COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 73, 27 March 1895, Page 6

COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

FEOM 2HE GKP.MAN OF

!_____ j_- YON .JESGSSTMJJfS.

CHAPTER XXIIL

__£shadow, of the twilight hour were sl<i*ly deepening in tlie forester's lodge.

An agreeable warmth pervaded the otily rootii; thfe bhllfincii in his willow cage which had already tucked his head under h.S.wihg,.repe .bed.now.and then, when any unusual noise aroused him. his melancholy iittilial- tatuti^a song Whose whole burden, giye'nin musical perfebtion, seemed to be •Life let us, cherish.' ~ .: -.obr^'bht very clean and orderly, waß th^ Sinai.low room, which served ab once as kitchen, sitting-room and sleeping apartment. On the other side of a partition a .'aw bleating, could be heard, in a small inc^v. ..ure intended originally as a store-room, j-j!^ now giv^n up to the goat for winter A'. Soun _ woman, dressed with a certain •_g-S r e^l- of refinement, in, spite of the indi„y^.vjV figarance of everything about her. g-g ori ..^.- lotv stool by bhe blazing fire, dancingV-^urly lieaded urchin, - Heydey, ridd'ai. "kI'_ llorse»' upon: her knee. In conclu._on'tKe'V oua^; horßemsn- wib*- a wild ci-'ow of d^iigk^- tumbled head over heels tdw__l;'__. f__. v ' b«b was rescued at the rigffb !il#n_Hß J>_' y .ar# T ]l- SWlnfr °. .„ m_fche^arn.iAvhiC/ h rl ma^ Q _ .»•. soar, alofb, as .faou£l- wings hk -1 suddenly grown from his young shoulder. . ,And w'bh alternate crowin'g-fndcai'es.inVß.^e greedy youngster called for more of bh *' V™ 8"* Pl^' \ nbll he was suddenly infettui .* *s■ ? y some strange, aristocratic strangers c ."_?£ ™odoor. and whirlinganto,-he room \>™_J the storm and the snow. . ' ... .... ~ .-,,_, , , Little, Max found hiuH self sadden]y and painfully neglected, and i' . consequence retreated into one corner wi.W 1 feh. 8t? 0*- **n the" meanwhile, the yom>.K mother ran hither.and thitner in anxioub to serve tlie sferango' lady," who eat'in ;Aa ™or 8 armchair, leaning hacklier head, v/ 1™ ita damp, goldori, ringlets,, and her eye ■' closed as though/she wero. asleep. :,.;-..-,." Little Max stared at her with v^jde open eyos. then,'turning his curly'little head, he carefully' examined the strange get *»tlemen tlmt stood rubbing their hand, befi'^the fire's -j glow; t The bullfinch express'ei;*. hw diaploas .re at the unwonted disturbance "■? crying' 'Life let us cherish,' and hoy!*** angrily, fromi perch' bo perch. No notiv"- 0, was taken of bim,' however. Count Dyna.!T than besought the huntsmen to send him a' eieigh and, warm furs from the city. The' forester'swife had lib, in "the "meanwhile," a small oil lamp .'.suspended from the ceiling; and' wibn' surprising,, d.xterity began1 to servo -Xonia., £>he placed'her Sunday"dress at. her service, and "sought withi skilful hand- - to arrange and dry her wet haii". In the beginning' Janek'had watched the proceedings with considerable uneasiness!, His sister, who suffered'no strange hand for attendant, whose proud bead. tossed haughtily i? the coarse gairme. tS of a_ poor woman came in contact with her own in the street,.was now obliged to put he.r delicate foeb''into 'shoes w'ho3^ol©s' glistetied with coarse nails, Formorly.bhe mere thought of such a thing would have' bordered on madness. ... ,- .-•,,'. :,- .'.-•'. . ~; •Sen. your ladyship here is a pair of stocking just from the noedje. 1.6 humaL-'a foot "has"worn them. The Wool is even still rough and hard, bub just the thing to ward" off a cold.