COUNTESS DYNAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1895, Page 3

COUNTESS DYNAR.

OR,

POLISH BLOOD.

J-ROM THE GERMAN OF

NATALYZVOii FaSOESTEUTS.

CHAPTER XVIL--(Continued')

' YoOR friend,' said Madame Yon Gartner, _ is the Counsellor of the Legation, Marchese de la Branca ?'

Janek made a motion with his head, which might be construed as* No' jusb as well -as * Yes.' Leonie, however, hastily continued : ' Cest ca— does he still/love the. princess ?'* 'He who has made Anna Regitia the essence of his life will never resign this love;' ' .',: . ; ..-.-■ , JIV ...

'Peculiar fantasies-.albhough her timid Highness has, so to speak, only regaled, him with icy kisses. You know tbab I have baken the.whole affair into my own hand.1

' As a matter of course!—Branca referred me to you. As he paints with a full.pencil and bold strokes, he does nob -like to trouble himself with details: the characteristic lights and shades qf the picture he entrusts to your skilful^/ eriergebic and charming littlo hand.' 7

"Flatterer! Did he at leasbgive you, any particulars of their early acquaintance? Anpa: Regina declares tbab she only gave bhe handsome Murchese. the preference in the cotillions, perhaps a little too often. Of course this was a delicious morsel for the gossips in her native city, who spread the report bhab she had contracted a secret marriage with the Counsellor of the Legation. Do yon know whether there even existed sT secret promise of the kind ?' ~ 7

Leonie's eyes sparkled and the soft, jewelled finger?, thab closed more tightly upon Janek's right hand, were like sharp claws, ;greedy for prey, clutching for their victim.

'I beg of you, Eic_llency T do nob forget bhab we write down 'platbnic Germany as a " place of action !" Poor* Carlo, yearns, like bhe pine forits/distant palm.' A sigh, a smile, v'oila toiit. ", Anna Kegina never oveti permibted him the pressure of her delicate finger ' tips, and Branca . was enthusiast enough to'set up in his heart bhis sainbly image, which bore the features of Anqri Regina.' " ' '"

