River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-20
A COURAGEOUS WOMAN.

y =
Eiswold.
We spent days and weeks together
driving about the grand old city of IVA
derland,n and yet my warm hearted hos
was always finding something yet unex
Plored, which must not fail to see be
fore leaving the place. Thus my depar
ture was postponed from week to week
until began to think | might almos
as we'll become citizen of the capital
| could not remain there longer. Vari
GUS things combined to render my going
away absolutely Imperative, and I tolC
my host that his generosity must not b.
taxed further, as should positively leave
on a certain day. He was sorry to par
with me, but at the same time determin
ed to show me one mere phase of society
life there ere went for good, if go
must. So he procured an invitation fo
himself, wife and guest, to grand enter
tainment which the Countess Wolsteir
had announced would come off at he
house the following night.
We went. / can assure you it was ;
brilliant affair, and enjoyed myself very
much. But what interested me most wa
the story which the affable lady of tn,
house related at the supper-table, anC
which I now make the substance of THU
sketch. give it to you, not in her owr
words, it is true, but as nearly like sh,
| told it to the assembled guests as | can
after so long time.
During the previous summer the count
and countess had left Berlin and taken W
their residence for few months at 3
gartenhaus, some miles from the city
The building was not in very good re
pair, but would do for temporary so
journ, as it was airy and quite countri
fed.
Here eight weeks passed in uninter-
rupted happiness, away from the unceas
ing turmoil of the city, with its dusty
streets and sultry air. Political affairs
frequently called the count from home
for short periods, thus leaving his wife
almost alone in the old house; for of all
the army of liveried footmen and maid
servants whichsthronged their town resi-
dence, only three had been allowed to
accompany them to their country domi-
Gle. These were cook, lady's maid
and man of all work, the latter acting as
gardener, groom, coachman and GRAND
boy.
1t was on one of these occasions of the
counts absence that the Countess Vol
stein met with the adventure have men,
toned as being the subject of her story
at the feast.
Her husband was away for whole
week-much longer than usual. During
his stay in the city a party was given by
a man living in the neighborhood of my
lady's garte13hause, to which her servants
were invited. Having asked permission
to attend, all were allowed that privilege
save the maid who waited on her person,
ana they left the chateau with the under
standing that they would not return
before the next morning.
Thus the countess was left without a
single male protector. But she did not
fear to sleep thus alone in the isolated
house, for she possessed a goodly share of
true courage. and an enviable amount of
nerve.
The weather was quite warm-at least
the air of the rooms seemed to indicate
it; but a refreshing breeze ever played
over the elevated site of this residence,
and this, combined with the moonlight,
which bathed the landscape in flood OF
gold and silver rays, as it stretched away
right and left in the valley. led her to
seek the piazza for comfort. In silence
she sat there, slowly rocking back and
forth, and drinking N the beauty of the
scene. Her maid, complaining of severe
headache, asked leave to go in and lie
down until her mistress should be ready
to retire. The countess was a kind
hearted lady, and forthwith babe her go
to her room and seek her couch for the
night, remarking that she would act as
her own femme de-ctGmbre on the present
occasion.
The girl did as directed, and was soon
fast asleep, Notwithstanding her pain.
After the departure of her maid, Count
ess Wolstein sat alone, absorbed in silent
musings, for full an hour. During all
this time the large windows OF her
sleeping partment were standing wide
open, to let the cool breeze circulate
through the chamber, and fan out the
heated air which had accumulated there
during the day. Her reverie ended. my
lady rose from her chair and stepped in
to her boudoir. A large wax taper was
burning brightly on Der bureau, while on
either side of it rich bouquet shed fra
GRANGE through the atmosphere. Taking
up ieweled writing desk of rosewood,
inlaid with ivory, she now seated herself
near a half-closed window, and began
writing letter to lady friend in Berlin
While thus busily engaged she heard a
sudden noise as of something falling from
table to the floor. She glanced care
lessly at the shaded spot on the carpet,
lust beneath the table. Nothing could
be perceived. Satisfied that whatever
mad fallen was of little moment, she was
about to resume her writing when a
finger was barely pushed outside the
cover of the Counterpart hanging from
her bed, and silver spur, which had be-
fore escaped her observation, was quickly
drawn by it out If sight. The embroid-
cred white counterpane hung TO within
an inch or two of tie carpet, and beneath
the fringe which bordercd it this unmis
takably human hand had been protTGaed
OF the owner thereof she had good
idea, for, in the very hasty glimpse which
had been afforded her of the finger and
the spur, she had recognized both. The
latter had once been the property of her
own husband, and thieving footman, a
taugenicht in his employ, had stolen it
This same servant, finding himself
suspected of the theft, very prudently
Quilted his masters service, and fed tC
parts unknown before his crime could be
fastened upon him by proofs of his guilt
BY scar-very peculiar and striking
from its oddity-she recognized the finger
as belonging to that self-same servant
who was now secreted under the beds
revengetul, villainous fellow, who had
evidently come to the house for robbery
but whom she believed capable of murder
even, if that would serve his end. She
was in a critical position, and aware of it
too. Yet she seemed outwardly as un.
concerned as a babe, and carelessly
twirIed the golden penholder between hel
dainty fingers, as if merely studying whal
To write. Her brain was, indeed, IT work
but not on her unfinished letter; aud wot
to the object of her scheming. He though
himself indisputable master of the situa
ton, but found his mistake a grave one
all too soon, as my story will show.
LET me see sara the countess, al
though speaking to herself, yet louC
enough for the man to hear every word
I must without fail, ask her down 70 SCI
me. But then, as | left everything O
value in Berlin, except the bracelet anc
necklace which | now have on, | hav'
nothing suitable to wear if she comes
Oh, yes! / Low recOllect my husband
/ brought some of my jewelrY with hin