*, I was waiting-maid for five years in the service of tho Baroness M.:, in Danzig. She always kept just'such a pair on hand to draw over hor silk'stockings when shewent sleighing.' . . Xenia. now sab up in her chair.' Sho seemed to have fullyrecovered. «'_f oa were a waiting-maid ? Oh;: that is indeed fortunate—then I can trust myself to- your care without further scruple. What vice warm" wool.' It will indeed do me a' good service. My shoes aro completely saturated with water. Pletise, will you have the kindness to change my shoes and stockings ?' .--..,.' Tho words were spoken very softly, as the young lady's glances 'wandered toward her foster-brother, who "in th_ moan, bile had taken, up his position before'the birfl- # cage, and .was . making every effort to in- - dnco'Mr Bullfinch to sing _ little sang for his benefit.,. ■ ._ .•I'll'kneel'before"your ladyship. Then the gentleman.will nob be ableto notice anything,' whispered ,the forester's wife, trying to calm hor. - Unfortunately w_ only have this one little room, arid the-weather is too bad to ask his lordship to go oub of doors.' Janefc, at that'mome'nt turned the back of bis chdir toward' them, with' the ostensible motive of examining the contents of his porlcfeuille. ''~ The letters and" characters;' like jubilant figures,.danced beneath hi 3 eyes, and. then, like dissolving view-, other pictures swept before his mental vision. Yeai. rolled backward and'a^ain he beard' the-snow-storm.-beating about the towers of Proezna, and again the golden blonde head of a child was laid confidingly upon hi." shoulder. • Suddenly he was aroused from his reverie, by hearing tenia's unusually heavy footsteps behing him. Loaning- on bhe back of his chair, sho laughed 'merrily as she gazed down ab her shoes. 'Ii would be impossible for me to surprise anyone now, and as for waltzing.! I doubb if that could be dona now, even with much effort Turn and gaze upon me, I have on a bran new pair of wooden shoes';' with a heart carved on tho toes?. The forester made them with.' hia own. hand for his little wife, was that nob perfectly charming of liim ?' Janek lookod down very much amused up.n the-tips of bhe plump little shoes, which ihe Countess Dynar thrusb from under the hem of her dress. ' Charming and gallant ab the samo bitPe! If the young husband is a Pole, which we mights suppose by tho form,of the slipper, he i." alsoa rogue in disguiso,' . ' Please explain your enigma.' J&nek had risen from his seat, and now stood, with an amui?ecl twinkle in his eyes, gnzii .r down upon the questioner. .'Tho Pole's favourite drinking cup is th. Shoe' of hia lady lovo, and he knows nc-...we'eter dr.... m_e intpxicatiag pleasure' than to enjoy it at ode full,' deiep draught for "__. Varmmr." A 'athall fo.t'and'argre_-thirst, one would chink,-in tlii. cacc, were inconsistent^ bub our genial, forester has proven to'us'there is a means of uniting, the two extremities.' •I'iii- are ozily mocking nl'y delicate chaussure!' - 1 Kevengo yourself by calling tho Polish custom senfcimerital.' 'Tbab would in my eyes be equal to a recognition.' . ■ 'A_ a matter of course, Xenia, you ar,e so purely German, and your German blood, coursing so catlmly and coolly through your veins, repels sentiment a3 absurdity, _nd fefvlcrentHusiasm; speaking as it: does- with its ppwerhvl. voice, op. fanaifcicisrn, 'You onco .aid to me.my ancestress '__-iii_ -.Vtis a mtid'•enthu'siasV and yeb she was only a passionate,woman, sentimental enough-.! to-'.-'sacrifice', a. certain truth for:an uncertain dream.'- - ••--' i Court tee. Dyivclr avoided his keen, almost •-penetrating-'-)glancel 'And you judge J ttnd co'tidciriiri my whole nation for a tew thoughtless rmearks from me. i". .'- •

