Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-12-04

| sought diversion III travel. Everywhere
| found the iame hollowness, the same
treachery, the same misery. In short
became disgusted with Ii e,and resolved
to put an end this night to the pitiable
| farce"
Unfortunate young man." said the
other, with tears of ympathy, 81 pity
you. [ confess I have been more for.
tunate than you. 1 possessed a wife
and daughter who came forth pure and
immaculate from the hand of the Gre
ator. The one has returned to him in
the whiteness of her soul, and so will
| the other"
"Give me Jour address, old man, and
permit me to visit your daughter to-
morrow. Aso give me your word oil
honor that you will not inform her, OF
lnslnuate in any manner, that am a
rich man." The old man held out his
| hand.
Il give you my word. [ am anxious
to convince you that | have spoken the
truth. My name is William Schmidt
and there is my address" giving him al
the same tine a bit of paper which be
drew from his pocket
| "And my name is Karl Trait. am
the son Of Anton Trait. Take these
bank notes, but only on condition that
you do not leave this house until
fetch you from it. Walter! bedroom
for this gentleman. You require rest
Herr Schmidt. Good night. To-mor-
row you will see me again.
In one of the narrow and ill-lighted
streets of Sachsenhausen, in an attic O!
lofty and unsightly house, sat a blonde
| about 20 years Of age. busily employ.
| ed with her needle. The furniture oil
the room was clean and tasteful. The
girls whole dress would not have
brought many k1eutzers, but every
article fitted her we'll as if it had cost
hundreds. Her fair locks shaded a
face frightened by pair of ewes OF
hevenly blue. The spirit of oder
modesty and cleanliness reigned in
everything around her. Her features
we've delicate, like those of one noble
born; her eyes betrayed sleepiness and
anxiety, and ever and anon deep sigh
rose from the maiden's breast. Sud
denly steps we're heard on the staircase
and her face lighted up with Joy. She
listened, and doubt seem to shadow hel
brow. Then came knock az the door
which made her tremble so much thai
she almost wanted the courage to say
Come in." A young man, shabbil,
dressed, entered the room and made a
low and awkward bow.
81 beg pardon, miss, said he; "does
Herr Schmidt live here?'
eyes, sir; what is your pleasure p
" Are you his daughter, Bertha?'
"I am"
"Then it is you that | seek, I am
from your father
For heavens sake, where is he
Something must have happened-he
has stayed away all night"
The misfortune is not very great.
oh my poor, poor, fatheri wha
shall | hear?"
The young man seemed to observe
these visible marks of anxiety with
great interest. He said:
"Do not be frightened; it is nothins
of great Importance. Your father me
last night an old acquaintance, who in
|
per together, but when the LANDLORD
came for his bill your fathers friene
had decamped, and left him to pay tbt
score. He had not sufficient money
for this, and now the host will not lie
him 60 until he is paid, and declares
that unless he gets his money he will
send him to prison."
"To prison!' exclaimed the girl
Can you tell me how much the bill
amounts to?"
"Three forms and half"
"Oh God!' sighed the girl. "All
have does not amount to more than
form, but will go at once to MADAM
Berg and beg of her to advance me tn,
money"
"Who is Madam Bere?"
"1he milliner for whom / work"
" But If Madam Berg does not ad
vance the money-what then ?"
The girl burst into tears.
am afraid she will refuse, l al
ready owe her l form, and she is yer,
hard"
For what purpose did you borrow
the money you owe ner?"
The girl hesitated to reply.
You may trust me-"
Well, my father is very weak, AIT
requires Strengthening. [ borrowed th,
money to get a quarter of fowl TO
him."
"Under these circumstances | fea
Madame Berg will not give you any.
possess nothing. Have you any valu
ables more? Here is J. form, but tina
is all upon which we could raise som,
money"
Bertha considered for moment.
L have nothing" said she at length
but my poor mothers prayer-book
On her death-bed she entreated me no
to part with 1t, and there is nothing il
the world | hold more sacred than he
memory and the promise / gave her
but still. for my fathers sake, I mus
not hesitate" With trembling hant
she took the book down from the shelf
40, sir" she said, during many &
sleepless night have been accustomeC
to enter the secret thoughts of my hear
on the blank leaves at the end of the
book. [ hope no one will ever know
whose writings they are; you will
promise me that?"
"Certainly, Bertha. I will take care
that your secrets are not profaned. Blu
now get ready, that We may GO"
While she left the room to put on he
bonnet and shall, Karl Trait (for thu
young man was no other than our hero
glanced over the writing in the bool
and his eyes filled with tears of emotion
and delight as he read the outpouring
of a pure and pious heart; and wher
they had left the house together, anC
she was walking beside him with dig
! nifty of which she seemed entirely I'M