The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-08
By the Countess de pascal
CHAPTER III.
COpyrigAt, 1913, by Star Company.
Continued from Last Sunday

THE order to prepare my chateau for Field Marshal
Won Hndenburg and Obergeneral Won Dudendorf
= was brought me by aide attached to the staH
Of the artillery corps which, have described before,
had requisitioned my home, myself and my servants
Gin two hours they will be here Madame the aide
said The house must be fully prepared for their recep
ton. They will rest here for the night at least"
This meant that in hours had to rearrange
pletey the furnishings of my rooms divide the upper
floors of the chateau into two suites and provide else
where for the officers accompanying the two generals in
chief To do this had to remove for the night the be-
longngs of the artillery staff officers who regularly occu
pied these rooms heavy pieces of furniture, super
intend the preparation of unusually elaborate meal
from stores provided by the nvaderS-and all with no
other assistance than that OF Madeleine the refugee from
the Chateau Abaneourt of whom told last Sunday two
other young girls who lived with me- and my women SER
wants The preparations supernended by the aide
but he did not deign to help.
Promptly at the end Of the twohour period the gray
automobiles which had pass the chateau earlier In
the day. going to Epinoy the nearby town. drew up IN
front of the chateau dozen or more stan otficers
leaped out of the machines and stood attention two
lines inside the chateau gate porty pompous general
whom recognized General Stenger commander OF the
sector stepped out of and behind him two DINERS
Won HIndenburg and Ludendorf.
General Stenger and Major Ellmann, who after
ward learned chief of the personal staff of Won Hin
denburg, entered the chateau first Obeylng an order
by the aide had assembled all the members OF my house
hold and stood with htem at the of the great receP
ton Hail. Hindenburg Ludendorf and General Stenger
paid no attention to u.s. Hindenburg stepped at once into
the salon. followed by the others. Major Elmann how
ever crossed the reception hail. and when had been
pointed out TO him by the aide the mistress OF the
chateau, addressed me:
'You will be held personally responsible for the com.
fort and the attendance of servants their Exceen
ceS. You will inform your servants For any mat
tenton they shall be Immediately disciplined You will
now accompany me-
followed him into the salon where Hindenburg and
Ludendor were seated. with Stenger standing at
side, and other officers grouped about
This is the tenant of the chateau your EXcelencieS,
Major Emann said when he had stood at attention until
Hindenburg took notice of him. 1t at evident
the custom to bring temporary hostess be-
fore the Marshal
1t would be difficult to describe my feelings stood
before all these officers two of them holding in their
hands the destines of the German Empire and all TO-
eher sybozing the cruelty treachery and ruhlessness
which were bathing the world in and blood felt
no thrill of awe-ony repugnance and womans fear.
/ could see only Iindenburg who impressed me as an
enormous mountain of feSh-the embodiment of force
The Field Marshal turned his head Just enough to
scan me from head to feet He passed his eyes
only once and then turned them away He made sign
of the lesser things of the earth to give them than
passing notice
Ludendorff looked at if were not there at all
remember l shrank little when turned my eyes into
his felt as if were transparent-as if he looking
through my body and at something behind me.
Major Elmann knew his chiefs. He Interpreted their
silence as desire to have the ceremony of examination
of their hostess with. He touched me on the arm
''You are dismissed Madame"
He followed me out of the and gave me insruc-
tons for the serving of the meal soldier chef and his
assistants took possession of the kitchens The visitors
would eat in the room-my dining rOom-the officer