He shook his head ''slowly. VI painfrwith fedld fit.oke. -and-.trong eolbur.. There are, however, many exceptions to every rule, and I hope,in;this ca^e.very many/— He broke off suddenly —' Are you warm again, and would, you< like ;Somebhing to strengthen you? „JPl'arm milk can be soon procured.;' ,--..-.. - -,;;■ 'No, no,'she interrupted hastily, ".I. do riot wish anything, and 1 feel perfectly re.bbred. It is so very comfortable here by the fire. I enjoy looking into bhe bright flau.es and gazing upon my unaccustomed surroundings. ...These, people seem to be very poor.' \

A. that; momenb two Unsteady libble feeb began to make their way across the room ; balancing himself with his chubby arms, little Max waddled up bo the strange lady, and-, crowing in-high glee, hid his __8 in the 'folds of her dress as though the heroic feab of the eolo-pronionade must havo given mutual pleasure. ...... -...'. .'v

Janek bastenod bo draw bhe little fellow away, and lifted him up on his arm. •Gome, come, you litble rogue I If ''-jrbu want bo make merry with anyone lefc ib be wibh me. If you wanb bo go bo. bbe pretty lady, you triusfc firsb have your baby hands and little bill washed.. Understand, libbk. Monsieur?'

Libble Max-, wibb an arm stretched to* ward Xenia, sbruggled with might and main to free himself.

* Why do you wish to alienate this adorer from me ? Come, give the fine litblp curly-head to me.'

Proczna appeared quite embarrassed. • Bub, Xenia, this litble commoner upon your lap,?'* •And suppose I am "sentimental" enough to find pleasure in it?'

'Do you remember long ago, poor children were always vary disagreeable to you. We shall pay well for tho presenb hospitality, you need nob impose any disagreeable task, upon yourself out of respecb to the forester's wife.'

Xenia bib her lips. 'Why do youeyer remind me of long, ago ?' she dried hastily.*Do you nob consider me sufficiently conservative to lay aside my childish faults with time?' And without Waiting for a response she quickly took the litble fellow from his arm and sab down again upon the chair by the hearth, and when the forester's wife returned from, the stall vyibh a foaming can of milk she held the libble fellow triumphantly . toward her. 'See, Martha, we have become fast friends.'

. Janek stepped to the window and began to drum vigorously .on the pane upon which bhe picture on the hearth faithfully reflected itself.

Behind him a merry mingling of chatting, laughing and crowing went oil. Little Max waa fed ; Xenia held him a libble awkwardly, bub still she managed bo keep tbe iriilk glass to his rosy mouth. Mistress Martha beamed with pride and maternal joy. Upon being pressed by .he young lady she related her past life. S-0 had been a, .waiting-maid, very muc. spoiledand vory high-minded, as all of hor class were. No one was good enough f6r her until suddenly the righb one came, along, gay, handsome as a picture and poor a.' a church mouse. Then-there was no moro reflection: ExnltiDg with happiness ebb bade farewell to her easy life arid followed her dashing grenadier when he obtained this moddst' post in the forest.

•'And do you never long bo return to the

ciby-'?' The young wife broke oub in a happy laugh. ' Ah, my dear lady, when you love another* with your wholo hearb a deserb would nob be lonesome. And nob till then can you .really understand that a very little is necessary to make ono happy. My Franz is a* dashing, handsome man, and if we were iti the city I would always be jealous of him, and every pretty girl would be gall and poison to me. Here he belongs to me alone —here, where there is only forest and' Heaven :'■ and although this kind of a-life is a very hard one, I would never, never be willing' to return to the city.'

Jariek turned his head to take a stolen he saw beautiful head bent forward, as though in deep thought. Suddenly sleigh-bolls ra_g out on bhe 'nighb air,, then the brighb red glare of -torches ..ell athwart the snow, and in a few momentsthe light.stamping and pawing ot horses' hoo^S were heard before the door. Xenia stepped close to Proczna'a. side and looked L-teseachingly up into his face. •Havo you ai_f V-oney with you, Janek? I wish to expn>s_\my thanks by a little gift. Mistress M_*. ha cannob come to the ,city, and I shall nt_ bo able to ride out to her for some time. • As a matter of c. urse, Xenia, my puree wa9 to have been left here.' • Oh, let me give it fo her!' 4 With my whole heari.V-_- voila— dispose of it as you wish!' Laughing, she nodded her thanks, then hastening to libble Max, who had been again seated upon his etraw-woten mat in the corner, sho poured her golden gifb inbo his lap. \ ■: Bright tears -coursed over the ebeoks of the forester's wife a. she kissed the...slender hand of the giver again and again. £b had always been Xenia'a habit to give liberal contributions to the poor box arid every socieby interested- in behalf of the neei-ly. yet now ib seemed as bhough she had opent'd her hand for the first time to do a geuerou^ deed. j '-..'." (To be Continued.)