Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-09-06

think he would make suitable husband tOl
my daughter Wilhelmina, who is now In her
twentieth yearl shall give her dover OF
forty thousand thalers, and two-thrds Of my
property at my death. | need not, think
say more | leave the matter with you,
trusting that YOU will put me in communca-
ton with the boy, should you approve the
plan. Sincerely, your brother
AUGUST BETHMANN,
voN STEINAU.
read the letter through most delib-
erately. Then | turned il over and
read it again. Then l realized that my
uncles were concocting plan to marry
me to that girl and her forty thousand
thalers.
"By heaven'' 1 calculated, shifting
the rickety table before me. by
heaven, won't submit to itv'
Then | read both letters over again.
Such things require consideration.
l considered. Forty thousand thalers
are not to be sneezed at. Suppose go
and overlook the ground, at anyrate.
That can do no harm, and after all,
forty thousand thalers are not to be
sneezed at. But, on the other hand,
she may be ugly-you can never tell.
Such things require consideration.
l devoted the following day to re-
volving the question, whether l would
go and present myself to my uncle
August and marry his daughter and
her forty thousand thalers, or keep
quiet about it, and let them think had
fallen in students fight. | finally
decided on the former course, as, on
the whole, the more practical. Another
day of consideration did not alter my
conclusion. So on the next donned
my very best suit, and fortifying myself
with my uncle's letter, sailed forth in
the direction of Castle Steinau.
l had delayed this move as long as
possible, hoping to see my friend Hans,
and get his advice on so important a
matter; but Hans kept away most un-
accountably, too, for he usually
lounged into my room ut least once
every day.
Castle Steinau is hardly three miles
| from Halle. 1t was a lovely June
morning, and | chose to walk instead
of taking the usual stage route toward
Leipzig. The spirit of the morning
breathed itself into my own, and l
walked along with light heart. |
was inclined to take cheerful view of
things in general and hoped Wilhel-
nina would prove tolerably pretty, in
which case felt fully equal to falling
in love with her.
Having arrived at the castle, found
Baron Steinau as affable as if the spirit
of the morning had got into his soul,
too. was delighted.
$50 you walked over from HalleP
Charming! l believe / should enjoy IA
tramp of three miles, myself, on such
morning"
at is, indeed, a beautiful day." l
reioined.
'Is this your first summer in the
country?"
"Oh, no! have spent three years
at Halle"
"Indeed! and l never knew of it!
My dear nephew, we must try to place
ourselves where we would have been
had we known each other all this
time. Then the years will not have
been wasted"
During the short pause that followed,
my uncle seemed to be taking an in
ventory of my charms, while admired
the elegant furnishings of the apart
ment. Presently he spoke again, lay
ing his hand affectionately on my
shoulder:
eve need have no formally about
the object of your visit. Shall l call
my daughter?"
L blushed and signified my acquies-
cence. On the whole was pleased
with the aspect of affairs. But such
things require consideration.
She came in. A fawn, flower, a
sylph, an angel! l was electrified. l
threw consideration to the winds.
My uncle beckoned, and l advanced
to meet her, with Gas l knew my very
best grace.
"My child" said the Baron, ''this is
your cousin, Mr.. Wilson Bethmann.
My daughter, Wilhelmina Wilson"
She gave me her little hand with a
smile and not the least bit of a blush.
81 am glad to meet my cousin" she
said simply, but to me it was the most
eloquent speech in the world. could
find nothing to say in reply beyond the
conventional "thank you," but per-
haps the subtle eloquence of eyes
helped it out, for she did not seem dis
pleased, nor did my uncle, who pres
emily proposed that if were rested we
should walk through the castle.
| am something of an enthusiast in
the matter of antiquities. This old
house was running over with them,
and as | passed from room to room, /
gloried in the anticipation of the hours
should spend furrowing among the
relics of other ages, with Frauline
Wilhelmina-lovely personation of the
presently my side. l had forgotten
the forty thousand thalers. no longer
considered. l was almost in love.
Don't go in there, Minar' her hand
was on the latch as the Baron spoke.
"Or-yes," he added. "But l will
precede you. am very superstitious.
In this room was born, as well as my
brothers Frederick and Wilhelm. Ny
brother Karl closed his eyes on the
world looking from that window. Do
you believe that disembodied spirits re-
visit the place of their death?' He
turned to me with q sudden look that
embarrassed me.
'' think it is possible for them to do |
so. Whether it ever happens l cannot
tell.n
g do not know" he said, thought
fully, and shook his head.
Wilhelmina went up to him, and |
said, in a soft voice, d" Dear papa shall |
we go down to lunchP"
He kissed her affectionately, and mo-
toned us to precede him from the room.
| went back to Halle well pleased
with the result of my visit. The day
of my betrothal was fixed, and the forty
thousand thalers within my grasp. But
| believe that at that moment Fraulein
Wilhelmina was worth more in my ewes
than the whole of Steinau.
A week passed away, and another.
l wrote to my uncle in New York that
| had concluded to accept and act upon
the said proposal, and should, if possible,
take MY WIFE to America on our bridal
tour. Imade frequent visits to Castle
Steinau, and found my uncle as agree
able, and his daughter as charming, as
on the occasion of our first meatin0