COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 75, 29 March 1895, Page 3

COUNTESS DYNAR OR, POLISH BLOOD.

I_OM THE GERMAN OS1

NATALY YON HSLfSSFSUTS.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Madame Gower spared neither pains nor expense for the ball imposed upon her, upon whose every feature was impressed bhe mobbo • Noblesse oblige.7

The comparatively narrow dimensions Of her modest dwelling necessitated the rearrangement of her household. Two obliging friends, wives of the infantry officers, had kindly loaned her the necessary glass, silver and crystal; and what was needed in the way of service was supplied by hired servants in borrowed livery, whose lack of braining caused the poor lady many a sigh, and the wreck of many costly pieces of china.

Ab lasb the clock sounded the hour pointed for opening ■ the dancing-ball, which waa to receive the company not only dissimilar in taste, diverse in opinions* bub positively so-antagonistic in feeling thab the thoughb of bringing them together in any degree of ■ harmony was sufficient to cause any host to stand aghast. August Ferdinand wished the two hostile factions and army corps to confront each other, and the Gowers were to furnish the battlefield, with bhe disagreeable proapecb of receiving upon their shoulders the cues and thrusts that must inevibably fall liko hail from bobh sides.

The young Ulan officers presented themselves with marked punctuality; they clinked their spurs aba measured distance before bhe slender figure of their hostess, who was attired in apricob coloured bulle ; bowed bheir well-frizzed headsi politely over their stiff collars, and bhen immediately occupied a position in bhe vicinity of bhe door,.where bhey formed -a fixed and exclusive phalanx.

What a gauntlet to run. They were mostly arroganb faces thab mustered the arriving personages wibh supercilious Bcrubiny, which, bhough silent, sounded its judgmenb shrilly enough inbo bhe ears of bhose for whom ib was intended. Bub how changed bbc picture when some well-known lady of the creme, wich haughty air, Bwept over the threshold. The Counbesees Ebbeabach and Tarenberg arrived ab bhe same time wibh Excellenz Garbner.

' Ah, charmant ! Delightful! — Permit me to kiss your hand, my dear countess I— Voila, the station of the invincible cavalry. Ah, they are forming in cotillion. Will your Excellenz permit me to engage my soul to you in the dance ?' .The ladies, wibh an air of favoured condescension, had scarcely time bo greeb the host arid hostess, while bhe Ulans separated themselves from bhe rest of the company as though protecbed by a Chineee wall. Lieutenanb Gower pressed forward and bowed before Excellenz Gartner: ' Will your Excellenz permit me to present you to tho other ladies and genblemen ?'

Leonie's indefinable glance swepb bhe hall; then, wibh a shrug of bhe shoulders, and lisbless indifference: ' Mon Dieu, wherefore,, my dear Mr Gower, thia endless bowing llt is horribly tedious—and indeed all to no purpose.' A low bitter ran round the circle, but Flanders bwisted his moustache ends inbo sharper poinbß, and added while his rapid glances passed roundi the circle, *We are all very well acquainted h&ro ; and, indeed, thab ia quite sufficienb.' Lieutenanb Cower bowed, and without a word further withdrew.

The Lord Chamberlain Yon Drach, together wibh his wife and daugbber, now entered, followed by'the Counbess Dynar and her brobher. She appeared more charming bhan ever. Her whole, countenance fairly radiated wibh happiness; never before had the cold, proud face exhibibed Such bewitching loveliness. White silk gauze, embroidered with pearls, that glistened like falling spray, flowed like sea foam around her slender form. Bouquets of that most delicate shade of the hop blossom, nestled in her bosom and bair, simple and yeb of exquisite taste was bhe whole arrangement, To all for the firsb time, an air of sweeb maidenhood hovered about the dewy freshness of Xenia's whole appearance. The genblemen pressed eagerly forward bo surround them and bar their-further passage through the hall; bub Proczna, without releasing the arm of the Countess, jestingly pressed the crowd to one side and made his way toward his host and hostess. A hearby and unaffecbed greeting followed. Bicky had directed Cousin Donat's steps in the path followed by Janek, and pressing Madame Gower's hand with undisguised joy, she assured ber again and again how * frightfully! glad she was that she had come, and how eagerly she had longed for this evening. ' We have one aud all agreed bo cub the crowd yonder,' hissed Madame Leonie inbo Xenia's ear. ' Flanders is almosb convulsed with suppressed laughber ab the thought of bhe ladies of our circle being swung round by these "cannon lieutenants." Then remember —cub off all advances from the very beginning.' Janek, who had been conversing with Lieutenant Gower, now approached Xenia.

' The Lieutenant has just asked me whether # his wife may presenb you to tho elderly ladies on the other side of the hall ?' Xenia bib. her lips. 'Certainly nob. None of the ladies of our circle permib ib.'

•Xenia—and. if I most earnesbly wish ib —beg of you as a favour, Xenia ?' Her breabh came faster, while her glance, softly beaming, sank into his pleading eyes. * Lead me bo them.'

Lieutenanb Gower' in the meanwhile had again approached bhe young officers. 'May I ask you, gentlemen, to write your names upon the young ladies' programmes for the dances? The two charming daughters of of the new Counsellor for the Governmenb, Yon Blachwitz, are our guesbs for bhe first time, and they have so few acquaintances,''- .-

Flanders settled his eye-glass upon the mosb arrogant of faces, and scrutinised the sisters from head to foot, then shrugging his shoulders:

'I regret, my dear sir—bub I prefer nob to prance around with new steeds this evening.'

