Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-09-07
Nv M1s. ALEXANDER.


He gnawed his mustsche in a ut OF
impatlence.
Supper was over. and not a chance
had offered itself for cross-examlning,
as he had intended with condescending
gallantry, the fair girl. or woman. who
had so excited his fancy.
How was he to open up bis advances
IL another opportunity offered. when
she had so severely rebuked him?
or course an abject apology might
serve to open the trenches; but he was
too seriously vexed with her. with him
self-everything, TO like admitting he
was in the wrong
He feared he had outraged the po.
liteness due to hosts. even on com
pulsion.
He tried to tell himself that the
whole affair was not worth a thought,
that tomorrow the whim would have
passed away, and even while he rea.
soned thus sagely he watched with
almost fierce eagerness for her return,
But only the lively little Gerichtsamt
mann re-entered after escOrting his
visitors to their carriage.
Even enemies in the shape of guests
were almost welcome to the kindly,
hospitable Herr Cheering.
He advanced rubbing his hands
cheerfully, and performing one or two
bows, while he struggled to maintain
the grave and cold aspect he thought
suited to the circumstances. but under
which rippled the bright, kindly smile
be could not quite suppress.
"He trusted the Herrschaft bad been
duly provided with all they required.
He saw that already they had supper
ended. He would not detain the Herrn.
At a disordered table to sit is not agree
able. Pray go into the salon my wife
will lead you there at which hint the
silent hostess rose and preceded her
guests to the adjoining room.
There was something of quiet sad
ness in the lady's beaNng which i'm
pressed the Prussian officers with kind
ly respect. and Burchsrdt suggested
in quick aside to the Rittmeister that
It might be as well il they retired to
their own apartments.
"No: certainly not. It is more agree
able here" he replied, sharply
eyes, much more agreeable" echoed
the Others.
Fahnrieh and the shree officers
grouped themselves near the quiet
lady of the house. who had already
taken refuge in her knitting Conver-
sation proving somewhat difficult, Won
Planitz and Burchardt wandered away
to smoke in the veranda; for though
in the salon the lamp was necessary,
splendid harvest moon made the gar
den and surroundings silvery clear.
Steinhausen however, stood his
ground, and tried every possible sub
ieet with his uneommunicatlye com.
panion.
He praised the villa and the scenery,
the richness of the crops he had noticed
in passing through the country. the
fine flock of geese he had seen making
their way across the yard: but neither
scenery. crops, nor geese ELECTED any
thing like hearty response
At last Steinhausen took up the fam
lily photograph album. thinking he had
sufficiently paved the way to the sub
jeet upper most in his thoughts.
These family books are very inter
esting," he said, opening. Il like to
trace the same type OF face through
varying forms. You have some very
charming portraits here. May be
permitted to guess. from the likeness
to yourself, that this young gentleman
is your son?r showing the cadet be-
fore mentioned.
HE is" returned Frau Cheering.
with a sigh.
"And here, no doubt. is your Frau
lein daughter" returned Stelnhausen,
proceeding triumphantly, as he
thought. TO acquire all the information
he so much coveted. and pointing 10
the unsatisfactory portrait OF Lies
above described.
1T is-it is-my eldest daughter
said the lady. with tremor in heI
voice.
Bite, bite" she added, with a dep
recatory motion of the hand
ASK mo no more about these pho
lographs; there are memories which
prevent my speaking of them with the
ealmness' | ought TO show before
stranger and she knitted a little more
rapidly than before.
Steinhausen had nothing for it but
with politely expressed apology on
his lips. and wrath in his heart-to
shut the book, and fall back on the
crops and the geese.
His unusual patience, however, did
hot go unrewarded.
In few minutes Clarchen entere1
the room.
GO dear" said Frau Cheering, "call
Lies hither; l am but poor company"
and. gathering up her knitting. she
left the room.
'Lies is coming" said Clarchen.
standing irresolutely by the veranda
door, strongly tempted to join the
agreeable Won Planltz WITHOUT. Dut
dim sense of what was due TO pa
triotism and propriety held her back.
Steinhausen rose.
Young ladies of the "Back6schchen"
period were not 10 his taste. but for
the moment she was of Importance.
"And what do you do with yourself,
my Fraulein," lie asked, goOd-hunior'
edly, "all day long in this quiet place;
no concerts. no theater no classesF
And he pushed forward a chair for
her. seating himself on the ottoman as
he spoke; but Clarchen did not take
the hint
She still stood leaning against the
side Of The door, where she had moved
after a moments hesitation.
do? Oh. have pienty to do. !