COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 28 March 1895, Page 6

COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

FROM itHE OEEMAN OP

MATALY YON HSLESTMVTS.

CHAPTER XXIII-(Gontinued),

It had ceased snowing, but still ib was stormy and cold. The sky gleamed like a sea filled with bluish sparks, white veiled gleamed the pines in the first moonbeams which, still struggling, floated like silvery mist through the branches. ,

Enveloped in soft, .delightfully warm fnr, Xenia sab by Janek's side in the sleigh, which new like" a shadow over the snow. The eilence of the grave reigned in the wide forest. , The torches flared in the hands of the saddle-riders and sent their bluish red lighta over bhe pines by the way, sparka flashed and bhen whirled' over the snow. The horses snorted and reared wildly with flying tnanes, as they flew ..-.onward. A weird, romantic journey ib was. Two frightened birds swept like dark shadows away over the slefgh; their harah cries died away on the wind, which, becoming stronger, played roughly with Xenia's headcovering. Janek, without a word, lifted the fur higher round her neck—in vain ; a gust of wind threw ib back again. In order to hold ib in its place, he rested his arm behind it—Xenia felt ib; as though Btarbled her head shrank away from him. * Fear nobbing, Xenia. There is a thick, protecting wall of fur between you and the rebellious Polish blood '— He said this calmly and softly, nevertheless there was a Blight tinge of bitterness in his voice. She made no reply, but raising her hand Bhe pushed the fioe marten slowly to one Bide, and: leaned her head firmly on his arm. , • ' Kosynier!' ' Koaynier!' roared the wind exultingly through the branches.

The Ulan officers sab in the Caaino at breakfast. Janek Proczna had become a regular guest; and to-day, as usual, leaning on Hechelberg's arm, he entered the diningball to chat an hour away. 'The gentlemen who are disengaged please step forward- and have a game of Tarok. . . . We count upon you, Froczna—pour passer le temps. Your brain will become befuddled with ennui if you do not have something to wake you up.' • I am at your service.' • What aay you to a glass of Chateau Yquem? Your health; Paprico!' 'Ha, ha! the lion has tasted blood. Well! ihoriDieu ! your Highness, to help to keep your eyes open, I'll assist. Take a hand ?' ~ :_ ' Certainly !—one — two—settled—good, , . . Sharpen your wits. I have won and I'll invite you to a healthy bottle of poison.' • The deuce ! Our brave Captain a cneval had an unlucky love affair with the Blender beauties of Chateau Yquem and its vicinity.' . •To err is human, my dear Flanders. I hate this kind—and, indeed, all feminines that lace themselves with twine, wire and tinfoil.'

Hechelberg, -leaning hia, arms upon the fcaßlei^and.^mainng'jp wry^face, called for •Air! air! 1

'I hate them, and, therefore—l exterminate them whereVer I inset them.' Loud and merry applause. Tbo corks popped, and, like liquid gold, the wine gurgled into the delicate cut glasses. • • Death and destruction to all superfluous wine, messieurs !' • Bravo !— pereat !—we follow you, captain I'r-and the glasses clinked melodiously together. ' By the way, Proczna, you will tread'the light fantastic at.Gower's, will you nob?' Heller-Huningen pressed eagerly forward, with a countenance betraying the deepest interest.

'With all the grace and. spirit that) belongs to me.' ' August Ferdinand has issued a personal order, in which he urgently 'requests bho regiment to be pre3enb in full numbers, '©adame Gartner will cut a pretty faco. *Merci.' •She will isßue some parole, which will cause the Gowers to have unpleasant experience with their onforced guests.' ' Have you made your engagements f • Not yet; but lam going after a while to the Villa Florian to make them.' A treasonable expression quivered about his lips, bub Donat gaving him a mistrustful glance, continued : ' But certainly nob for the cotillion ?' '■'■'■' For what else, pray ?' ' Certainly not with Bicky ?' Proczna shrugged his shoulders. '•Wretch 1 I'll twist that neck of yours.' •That the stronger can do at any time. To gain the advantage would be io better taste. 1' 1 Thunder and lightning, I'll fast for six long weeks on hash, if you snap the little one away from me. Bicky's cotillion belongs to me !' •Not yet.' «But it certainly Bhall, just so sure as I sit on this four legged chair.' ■ «A written engagement is not binding ; it is necessary to have a promise from Bicky's own mouth.' •Good—suite me. The deuce take any engagement you may make. Ho, there, ordinary? Cap and saber !' Proczna, with the greatest nonchalance, lit a cigar. •Do: not.let your heels run away with you, my dear fellow. Bicky has driven out'with Xenia to the forester's lodge. At three precisely she will return; and at three precisely I shall be in at the Villa Florian.' ' Bassa meneVca !' Donab set his arms akimbo, and shook his handsomo head, half incredulously, half mistrustfully. •Catch a weasel asleep, old fellow. Ido tot trust this flag of truce.- I musb convince myself with my own eyes, and then poet myself at my-own window, seize the carriage on its return, and in case of necessity throw myself before the wheels, and make my engagement with breaking ribs.' " Janefi: rose also, and with great indifference turned toward Hecholberg: 'My ■worthy captain, will you be kiud enough to do me a favour ?' • Anything—except to marry.- , 'Place this, the youngest lieutenant of your squadron, on* duty to-day at three o'clock.' ~ ■ • Donat rose like an enraged lion, seized his cap and saber, and, dashing everything to right and left, tore oub of the mess like a roadman. • I shall send an orderly to you, Bea.utypatch !' cried.Hechelberg, his little eyes twinkling with malicioua pleasure. - 'The deuce take you if you neglect the recruit 3. Vault— >fence—drill—' . " , The door closed with a bang, Prince Heller-Hungingen did nob hear another syllable^ but Proczna threw himself in a chairapd laughed a duet with the captain at his expense. , -.. . ■'..- ---' How atrociously you have tormented the j.oor lioutenant.' "Donab stormed toward the Villa Florian, and learnod thafc the ladies were "Wot ex-, pecbed bo return from their rido until three • o'clock. As though hunted down he fca«tenod to hisVdwelltng. •Robert, I ata ab homo to no one,' he ..'■': ■;;; /4 '• \ '■.';/;,■ ■;". .■

