The Price He Paid — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

ASSESSOR WINTERFELD’S PAMPHLET. 177 He gave his hand to the colonel, who, after a few parting words, left the room, while the baron re- turned to his writing-table, on which last night’s dispatches still lay, and began a letter to the minister. Baroness von Harder had reached the castle some hours previously, and had been received by her daughter alone, a circumstance which had given umbrage to the lady. It argued, she said, great dis- respect on her brother-in-law’s part that he could not tear himself away from his business, for a few minutes at least, to welcome her. _ Gabrielle had, indeed, hardly been able to conceal from her mother the agitation and anxiety which were consuming her. The baron had not shown himself all day; he had even sent in an excuse at breakfast-time. She knew that, in consequence of last night’s events, he had been incessantly occupied from early morning, that special messengers had pressed on each other’s heels, and that audiences and conferences without respite were being held in his study ; but she knew also that, 1n spite of everything, he would find time, must find time, to come to her, if only forafew minutes. “Until to-morrow.” The words, spoken with passionate tenderness, still rang in her ears. The morning had come; all the fore- noon had passed. Raven did not appear; he sent no word, no line, and a very mountain-load of care seemed to weigh on the young girl’s heart. What could have happened? Twelve o’clock struck.. Gabrielle was sitting alone in her mother’s boudoir, when at length she really heard, in the ante-room, the quick steady steps which a hundred times that morning she had heard in fancy. She drew a deep breath, and lis- tened with beating heart. Her cheeks, so palea minute before, were dyed now a deep crimson. Anxiety, care, apprehension, all were forgotten in this moment, as the door opened andthe baron came in. “T wish to speak to you,” he said briefly, without any preface. “Are we alone?” Gabrielle bent her head affirmatively. Her im- GComicbooks (E()