The Price He Paid — page 158: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ICE BEGINS TO THAW. 149 which she was to forget, as he seemed to have for- gotten it. George Winterfeld’s name had not passed his lips since the day on which he had informed her that the assessor had left R—— to begin his new duties in the distant capital; but since then the baron himself had become more reserved and unapproach- able than ever. He governed and ordered every- thing with his accustomed promptness and energy; but between him and Gabrielle a great cleft seemed tu have opened, rendering all friendly communi- cation impossible. On the last day of their villeggiatura,the govern- or drove out to the Wiltens’ country-seat to fetch the ladies home. But the baroness had taken cold, and, the weather being raw and inclement, could not venture to undertake so long adrive. She had decided on staying the night, and returning to town the following day with Colonel Wilten and his wife. It was arranged, however, that Gabrielle should avail herself of her guardian’s escort. Raven, who had come over in the morning, wished to start again directly after dinner, and Colonel Wilten in vain sought to detain him. “T cannot stop,” said the baron, as the two talked together, pacing the garden-room the while. “In the present state of affairs it would not do for me to leave the town for more thanafew hours. Even for this short absence I had to take my precautions, | leaving word that I was to be sent for should any- thing happen.” “Ts the situation so critical, then?” asked the colonel, who had been out of town for the past week. “Oritical?’?’ Raven shrugged his -shoulders. “There is rather more brawling and noise than -usual, and every now and then we have an attempt at a riot; the good citizens, in short, are sufficiently giving me to understand the dishke entertained by them toward my person and government. I have had one or two apostles of liberty, who were de- creeing my deposition in open assembly, arrested, and hold them safely under lock and key. The whole city is in a state of sedition in consequence, Eomichooks:co