conatnauded, inia feverish excitement,5 * and particularly nob' to an orderly. I refuse'to eeo anyone, yon understand:' 'As you command, lieutenant.' Beauty-patch took up his posb of observation behind the curtain. Aha—there come Hechelberg and Proczna, arm-in-arm, straggling along. Now they fix themselves before his windows, and fairly bend double with laughter—and behind them—Thunder and lightning !—fire and bombardment! an orderly, with the ominous leathern portfolio under his arm. _ Klin-gorling ! 'Lieutenant is ; nob at homo/ Tramp, tramp, down the staita again. It is reported to the Captain, who gires another ehorb order. The ordinary now crosses the street and takes up his post before the Prince's door. . Thunder and lightning ! Under surveillance ! Hechelberg and Proczna in the meantime awing to and fro, up and down the pavement, like two pendulums, and laugh as though they are enjoying an immense joke at some one's expenae. Donat's finger tips tingled, and he felt as though he could spring oub of his skin with rage. • . ' How they enjoy cracking their jokes over their sharp tricks. That Proczna is ripe for Satan. Nothing seems sacred to him, nothing—not even the love of a young .lieutenant—and Hechetberg, fab and boaatful as a Falstaff, the grey-haired sinner. Just look at the fellow, swaggering with his fee b far apart), and grinning up at the window as though his eyes were boring a hole through the curtain.' Donat shook his fist as though he would break the window. ' Bub wait, you satanic breed. lam nob caught yet. Robert!' ' Your orders, Lieutenant.' 'Order the closed carriage in readiness, immediately, around by the street-door; juat as soon as you see the Countess Dynar's equipage coming up bhe street — you know them very well by the two Isabella—then let my coupe drive up to the entrance. I shall spring in, and you follow in a sharp gallop behind the Countess. Understand ? Here is a purae if you manage the affair wall.' Huningen threw hia heavy portmonnaie upon the table, bub Robert simply replied, 1 Ab your command, Lieutenant.' And he made a brillianb succeaa. of the affair. The coupe drew up aB directed. Donat sprang in without looking to the left or the right, and away it dashed behind the Dynar equipage up the streeb. 'Bub what was that ?' A dark shadow was thrown in the carriage—a dark figure outlined itself againsb bhe window. A million crosses. The orderly had sprung upon the carriage step. They drew up before the Villa Plorian. The door was thrown open, and a firm hand held the service-book toward the Prince. 'For 3 o'clock, racing and vaulting in the old parade ground, Lieutenant.' . 'D—dftf-' Doriab pushed the Orderly with both hands brusquely to one side, sprang bo the ground, and started toward Bicky, who stood with. eyes big with a3tonishmenb, hesitating, in the doorway. ' Bicky, may I please claim you ior the cotillion tomorrow evening ?' he cried, with a face red with excitemenb. The young lady is almost frightened to death. ' But, .Donat—' • Can I have bhe cotillion ?—Yes or no,' he (repeated, full of feverish impatience, stamping with both foeb. , * Yes—of course—bub why?' •Xenia! Xenia! you are witness that Bicky has granted me the cotillion. Mille merci. I shall see you this evening. Addio !' and, like a whirlwind, he turned and sprang, with two bounds, down the steps and into his carriage.' 'Well, now, give me your service bOOk: —■' ." ■ :ij '■>&■•■ ..-i'S" »'• The recruits noversaw Prince HellerHuningen in a better humour than on this afternoon, and Robert's ' cousin ' appeared the following Sunday ab church in a brand new dress. Of course Proczna and Hecbelberg turned green and yellow from pure malice and disappointment. (To be Continued.)