The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-15
chances at her. She felt q little ashamed,
and perhaps lust little disenchanted.

ored Fraulein, design 10 accept tnls ilttis
gift as a token of my good wishes and Of
my" Here he stopped short and turn
ed his soft blue eyes on her, and tried his
best TO lock love al her. But there was
something in her expression which dis
concerted him. In truth, the poetic dis
play had put her out little, and made
her feel impatient and she was out oil
tune with the whole affair, and it was not
the presence and the compliments of hon.
est Friedrich which could restore her. He
meant to have finished his little speech
with the words, sand of my love-" and
then to have gazed into her eyes in such
a manner as to compel from her some re.
sponsive glace to decide his fate one way
or the other. But the expression on her
face discouraged him, and he blankly
would up with the words, "and of my
friendship"
He placed in her hand costly silver
casket. She took 1t mechanically, said,
THANK you, Fritz" quietly and the per-
tormace had ended very unsatisfactory
for poor Fritz.
A light came in her eyes once again as
theodore approached. He was dressed
with quite unwonted and astonishing
richness, and looked, indeed, splendid
Young cavalier. Ilma's cheek flushed.
Was this her fathers worker2 He took
her hand with the grace and dignity Of q
courtier, and touched 1t with his lips.
II wish you many, many happy birth
DAYS, Fraulein lima. And you will AL
low me to offer you my present? See
how happy am that I can clasp it my
self on your arm"
Before she we'll knew what she was do
ing, magnificent diamond bracelet, q
gift for countess, glIttered on her arm.
"Ob, Theodore, / cannot accept such a
gift"
"Why not, dear Ilma?"
at is too splendid for me-"
"Nothing on earth is too good for you.
No, don't protest. l am not paying you
a compliment, dear one: l am speaking
the earnest truth"
"But it is too costly. 1 dare not take it.
What would my father SAY? Oh, Theo-
dore, where, how did you get this?"
He almost smiled at the simple
straightforwardness of the question:"
dearest lima, you may believe al
least that it was honorably mine to give,
and that it is now yours"
"But, Theodsre-Herr Theodore-l
have long thought it, and now know it
YOU are not really worker. You
have no right to be here. This is wrong
to nv father. There is some secret"
"Do you wish to know the secret,
Ilma?"
I-I suppose l do. l don't know"
"Let me tell you love you, let me
hear you say you will try to love me, and
YOU ahall know all. Trust me, dear girl,
there Is nothing to be told which can
make you ashamed of having listened to
me-"
His manner was at once bold and ten
der. He held her hand in his, and was
drawing her gently toward him. Was
ever girl so tempted? A mystery, a
splendid lover-one who clearly had
stopped from some higher sphere to win
her! But at that moment she seemed to
see the deep eyes Of Ernst upon her, and
there looked reproach from them on the
woman who was to be won by jewels.
She drew herself away.
"Not now, Herr Theodore" she said,
sweetly, but very firmly. ~ can say
nothing now. l must ask my father
whether / may keep your magnificent
present, In any case. am deeply
grateful to you"
"But YOU will tell me-
"Another time; perhaps tomorrow.
Oh, pray leave me now"
He kissed her hand fervently, she not
resisting, and he withdrew, not unsatis-
fed wholly.
The latter part of the scene had been
witnessed by Ernst. He now came up,
looking pale and sad. He spoke his for
NAL good wishes, and gave his gift-only
an amber ornament, beautifully wrought
by his own hands.
Have you nothing else to say to me,
Ernst2'
"Nothing, Fraulein Ilma-nothing
ne1o.'
The rest of the festival, after all, was
sad and weary to lima, and she saw
Ernst no more that day.
But the doings of the day opened some
how the eyes of Herr Dornbusch. He
saw that the youths we're the lovers ofhis
daughter, andhe sought her confidence
at once. For little as he would like her
to marry poor lad; yet he had so much
faith in her and love tor her that if he
knew her affections to be really given to
any boy, she should have him, were he a
beggar. AS in real life doubt whether
there are such alnt.hearted fathers as we
read of in poetry and romance.
lima made full and frank confession to
her father of her state of mind and her
doubts. He'was struck with much amaze
at the story of Theodore and the dia-
monds, but he thought that in her heart
lima leaned toward Ernst. For himself
he still would have preferred Friedrich.
However, the father and daughter con-
cocted little plot to try the comparative
strength eff the lovers affections. 1t was
very old. fashioned little plot, but they
thought it would serve, The moment a
distinct proposal was made to her, lima
was to mention the fact that her father
nau maue up uls Hiuu W SNo hei ~
dover whatever, on the ground that he
did not choose to be deserted in his de-
clining years, and if his daughter would
leave him, she should take mono Of his
gold along with her.
Next morning Conrad, the poet, offered
her his love in exquisite metaphor. She
listened, and seemed to yield. Then she
told him that whose married her would
marry a penniless maiden, and his
color changed, and he profcssed to be
incredulous. But she persisted, and he
began to look awkward and to stsmmer;
whereupon she waited for no more, but
flashed out IN superb scorn, and drove
him from her presence. He went away,
bitter of heart, full of anger. and lon ging
for revenge.
Now that very night lima was in her
bedroom half undressed, when she heard
the sound of PEBBLES pelted against the
glass OF her window. She peeped out
and saw a young man below who softly
called her name. She flung a shawl
round her shoulders, and crept down
stairs and admitted the youth, and
embraced him. And they talked to-