t an outpost
near here with one of my comrades, but he'll certainly be back soon. You
won't have to wait above fifteen minutes."

"I'll wait with pleasure," responded the Prussian. "Eugen's wound was
not very serious, I judge. I looked for him in the hospital and heard
that he had gone on a visit to the outpost, but would probably be back
shortly, so I thought I'd come over and see him at once."

"The wound was but a slight one, a shot in the arm, but not deep; it's
almost healed now, but Stahlberg cannot use it in active service for
some time yet. You are acquainted with him?"

"Oh, yes, I was a kinsman of his sister's late husband. I see you do
not remember me. My name is Willibald von Eschenhagen. I have met your
highness several times in past years."

"At Fuerstenstein!" exclaimed Egon with animation. "Certainly, now I
remember you well, but it is wonderful what a change the uniform makes
in one's appearance. I didn't recognize you at all at first."

He cast an admiring, surprised glance at the tall, handsome man whom he
had once ridiculed as a cabbage grower, but who looked so brave and
manly in his military dress. It was not the uniform which had so altered
Willibald; love, camp life and entire change from the old monotonous
existence had done it. The young heir was no longer a "weak tool," as
his uncle Schoenau had called him, but a brave, determined, genuine man.

"Our former meetings have been but fleeting," the prince went on, "so
you must forgive the liberty if I offer you my congratulations; you are
betrothed, I believe to--"

"I believe your highness is laboring under a mistake," Willibald
interrupted him, with some embarrassment. "When I last saw you at
Fuerstenstein I was to be the future son of that house, but--"

"That's all changed," interrupted Egon, laughing. "I know all about it
from a comrade of mine, Lieutenant Walldorf, who is to marry your
cousin, Fraeulein von Schoenau. My words had reference to Fraeulein
Marietta Volkmar."

"Now Frau von Eschenhagen."

"What! you are a married man?"

"And have been for five months. We were married just before I marched,
and my wife is at Burgsdorf with my mother."

"Then I can congratulate you upon your marriage. But seriously, Herr
Comrade, I ought to call you to account for your robbery of an artist
from our midst. Please tell your wife that the whole city is in
sackcloth and ashes over her loss."

"I will tell her, although I think the city