Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-09-28
Nv MRS. ALEXANDER.
CHAPTER Nv.
Continued.

and a thrill of wild delight in his
heart steinhausen CLOSED with the
chase"
Pardon me, gnadlge Frau" he said.
"can 1 return to the villa by this
roadp
"You can," she replied, with a very
slight start and increase of color; "fol-
low 1t to where there is an old cross
half sunk in the ground by an oak
tree and you will find a footpath
which will lead you back through the
river meadows"
Thanks; you seem to be going in the
same direction-may l not accompany
your
Another slight blush and a very cold
bow of assent; they walked on few
PAGES in silence, down narrow ravine.
in the shelter of which was a pleasant
growth of beech and chestnut trees,
with here and there a tall. graceful
larch.
The shade was most welcome, and
a cool breeze from the river famed
Steinhausens hot brow.
"You see, / did not ride away this
morning." began the RIttmelster at
last.
81 am but too glad to avail myself
of the discretion allowed me and let
myself and my poor fellows enjoy
brief repose In your happy valley; In
deed, the difficulty will be to leave it."
Life in our happy valley is but little
suited to such as you" she answered,
"even l flnd it little monotonous."
81 should imagine a life so active as
yours would be free from any feeling
of dullness."
How do you know I am aetiyeT
she asked. turning to hiBi with a smile
as she closed her sunshade and used 1t
for n walking stick.
"0hl very small degree of obserya-
tlon would enable one to perceive that
much. even if your Herr PAPA had not
detailed all your business abilities to
me as he was kindly showing me the
photographs this"
"Did my father show you the pho
tosg' interrupted his company quickly,
with an uneasiness she could not quite
repress.
"He did," returned Steinhausen with
significance, and looking full into her
eyes.
Lies, blushing deeply, turned away
as IL annoyed, and the Rittmeister,
after an instant's pause, continued in
a lower tone;
''I must entreat pardon for what
may have seemed to you indiscreet
curiosity; 1 shall be more prudent in
future, more absolutely obedient to
your tacitly-expressed wish; hereafter.
perhaps"
"Say no mOre-speak of something
else" she interrupted, hastily, and
silence of some minutes ensued.
At last. with frank, pleasant laugh,
Steinhausen exclaimed:
How difficult it is to avoid any one
forbidden subject, and when there are
two or three a fellow does not know
where to turn; l dare not speak of
war, or Prussia, or Saxony. or my own
impressions. or. worst deprivation of
all, your"-he paused, as If with diff
Guilty suppressing some epithet-"your-
self"
''If the effort to find conversation is
so trying said Lies, with an arch
smile, "and it must be, pray do not
punish yourself; go on--I shall sit here
in the shade. and. at least. you can
have the freedom Of yonr own
thoughts"
''No. not certainly not" cried Stein
hansen, eagerly. unless you absolute
ly object TO my company.
Let me walk with yOu-to-mOrrow
you will be free from the presence of
the detested Prusslan; but to-day-let
me enjoy to-day, come what will to-
morrow .
There was a touch of passionate en-
treaty in his tones that. perhaps,
reached his listeners heart. for al
though she made no reply, she turned
her eyes to his with wondering, yet
not unkindly expression. and breathed
slight sigh as her glance sank under
his.
Now" continued the Rittmeister,
"as 1 have confessed the poverty of
ideas, win you not come to my aid?
The world stands with you"
With a quick, arch nod, she said:
Have YOU ever been in England
that, surely. is safe?"
Steinhausen laughed. mo, | have
cot; have your
Eyes"
when. may ask?"
About two years ago"
did you like itT' said the Rlttmels-
ter, recovering his equanimity suf-
1elently to light fresh cigar.
'In some ways, yes; in others. not
at ALL"
What displeased the gnadlge FrauY'
She looked up quickly for an instant
and replied:
"rhe life is somewhat tiresome; peo-
pie are always en- grand toilette, and
the eating is such solemn undertak.
ing, and so punctual-no one dares to |
be two minutes late; and. although
women are freer, and seem to have
more power than here, l do not think
they are really any more loved or re.
Bpeeted.
"Then there is great coldness De.l
tween the servants and the Herr
srhaften. and the theaters are not
good: no one goes out in the evening
in the country, at least; hut the houses
are charming, and the gardens; the,
people, too, are very friendly to those
they like.
"But conversation is always difficult
to a foreigner. because, as you OBJ
served of forbidden subjects. every
topic that touches religion is almost
impossible for stranger from the me-
dlaeval style of English thOught-but