River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-23

peace was the greatest thing in the
world
The carriage drove on; Minna, on
the box, crossed herself at sight of the
church, and chatted with the driver,
a great figure who crowded her TO the
very edge of the seat.
81 am glad to be here" she said. 81
am sick of grandeur. My home is in
Etzel." She turned and inspected the
conner, think?"
'I have but just come to Etzel."
''Then you cannot tell me about my
people," She was disappointed.
"And you," inquired the driver,
"you will stay for visit?'
ga week only. But better than moth
ing"
after that, you return to the city?"
''Yes. Madame the cOuntess-yOu
would know, if you were Etzel-born-
madame the countess is lady in wait
ing to her royal highness, the Arch
duchess Annunciata."
"Sow said the driver. But he was
not curious, and the broken road de-
manded his attention. He was but
newly come, so very newly that he did
not know his way, and once made a
wrong turning.
The countess relaxed. She slept
that night.
When she had breakfasted and
dressed, she went out on a balcony,
and looked down at the valley. Her
eyes dropped to the old wall below,
where in the sunshine the caretaker
was beating a rug. Close to him, in in
innate and cautious conversation, was
the driver of the night before. Glanc-
ing up, they saw her and at once
separated.
Gone was peace, then. The countess
knew-knew certainly. sour eyes see
everywhere" Eyes, indeed-eyes that
even now the caretaker raised furtive-
ly from his rug.
Nevertheless, the countess was
minded to experiment, to be certain.
For none is so suspicious, she knew,
as one who fears suspicion. None so
guilty as the guilty. During the fore
noon she walked through the woods,
going briskly, with vigorous, mountain
bred feet. No crackle of underbrush
disturbed her. Swift turnings revealed
no lurking figures skulking behind the
trunks of trees. But where an ancient
stone bridge crossed a mountain
stream. she came on the huge driver
of the night before refectively fish
ing.
He saluted her gravely, and the
countess paused and looked at him.
"You have caught no fish, my friend?"
she said.
.No, madame. But one plays about
my hook"
She turned back. Eyes everywhere,
and arms, great hairy arms. And feet
that, for all their size, must step
lightly!
On the second day she made des-
perate resolve, and enthusiastically
put it into execution at once. She
sent for the caretaker. When he came,
uneasy, for the Loscheks were justly
feared in the countryside, and even
the thing Of which he knew gave him
small courage, she lost no time in
evasion.
"Go," she said, land bring here your
accomplish"
"My accomplice, madame! / do
not"
''You heard me-" she said.
He turned, half sullen, half terrified,
and paused. (Which do you refer to,
madameY
She had seen onlys the one. Then
there were others. Who could tell
how many others?
sThe one who drove here"
So he went, leaving her to desperate
reflection. When he returned, it was
to usher in the heavy figure Of the
spy.
(which of you is in authority?' she
demanded.
81, madame" It was the spy who
spoke.
She dismissed the caretaker with
gesture.
"Have you any discretion over me?
Or must you refer matters to those
who sent yOu?"
ST must refer to them.''
"How long will 1t take to send
message and receive reply?"
He considered. Until tomorrow
night, madame"
Another day gone, then, and nothing
determined!
"Now, isten," she said, "and listen
carefully. 1 have come here to decide
O certain question. Whether you know
what that question is or not, does not
matter. But before decide it must
take a certain journey. wish to make
that journey. 1t is into Karnia."
She watched him. '1t is impossible.
My instructions"
81 am not asking your permission.
I wish to send a letter to the commit
tee. They, and they alone, will de-
termine this thing. VIII you send the
letter."
When he hesitated. DerDleXed. she