Madame Yon Gartner shrugged her j shoulders with a half scornful, half disappointed air, 'What a white raven among j, his coal - black comrades. Generally s Bpeaking, these worehippera , offer c up their sacrifices upon a different a kind of altar, and, bo boll the truth, j I much prefer the flame that burns to the - eternal little lamp that only, shines. Bub a if the whole courtship did bub amount to a slight paroxysm of sentimentality; why ' should Auguab Ferdinand be so jealous?' 'Because, as is well known, he bad a 1 very sad experience with his firsb wife, and: bhe world likes, as you well know,: to make .a mountain oub of a mole-hill. But you were jusb about to give an account of the "manner in which you became lady patroness' - of this lyric pair.' .-- . ■•! . ■ Leonie nodded thoughtfully. 'Aboub a '■/•■ year ago Branca was ,here. Anna .Ra"giiia had, .'previous to. that, strongly attached herself to me,, and .sought ( advice,; and assistance in regard ; to. ( accommodative'i herself .to; !ier strange,:;_ •new--life here. -evening, deathly ' g pale from intense excitement, she whispered i thab she musb see me the following mornr \ ing and converse, undisturbed, with me t concerning a very important matter., At I an unusually early hour I presented myself, fc and after a short teie-atete. found myself t elevated to the rank of her most confidential t friend. I was informed" also thab Anna c Regina had received a letter from the j Marchese, in which he announced his visit ( on the following day, and ab the same time. c most humbly begged-her highness for a p letter of introduction to a certain personage c at the courbof X., where he, as Counsellor c of the Legation, had been transferred. f ' The Princess trembled with excitement, r for it had been bub a few-days previous ,i thab Augusb Ferdinand and she had had a quite a littletscene ofwhich jealousy was s the cause, She implored me to telegraph b Branca under my name,' Madame Yon ~\ Gartner interrupted herself and laughed ;- sharply. 'The whole affair was entirely E harmless, my dear Proczna, and if Anna Regina had not been--a little simpleton, she could have confuted immediately anything of a , compromising nature,» by > sending the petition of the Miarchese to her husband! Bnb she had com: 1 pletely losb her head—and I. ;. . Mon ( Dieu. . ... I was also completely discon- \ cerbed and confused. Had I, calmlycon- ( sidered- bhe matter as Ido bo-day I should: j have given her the above advice, but, as I t said before, an absurd and romantic idea \ induced me to encourage the princess in -r ber over-anxiety to keep the whole affair at secret. Besides, I pitied her, for I im- .* agined it was an unhappy love affair; and ■* instead of telegraphing, I invited Branca, c incognito, and surprised Apna Regina two ( days afterward by the laconic billet dotix: I "Carlo is here with me and begs a few I moments' audience. I guarantee perfect t eafeby and discretion." ' '- 'Aa a matter of course the little lady re- t plied in a billet, which sounded very much c like a rendezvous, and arrived here an > hour later, half dead with fear and, excite- j ment.' ... - { An indescribable expression lay upon Leonie's features, a cruel triumph of de- ( liberation and of cunning. . ..... '■..■.; .' Andthe conference took place in your •;] presence ?' • ( Her Excellency laughed aloud. ' Kb; ii Proczna ; I am not quite so indiscreet aa ■;< all that. Of course, Anna Regina would i nob permit me to leave the .room, sol stepped to the window-niche and counted I the bright window-panes in this markeb ] place. Another day I summoned the < Princess to give a personal reply to Branca, i I hoped to do the bwo a favour—bub a fact, ] Proczna—l might have remained calmly seated, for I never read in my life anything moVe bediou. and solid than the conversation of the two lovers, even in "H_uhnchen 1 and the Kuchlein," and would you believe I it, the Marchese is as handsome as a picture. _ioc till* after Her Highness bacl i given him a melting glance; graciously . permitted her hand to be kissed, and withdrawn, did I notice what dangerous eyes he had ; but thej'did not dawn full upon me until I had in some degree jested his sentimentality away, from his soul.', 'For the past I cannot make you responsible, you sorceress !' laughed Proczna with an expressive glance, ' bub for the future Ishall keep my-dear friend at a dis;, : tance. Happy Branca! I am alsosentiv mental, Excellency ; why are you pitiless for me alone? Why not jest the shadows from my heart■?' ' *; Leonie bowed her little head coquebtishly to one side : ' Because this time—l am m earnest.' '• '~ ' . .' \Vhy do ypu nob invito.me .bo visib you incognito?'" ', She bib her lipa and turned as though offended. ... ' You have made me wiser; I am very vain,.my eyes are just-as handsome ae'thooo of the Couhsollor'of the' Legation,' v , She gave' him] a hurried glancß..: ..,'* Just as handsome !-—how modest!'" ' 'And whab was right for him is proper^ for me--1 shall inaist upon.my right!' • ""«Tell'me l_ow you'wiU^begiD,'#Km" "petit fanfarw?'"" '" " "''-' '"''"'. '■ "" '-'^- •^•fm

'You bub mock yourself. I can show ,■ you.' 'And in whab way, if one may ask?' He bowed still lower over her. His eyes laughed as he spoke, yeb an- angry glow flashed from them through the laugh. * I shall not come to .practice music with you, until you invite me just as incognito and just as ''s«6 rosa" as theiMarchese.' 'Really? Mu3tpne be so polite as t0.'..;'.. believe thab ?' 'My word upon it.' She threw back her head and laughed convulsively. In the adjoining saloon footsteps were heard. A servant asked whether His Excellency could listen to the music. ■' Certainly !' ;, ' We will return to our notes, your Excellency.' Leonie rose slowly. *We shall drop the ' theme of our conversation, Proczna—until we take it up again—l mean Anna Regina's affair., I can rely upon you ?! and she laid '.;.-. her finger significantly upon her lips,; stepped close to his side, and gazed languishingly up into his face: ' There ia ho stronger tie thab binds two human souls . than a common secret, therefore I make you my confidant.' , •< x Janek bowed low over her hand. Ib was impossible to read the effect of these words in his countenance.

[2o be Continued.)