168
THE WEST SHORE.
A SILESIAN LOVE STORY.
NOT for from Breslau lios a wild pluin, where the
broken, rocky soil throws up fir trees, bushes and
myriads of wild flowers, that clnmbor cnrifling!y among
land Still, each fow miles, cluHtors of huts, a church
and a few big housos, testify to a population. One vil
Ingo boast, of a large castle, whose white towers are a
feature in tho landscajxi. Within the massive walls there
are vast halls, rich in carving, and full of old armor and
-.... I.!... .. !. .1 r, . ... ...
v..Tnim ui niicinuv weapons, une wing ot tlie castle is
OCCimiod bv Mm nmnlAiiii-i 4..1I t(l., 1.l
- 1 " VI..., DWtMJIJT iiuijr Ul KJI1JC
fifty years. Hor still golden masses of wavy hair are
ftarMfnllu mnnj .1 - t 1. t- i i . . .
..v ...... uiowii ubck irora nor nigu toreneau.
She movos her blue eyes slowly, hor lips unclose care
fully, for the countess is fighting a daily duol with Time,
and has acquired many a little knack of parrying his
thrust. She has so far succeeded in hor fight against
Time that as she reclines in hor iimnlin draperies in an
"M7"",r- "w prone camoo-iiie against the velvet, her
white arms carelessly poised-she still is undoubtedly a
A tall. Woll-Mfulo trirl with 1tn .J,.;.. , i
. , ""b uum urowu
hair falling ujn.n the blue and white dress, which seoms
omohow to match the blue eyes that look out of hor clear
.uuHuug ix.u.re ute countess, hor hnnds crossed.
On one of hor fingers is a plain gold ring. This is Lise,
the daughter of Herr Barmaun, a well-to-do farmer-a
distent connection of the noble family-who after his
wife a death, when Lisa vm m.;m .. ... ..
of the estate, sending his little daughter to be brought
-r -v - "m mwir iu xrotuion.
At first Lise used to stay with hor father during tho
aummer, and she and the young Count Alexis wore great
t.lMVmilfJ.ll Hut M.1 Al .... b
ttle incident that occurred caused the countess serious
U.ought irom that time it so banned Umt Alexis and
Lis never came home simultaneously. When Count
WIW . ,wwmill in the Prussian army
hapiwued to get leave. L so v.mM ....I.1....1 '
1... 1 . l -niiiouu Bummoueu
by her aunt on some pretext Just now tho countess re
nuMuborod with satisfaction that Alexis' last furlough was
only a month ago. It wa. better .0, even though 2
wa. now engaged to . aerious-iniuded, most satitfacto"
young solicitor in Dr y
Just now she was talking t Lise of her betrothed
1 ran. Ulnch, whose W,uare, aonsible faoa was picturS fa
the photograph Lise had brought to show the cZuZ
which he lady held in lor hmil ghmi .
concluded a long speech, eonUining much moral S
witV-and I ho, the engagement will not bo too
She .tepped abruptly, rose to her feel, and turned
fiery rod Quick footstep, with th. aouud of clS
.word and .pur. were followed by the entrance oTa Wl
young offioer The wa. a cry of "mother" in a ffiulv
rou. and a helmet d glove, clattered to IW. K
Uia counts wa. boisterously embraced by the last huma"
being ah. expected to we at that momenther aou.
" How why, what is this, Alexis? " There was more
annoyance than surprise in her tone, and she glanced at
Lise with a look that meant, "Go as quickly as you
please." Eut Lise stood, amassed, with parted lips, wide
open eyes and heaving breast Taken aback by the
strangeness of the tall figure, that one word "mother" by
its familiar tone took her back years in her life.
The tall young soldier, with the bright boyish face
and fair close-shaven head, turned, gave a short, staid
bow as he saw that a young lady was present, then sprang
forward, and clasping both her hands, cried, "Lisel Is
it possible ? Can it be you ? "
" To-morrow, my child," and the countess nodded sig
nificantly. Lise vanished, but Alexis sprang after her. "Lise,
don't go so soon. I have so much to sav to vmi " TW.
- j
alio was gone.
" Why, mother, you never told me how beautiful Lise
had grown," said the young soldier, as he unbuckled his
sword His mother picked up the photograph and
handed it to him. He looked nuzzlnd. WW. ho ti,;0
ugly fellow to do with me? "
He is to be Lise's husband."
"Lise married ? Wh v. fill ft ia a nliil1 Wl,n
rfi - vmhwi if uav cud vuu
all about?"
The countess dotaild T
, m H (jujmum, JJUU liillS
is waste of time," she continued, "talking over the affairs
ui uia inionciant s (laughter. How was it you got leave?"
While Alexis replied somewhat sulkily, his mothor
was thinking how to get Lise away. Lise had only been
home a few davs. Wli
a sudden idea flashed across her.
"I am glad it happened that you came to-day," she
began. "Had you arrived a day later you would not
have found us. To-morrow we start for Warmbrunn. I
am anxions about vour Ml
him to take the baths."
To her diBcomfiturA 5n ..ii,j i. 1 v: i .
tine old man, with piercing dark eyes and white hair.
rry you are not well," said Alexis, bending
from hi. altitude to kiss his father's hand
T ThIinan.taw(L " I never felt better. Who said
i was ill?" Im omM i.:i.i
"iu.y, lurningtoni. wife.
llie 0OUnte88 Was Annul dl.
i .1 , , 1- " wuwjiou. one gave a
engthy, roundabout explanation of her opinion of his
"waning health" to U.a Vltltif An1 il.n.. .'il A.
... r -MW u moil, WUUOUb pauHinir.
Bmilingly suggested to Alexis that he required rest before
"" mnner. As soon as the door closed the
oountes. manner chanmwl hi.. .1 . . .
l.. 11 , . 0 ""y uarrieu ner win
with her husband by storm. So she burst into a tirade-
AlL. 1 w ?yin8 il woa- 0lat keeping
haveLTi n t.g,rl "P & year., they should
ml m ,Sh6 h8d hBd PreBenUment
aome mischief would oomn nf t,.t :t..- t. :l
ZZ .5? WM '-PlyindiBpensabletothem,
fear " w Ulffl onoe-then there would be no
However, the adioummAnt Inlli. k.tl ITT 1
wa. not to bel The unpleasant excitement produced an