The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-15

of yours could be of the slightest consid.
GRAFTON; and he is so fond of me that he
will deny me nothing. Once we are
married, he will receive us. Tell me you
love me; then will tell you who am"
She prayed him too TO wait-only q
few hours, perhaps. She wished to give
Ernst also a chance. But Ernst never
spoke.
An hour after these six personages-
the father, the daughter and the four
youths-were assembled for breakfast.
The father had said prayer and all were
silent, when suddenly out broke Conrad:
"Herr Dornbusch, I am sorry to grieve
your good heart, but / dare not conceal
what l know to be only too true. Your
! daughter deceives you and disgraces you.
Last night at 10 o'clock, she stole down
stairs and admitted man to her cham
ber."
Fancy the scene which these words
created! lima started up with scream
of shame and anger, and was about to cry
out the whole truth, when some sudden
thought babe her stop. and she sank into
her seat and remained silent.
Theodore seized Conrad by the throat,
Ernst was springing likewise at the
wretch, when Herr Dornbusch rose and
said, with dignity:
"Let him 60. He has made base ac-
cusation against my daughter. 1t must
never BIZ said that she and were afraid,
and that we allowed him to be silenced
by force. Let him say what he has to
say"
And the father sat down, pale and
tremulous, but self-controlled.
Conrad told his tale. Perhaps some
guess at the truth that came into the
fathers mind, for he listened very calm
ly, and when the spy had quite unbur-
doned himself of his tale, he only said:
"Now, lima, let US have your explana-
tion."
"Father, dear father, l cannot explain!
Oh, do not ask me any more questions
here"
And she burst into tears. For al.
though she had sudden resolved to take
advantage Of this unexpected event as
means of testing the faith and confidence
of her lovers, and although two words
from her lips.would at any moment make
all right, yet the bare ordeal Of suspicion,
self.invited, was so heavy and cruel to
her that her spirits quite gave way under
it, and her tears rushed out.
Conrad sat still, with calm, self-satis-
fed smile.
Then said stout Friedrich, with trem-
or in bis voice,
"Ilma, l loved you when thought you
were an honest girl. But could not ask
my mother to bless daughter of whom
such story could be told. And.so good
bye, and Ged forgive you"
He went out of the room, and did not
look back. Thus he escaped the look of
contempt flung at him by lima, whom
his words had recalled from tearfulness to
strength.
Then up stood Theodore, with proud
CLEAN in his eyes, and he said
dearest lima, there is some mystery
in all this which you could explain
if you would. ask for no explanations
Tell me this story is not true, and l
will fling that lying bastard out of the
window, and take you to my heart in
the face of the world. Herr Dornbusch,
l am the only son of the Baron Won
Bernstein, and l came here and offered
myselfas worker only at first for
frollc, and for the sake of your daughters
bright eyes. Since then have learned to
love her, as l believe she well de-
serves to be loved. lima, only say this
wretch speaks falsely, and will kneel
before you and ask you to be my wife"
She turned gently toward him her
moist and radiant eyes. But she would
not give her answer.
"Only say in one word, that what he
says is false"
II can not say it, lima murmursd.
80 Godp Theodore passionately ex-
claimed, "how this woman deceived me!
Herr Dornbusch,I pity you from my soul.
Farewell. My masquerade is over, and
my father need no longer fear mesal-
lance on my part.
The unlucky poet happened to be in
his way as he was striding out. Theo-
dore seized him by the collar, and flung
him across the room as if he had been an
old cabbage stalk, and was gone in mo.
ment.
The daughter sat silent, flushed and
fearful. A strange quaint, sarcastic ex-
preston was on her fathers face, which,
however, he kept carefully averted from
all eyes. In his heart he had guessed at
the whole truth, and now he began TO
understand the game his daughter was
playing.
Then up rose Ernst, with glowing
cheeks and eager eyes, and came and
knelt on one knee by lima and took her
hand in his.
"My love, lima ask for no explana-
ton; ask for no denial; ask for moth
ing but your hand and your love. 1t
does not SUIT you to explain this mystery
now, but it can be explained. For me, l
can wait patiently. Love, know you,
Let blind fools believe such a story as
that miserable wretch has told; let shall
low natures and false hearts believe it;
let mobiles, who are used to court lsdys
coquetries and deceits believe it; III never
believe it. know you, lima, and you
are as pure as you are beautiful. love
you. Oh. do not reject mel
"And if she does" exclaimed Herr
uo oiohO
tears-"Tll dIsinherlt her in good earn
est"
Rut Ilma's arms were now round her
lovers neck, and her cheek rested on bis
shoulder.
Just then entered rather timidly
brown. checked, tall, slender, handsome
Young intruder. He stood inside the
threshold, amazed and silent. lima and
Ernst did not see him.
$50 this is you, my good-ior-nothing
varletr exclaimed Herr Dornbusch, in
tone of very superficial and unusual an
ger. $50 it was you, then, who came
rouslng up your sister lima last night,
and getting admitted into the house by
her, and bringing her into disgracel Did
you not remember that there might be
slanderous scoundrels about, like that
vile thiei Conrad? Where is that
wretch?'