Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-10-04
TO dinner. but at the 'Abend Brod l

hope to make my DOW. Adleu.
"Come, old sulky, show me my
room," and following Hans, he disap.
peared into the interior, his comrades
calling after him. "Schiafen SIG
wohl."
The room into which the reluctant
Hans ushered Herr Rittmeister Won
Steinhausen was we'll calculated to ins
.Hte repose.
Its windows looked upon the Hof. or
courtyard, at the other side of which
were the stables and farm offices.
They were sheltered by the villa it.
self from the morning sun. and fur.
ther shaded by large walnut tree,
under which spring bubbled up and
filled large, rough stone basin; its
overflow, escaping in tiny rivulet.
stole away to supply pond in the out.
er farm yard, where goodly number
of ducks and geese, with its help, grew
and multiplied.
The room itself, simply furnished,
but exquisitely clean; the snowy bed
linen all perfumed with sweet laven.
der which had laid among them.
Won Steinhausen glanced approving
Iy at the easy chair. the writing mate
rIals on a convenient table, and oppo
site the bed q water color sketch Of a
young man in uniform-an open, kind.
ly face.
While he looked his soldier servant
entered with a tray on which was
spread tempting luncheon and foam.
ing beaker.
"Got sic dank" said Rittmcister. as,
throwing himself into the easy chair,
he seized the glass, while he held
out one foot that his servant might re.
move his boot.
"Good quarters, Karl! he continued,
setting down the half drained glass.
mot bad Herr Rittmeister; plenty
of everything, but folks a little sulky.
However, I have scarce been here an
hour"
"Hence, Karl. Do not let any one
come near me, hut at five arouse me.
il have not already reused YOU"
GOOD, Herr Rittmeister." and soon
the weary soldier was wrapped in
profound slumber, while the Junior
oflicers-Von Plunitz and First Lieu
tenant Burchardt-after an elaborate
toilet, proceeded to pay the visit Of re-
spect which Prussan officers rarely
omitted, albeit conquerorS received on
compulslon.
When Won Steinhausen awOkc the
sun had accomplished the circuit of
the villa, and was glinting its yellow
evening rays through the Quivering
spaces of the leaves, and touching the
water in the basin with gold.
A few minutes of delicious con-
scious repose, of dreamy uncertainty
as to where he was and how he came
there, and Karl entered with automat-
ic punctuality to rouse his master, and
lay out his dressing things.
So the Rittmeister, recalled to the
realities Of existence, rose to dress
himself and write some letters before
Joining the supper table.
The realities Of existence had not
been all rose color to Steinhausen; but
that was his own fault.
Well born, and well endowed by ma
ture. few men had had better start;
but a dash of fierce cagernesS i'll his
pursuit of whatever pleasure or whim
attracted him had led him into trouble
in various ways, and made him some
enemies and want of wholesome
checks in early youth had permitted 4
crust of pride and selfishncss to form
over the better and warmer nature
which lay beneath.
Some years before the breaking out
of the war, Won Steinhausen had
found himself on the brink Of ruin;
| gambling and other debts pressed mad.
deningly upon him.
A proposed marriage with a beauti-
! full and wealthy widow was broken
off; when suddenly distant relative,
who resided too far from Berlin to be
well informed as to his kinsmans do
ings. died, leaving the whole of his
large property to the drowning lieu
| tenant.
From that day Won Steinhauscn was
different man-harder, steadicr in j
sense, and certainly a better member
| of society
The fair widow made some graceful
| advances. which Won Stelnhauscn had
| politely, but positively ignored, and now
| he had won for himself high reputd-
ton, not merely for courage, but for
soldierly ability.
His toilet finished, his rich Red Hus.
sar uniform, thickly laced with gold.
accurately adjusted. he sat down to
write his letters before leaving the
room.
A tall figure, every inch soldiers.
with deep dark eyes cleaning under
black brows, and crisp, dark-brown
hair clustering round somewhat rug
ged temples; face sunburnt to almost
Eastern swathiness. and lined here and
there as man of his age ought not
] to be; his mouth was hidden by Il
heavy dark mustache, through which
white teeth cleaned when he laughed,
as he often did, not without touch of
scorn, and without any accompanying
softness in the eyes.
1t was the hour of universal reposc
in Germany. The confused murmur
of sound he had heard when he first
awoke had gradually died away, and
profound stiffness made itself felt.
|