Ringing laughter rewarded this specimen of his wit.

Excellenz Yon Garkner sank with a wearied air into a seat, and motioned Janek Proczna to her side. . \ ■ '

The 6ea-hued moire antique brain wound itself wibh changeful play of its silvery sheen about tbe feeb of the young Pole, and Madame Leonie herself, with half open lips, leaned her small head back upon the chair as though its wealbh of dark^ringlets were boo heavy a burden for ib bo bear.

' Are you here alone. Excellent ?'

The dark lashes veiled the brilliant eyes for a momenb. ' Enbirely alone. My husband is more seriously ill bhan ever,t but he did hob let me know until the lasb moment? in order to force me to drive here ; is very considerate, and does nob like to receive regrets instead of guests, himself.'V • And you came here willingly, Excellenzf V

Her bosom rose and fell; she pressed her* unfolded fan passionately against the lace and roses. .. 'Upbraid me for being unthankful, pleasure-loving, frivolous, Proczna.if you | will. Yes, I came here willingly. \lt would have cost me ray heart's

blood to have stayed ab home, for my whole soul, my whole • being breathes here, as though lured and bound by some demoniacal power—' He gazed into ber agitated face. 'I do not believe it, Madame Leonie.'

'And whab do you need to convince you?' _ r ' *'

' A proof that two dark eyes have become your fate, a proof thab bhay are all the world to you,' Her lips quivered ; then, .as though bound by an irresistable fascination, she stared up into the laughing face, which exercised such a mysterious power over the hearts of women. Then bhe eyes wavered and glowed with a sbrange lighb; •Well, then, Proczna, I will prove ib bo you.' She motioned with a glance for him to draw nearer. 'I shall drivo' back alone,' Bhe whispered, while her warm breath fanned, hi 3 cheeks.

At thab momenb tbe firab notes of bhe waltz resounded bhrough the ball, and the piping notes of the Counbess^ Kany's discordanb voice were heard asking for her 'petite Mignonne.' . Proczna, rising hastily, interrupted her. 'Caution, Excellenz. There are listening ears everywhere. You have a lead-pencil, a programme which, bhough ib is nob "rosa paper," can promise ere the morning's dawn my greatest happiness if ib bub bold a few intoxicating words. Dare I hope.'

She nodded almosb impetuously. ' Mr Yon Flanders,, ab that moment, pressed forward from one side and, bhe Countesd Kany from bhe other.

,' May I have the honour, Excellenz f—• Flanders, with a side glance ab Proczna, offered her his arm. 'Our waltz!- * ,

Leonie had risen to offer both hands to the maid of honour, then she clung confidenbially to the young officer's arm.

'Have you informed all of our circle?' • Cerbainly—everything is in excellent jorder.'-:-

Madame Yon Gartner turned toward Janek with a significant look in her flash-, ing eyes. * You are aware, without doubt, Counb, that we have completely isolated; ourselves from the other set? <We have already taken possession of the corner room yonder, and we Bball withdraw,/to it after each dance.' -7:.\ • Charmant !' and Proczna laughed aloud. ■ The Countess Kauy, in orange-coloured damask, took the lead as representative of the. 4 Court.' After making the rounds of the invited guests, addressing a gracious word here and there bo personages of rank, v and permitting the different introductions . I from bhe obher circle, she turned her back | ostensibly boward the Commander of the artillery regiment. All this was Btrictly iv accordance with the plan .devised by> 1 Madame Leonie for her confidante. And now occurred something almost pasb all belief. The Ulans withdrew after each dance with bheir ladies to the corner room, of which they had complete possession. Wibh bhe exception of Prince Heller- \ Huningen and Madame Yon Hoftraten, no one belonging to the regiment danced wibh Lieutenanb Gower's guests, nor even with the hostess herself. The Countess Dynar, of whom one had leaeb expected such a thing, danced twice with strange gentlemen, one belonging bo the artillery, bhe other to the infantry, and opened the ball with Lieutenanb Gower at tha same time With a;second couple, Counb Hechelberg and.the Princess Reuseck.

Everyone was as much charmed with tbe amiability of tbe so-called cold and haughty Countess Dynar and the originality of Madame Yon Hoftraten, as they were disgusted with the conducb of the other ladies and gentlemen.

Never before was tha antagonism of the regiments broughb more rudely to light than upon bhis evening. Instead of drawing the two factions together, bhe gulf bebween bhem was widened, and bhe seeds of; discord sown more abundanbly than ever 'before.-' -■' ■ -■ -.-..:•---'- : :,, ;y Proczna felt that Xenia's stolen glances were upon him, and that she waa closely observing him. "• Excellenz Gartner passed him in the dancing-hall and gave him a significanb glance. 'Keep my program' — and in greab haste she pressed her closely-folded card firmly in his hand.

Janek coolly unfolded it and gazed down at its contents. The whole surface of the card waß closely written:

•Drive home wibh me—leave the bouse somewhat earlier than I, and await me in x the carriage—in my boudoir we shall be entirely alone. I can answer for the discretion of my servants and my maid—and should there be talk ? Va bangue— l will trample the opinion of the whole world under my feeb if it should attempt to bar the way to your heart.'

Proczna's eyes glowed ; he concealed the precious card in the most secure pocket of bis portefeuille. On lifting his eyes be saw Flanders' eyes, in which there was an expression of unspeakable hate, fixed sharply upon him! ■ [To be Continued,)