in c dream
Suddenly the Burgomeister spoke to
him.
''They keep it up gayly, Herr Major"
ae said
Il think we have good snow Of
beauty. | wish you could join them"
"The fairest maiden of them all
would be pleased to have one Of the
aeroes Of Sedan for cavalier"
THAT measure is impossible for me.
Herr Burgomeister, returned Stein
aausen, gravely.
But tell me who Is the gentleman l
observed upstairs. soldierly looking
nan, though in civil dress, who has lost
IN srm?s
rsohl thas is .aseaon ncighbor Of
theA .-ssa. ss3utigr sitx wife7g--y x
Maryland, in the ,sixfle s-s~ S