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figures and variations on steps which the other girls adopted。 She and
her especial friends became famous among the children throughout the
East Side； even grown people noted the grace and originality of a
particular group of girls； led by a black…haired； slim…legged one who
danced with all there was of her。 And how their mothers did whip them
when they returned from a day of this forbidden joy！ But they were off
again the next Saturdaywho would not pass a bad five minutes for the
sake of hours on hours of delight？
And Hilda was gone from his life； was sailing away on his shipwas it
not his ship？ was not its cargo his hopes and dreams and plans？was
sailing away with another man at the helm！ And he could do nothing
must sit dumb upon the shore。
At half…past twelve he closed the shop and； after the midday dinner
with his mother； went down to Brauner's。 Hilda was in the room back of
the shop； alone； and so agitated with her own affairs that she forgot to be
cold and contemptuous to Otto。 He bowed to her； then stood staring at
the framed picture of Die Wacht am Rhein as if he had never before seen
the wonderful lady in red and gold seated under a tree and gazing out over
the riverall the verses were underneath。 When he could stare at it no
longer he turned to the other wall where hung the target bearing the
marks of Paul Brauner's best shots in the prize contest he had won。 But
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he saw neither the lady watching the Rhine nor the target with its bullet
holes all in the bull's…eye ring； and its pendent festoon of medals。 He was
longing to pour out his love for her； to say to her the thousand things he
could say to the image of her in his mind when she was not near。 But he
could only stand； an awkward figure； at which she would have smiled if
she had seen it at all。
She went out into the shop。 While he was still trying to lay hold of
an end of the spinning tangle of his thoughts and draw it forth in the hope
that all would follow； she returned； fright in her eyes。 She clasped her
hands nervously and her cheeks blanched。 ‘‘Mr。 Feuerstein！'' she
exclaimed。 ‘‘And he's coming here！ What SHALL I do？''
‘‘What is the matter？'' he asked。
She turned upon him angrilyhe was the convenient vent for her
nervousness。 ‘‘It's all your fault！'' she exclaimed。 ‘‘They want to force
me to marry you。 And I dare not bring here the man I love。''
‘‘My fault？'' he muttered； dazed。 ‘‘I'm not to blame。''
‘‘Stupid！ You're always in the wayno wonder I HATE you！'' She
was clasping and unclasping her hands； trying to think； not conscious of
what she was saying。
‘‘Hate me？'' he repeated mechanically。 ‘‘Oh； nosurely not that。 No；
you can't''
‘‘Be still！ Let me think。 Ach！ Gott im Himmel！ He's in the hall！''
She sank wretchedly into a chair。 ‘‘Can you do nothing but gape and
mutter？'' In her desperation her tone was appealing。
‘‘He can say he came with me；'' said Otto。 ‘‘I'll stand for him。''
‘‘Yesyes！'' she cried。 ‘‘That will do！ Thank youthank you！''
And as the knock came at the door she opened it。 She had intended to be
reproachful； but she could not。 This splendid； romantic creature； with his
graceful hat and his golden hair and his velvet collar； was too compelling；
too overpowering。 Her adoring love put her at a hopeless disadvantage。
‘‘Oh Mr。 Feuerstein；'' she murmured； her color coming and going with
the rise and fall of her bosom。
Mr。 Feuerstein majestically removed his hat and turned a look of
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haughty inquiry upon Otto。 Otto's fists clenched he longed to discuss
the situation in the only way which seemed to him to meet its
requirements。
‘‘Hilda；'' said the actor； when he thought there had been a long enough
pause for an imposing entrance； ‘‘I have come to end the deceptionto
make you； before the world； as you are before Almighty God； my
affianced bride。''
‘‘Youyou mustn't；'' implored Hilda； her fears getting the better of her
awe。
‘‘If my parents learn nowjust now； they willoh； it will be hopeless！''
‘‘I can not delay； angel of my heart！'' He gave her the look that is the
theatrical convention for love beyond words。 ‘‘It must be settled at once。
I must know my fate。 I must put destiny to the touch and know
happiness orhell！''
‘‘Bah！'' thought Otto。 ‘‘He has to hurry mattershe must be in
trouble。 He's got to raise the wind at once。''
‘‘Mr。 FeuersteinCarl！'' pleaded Hilda。 ‘‘PLEASE try to be
practical。'' She went up to him； and Otto turned away； unable to bear the
sight of that look of love； tenderness and trust。 ‘‘You must notat least；
not right away。'' She turned to Otto。 ‘‘Help me； Otto。 Explain to
him。''
Heilig tried to put courtesy in his voice as he said to Mr。 Feuerstein：
‘‘Miss Brauner is right。 You'll only wreck herher happiness。 We're
plain people down here and don't understand these fine； grand ways。 You
must pass as my friend whom I brought herebut I make one condition。''
He drew a long breath and looked at Hilda。 For the first time she heard
him； the real Otto Heilig； speak。 ‘‘Hilda；'' he went on； ‘‘I don't want to
hurt you I'd do anything for you； except hurt you。 And I can't stand for
this felfor Mr。 Feuerstein； unless you'll promise me you won't marry him；
no matter what he may say； until your father has had a chance to find out
who and what he is。''
Mr。 Feuerstein drew himself up grandly。 ‘‘Who is this person； Miss
Brauner？'' he demanded with haughty coldness。
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‘‘He don't know any better；'' she replied hurriedly。 ‘‘He's an old
friend。 Trust me； Mr。 FeuerCarl！ Everything depends on it。''