Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-11-08
expression of mingled fun and de-

me all ABOUT the ldWlly pnotoStapHs'
Clarchen shook her head
II cannot stay; 1 have quantities TO
do; for Lies is out, and has left me
her keys"
"Out! cried Steinhausen, with ir
repressible vexation. "Where has she
gone"
Clarchen stared and smiled. "Ob.
I'D the hill to the Oberbergfelder.
FRAU Streich's little boy Is i'll, so
she sent for my sister"
"Your sister appears to be general
benefactress."
"She is good" returned Clarchcn,
gravely. and turned to go.
Zone moment" cried Steinhausen.
"What is to become of me? have
nothing to do-nothing to read. My
comrades have ridden off without me-"
"Why did you let them go, then7'
laughed Clarchen.
"Therc are books" pointing to the
well-filled table; "then there are some
wonderful gardens, the Versailles. they
say. not far off. and you might catch
Herr Lieutenant if you like-they bad
only lust ridden out of the Hof as J
came in.
80 adieu, Herr Rittmeister.' and
with saucy courtesy she walked
quickly out of the room.
"Impertinent little puss," thought
Steinhausen, looking after her.
ut is too absurd. the prejudices OF
these people,"
He paused in momentary hesitation
then, catching a glimpse of trim little
Daisy clearing away the remains OF
breakfast, he called her into the salon
whereabouts are these wonderful
gardens of yours?" he asked.
"Oh. the Schloss gardens"
"Yes. suppose so.'
"The gnadiger Herr must go up the
hill right through the village to Ober'
bergfelder. and leave the Gasthof zun'
Schwarz on Bar to the right, keep on
across the fields until you come to a
little house in clump of fir trees, and
there they will direct YOU"
"ThankB," interrupted the Rittm"is
ter. "Obrrbergfelder. have no doubt
| shall find the place"
Daisy dropped courtesy and re-
treated, while Steinhansen, remember
ing Clarchens account of her sisters
errand, took up his cap and started
forth on the sunny. dusty road i'll
search of the will thewisp mystery
; the attraction of which he could moi
resist.
The distance to the Oberbergfeldel
was not great, but on the way the
Rittmeister met and spoke with sew
eral of his troopers; he also paused
more than once to look behind him. al
the villa ana its sheltering lindens. So
that good deal of time was consumed
before he reached the little hamlet.
Yet the only specimen of womankind
whom he encountered was an aged.
bent and bare-legged crone, with
| huge basket on her back. who bid him
"Guten Tag" mechanically.
Reaching the few cottages which
constituted the Dorf, the road divided.
Or rather, cart track diverged to the
right and the road kept away left
across some open grassland, fiat and
unbroken, to the clump of fir trees IN
| dicated by Daisy
The Rittenmeister hesitated.
1t was improbable that such al ac.
complished housewife as the young
Frau Lisabet would at this period of
| the day absent herself long, but as yet
| there was no sign of her.
TO be sure she knew the country ana
had probably returned b" some more
! agreeable route.
True to his Hussar training. Won
Steinhausen looked about for a want
age post" whence to study the position;
q stunted, gnarlcd pollard was the only
object (save the housetops) at all ele'
waited above the level of the field ana
road.
The Rittmeister, though no slender
stripping, managed to climb up couple
of feet of the ungainly knotted trunk.
and, taking searching look around,
fancied he saw whitish, strange OBJ
| ject moving K ./ard Il sudden steep
decliyity, down which the cart track
led and which he had not before per.
| ceived.
A continuous eager gaze convinced
him that this object was a certain
drab-white cotton sunshade, lined with
| green, which he had noticed in an uin'
| brella stand in the entrance of Villa
| Bellevue.
This was clew enough; the enter
prising Rittmeister started at once i'll
pursuit. and when within reach of his
quarry slackened speed in order to
come up alongside as If by pure accl'
dent.
The certainty that had grown upon
him since morning that Lies was mar
ried and in some way, more OF less un-
fortunate, separated from her husband,
had changed the current Of Steinhau-
sens ideas considerably.
IfIhis charming girl, or woman, was
thus shackled, he must assume dlt-
ferent tone and approach her OH a diff
ferent footing
Her bonds did not render her less
fascinating; far from it, but he might
be better understood, more appreciated.
than by mere girl; yet, preposterous
as It was, he was conscious Of a dim
regret that there was any one before
himself that had better chance OF
winning-What?
What orrant foIlv to think seriously