Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-09

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ready he saw dancing before his eyes
the heaped-up gold and bank-notes, the
cards; the green cloth of the gaming
table. He saw himself in imagination
sweeping In fantastic treasures such as
he never dreamed of. He awaited with
feverish Impotence the arrival of the
hour.
At IL o'clock he was waiting in front
of the countess door. The night was
stormy; the wind moaned fitfully; the
lamps gave forth an uncertain flicker on
the falling snow and the deserted street.
From time to time the football of be-
lated passer-by sounded on the stones.
But Hermann felt neither wind nor
snow At last the carriage appeared.
Two lackeys deposited the mufaed form
of the countess within it, and following
her came the little figure of Lisabeta, as
she sprang upon the step. The slam of
the door smote his ear, and the dull
sound of the wheels as they rolled over
the snowy street. The footman shut the
carriage gate, the windows became dark,
and silence soon hung over the house
hold.
Hermann approached street-lamp
and, by its feeble glimmer, examined his
watch. Twenty minutes after eleven; it
was past the hour He opened the gate
and entered the vestibule-no footman
there. With firm step he mounted the
grand stairway, and found himself in
the ante-chamber. On the floor lay
snoring servant. Passing quickly by him,
Hermann entered the countess room.
Before little altar ID the corner, GOV.
cred with images, burned a perfumed
lamp of gold. On the walls hung por-
traits, attired in the fashion of fifty years
before. One-that Of a handsome man
in uniform-seemed to follow him with
it's cold, gray eyes as he moved about
the room. Hermann resented the look
involuntar1y, and then smiled at his
folly. On the nantel stood the porcelain
vase and a marble clock. About the
room were scattered countless jewels.
He passed behind screen at one side of
the room; there were the doors. He
opened the one to the right: it was the
staircase that led to the room of the
poor girl who loved him. He opened
the one to the left; a closet revealed it.
self, into which he stepped.
The minutes crept slowly by. The
house was profoundly silent The great
clock in the hall struck twelve, and its
echoes died away. Hermann waited.
One o'clock. His pulse beat slowly-he
was calm. Two o'clock. Silence. Then
came the distant rolling of carriage
wheels. For the first time he felt some
slight emotion. The carriage rapidly
approached, and the servants, warned by
the sound, FASTENED to receive their mis-
tress. Three maids entered and lighted
up the boudoir; moment after the
countess appeared, preceded and followed
by lackeys with lights.
Hermann eagerly watched what was
passing through the slightly opened
door. The old lady fell into an easy
chair, and the maids began to remove
her ornaments. Then Lisabeta passed
Immediately in front of him. He could
have touched her as she went by. He
heard her light footsteps on the stair
way. He heard her door close. For a
moment he felt something which in an
other man would have been remorse,
but he stihed it. His heart was stone
The maids continued to remove the
countess ball dress. When they had
taken off her wig, her diamonds, her
patches and her brocaded gown, and re-
placed them with wrapper and cap,
she looked little less hideous.
Like most very old people she was
troubled with sleeplessness. Therefore,
instead of going to bed at once, she had
her chair wheeled before the fire had
the lights extinguished and dismissed
her women. The Pickering fre-lignt
fell upon her wrinkled yellow face as her
head nodded from. side to side, and its
vacuous look revealed the absence of
thought. But suddenly the expression
changed. Her lips trembled and her
face lighted up. The figure of man
appeared between her and the fire.
Fear nothing, madam" said the
stranger in hoarse whisper, Z" fear
nothing; I do not wish to harm you. On
the contrary, I come to beseech you to
grant me favor"
silence, as if she did not understand.
Thinking that she was deaf, he placed
his lips to her ear and repeated what he
had said. Still she was silent.
'tYou, madame" continued he, " can
insure the happiness of my life without
the least trouble to yourself. You can
tell me the names OF the three cards
that -
He stopped. Her lips moved. She
evidently understood him.
It is a jest, . she said, CT swear to
you it is foolish jest
Ono, nor' cried Hermann, passion
ately, sit is no jest! Think of Count
Hitch and his gains.
He stopped again. The countess
working features seemed for a moment
to betray some emotion, but only for
moment.
"Why do you wish to keep this
secret? For your grandsons? They
are rich already. Besides, they would
not profit by it. They are born de-
bauchees, and had they the devil him
self at their orders, they would die beg
CARS. [ know the value of money-the
secret would not be thrown away upon
me-"
The countess remained dumb.
Hermann threw himself at her feet.
elf your heart be human, If you have