Daily globe., 1883-05-14


Before going she craved to see the
master and thank him in person, and
though warned and dissuaded by all
the inmates Of the Forsthaus, she
could not be induced to leave without
doing so.
SO one evening at twilight, just after
his return, as he was disincumbering
himself of his gun, a timid tap was
heard at the door of his room, and the
interloper being bid to enter, a woman
softly opened the door and crossed the
threshold.
"Who is it?' Fritz asked, standing
with his back to the window, intent on
examining his gun.
'The woman whom you have shell
tered so long, sir. May [ not be privi-
legged to speak to you, or to thank you,
sir?"
81 have done no more than common
humanity demanded, and I do net love
thanks" answered the master, turning
to look at her. But when he did SO he
gasped and stood spell bound.
The last rays OF the failing light fell
fall on her slender figure, partially
turned aside from him. His eyes caught
the superb outline Of shoulders, bust
and waist, revealed by the close-ftting
black dress, and the glorious great kno{
OF bright hair drawn back frora her pale
cheek and Qoilsd behind. With q wild
bound he was at her side, and she turEed
her face toward him.
Kathleen! Ny God is it you?"
Fritz !" she stammeyed, growing
deadly pale "not Fritz Linden?" .
sit Il" he said, turning from her, his
face hardening. "Now, that you are
here, it is well, and I can deliver fhe
message your dead father Left for you -
"My father dead!" she gasped. go,
God, this also! p" And she fell fainting
at his feet.
Fritz turned and looked at her, and
then, as if afraid of himself, strobe to
the bell-rope. and, sum1noning servant
with apparent unconcern. bade him re-
move the fainting woman to her apart
raent, ordering that, should she ask for
message from him, she should be given
note he would presently write, and
then be sped Oh her way with every COM
fort and dispatch.
Poor Kathleen! Her father dead, her
one refuge gone, to whom, like q prodi-
gal. she was returning to crave forgive
less, and to pray him to grant home
and his blessing, if not to her, at least
to her unotfendiag child. Where should
she now turn? Led away by childish
vanity, she had listened to the promises
OF the young Count Dona that he would
make her lady and elevate her to his
own rank. Firmly believing the mock
ceremony that had taken place to have
been true marriage, on his subsequent
d6sertion and her consequent cruel dis
f1fusi0a she had braveiy struggled to
gain her own and her clsAd's living, and
for years had sought by steady work and
exemplary conduct to deaden the shame
that preyed upon her heart, till the little
story becoming known in the little COM
Aunity where she had sought refuge,
she was forced in her despair to go
away, which led her TO seek once more
the love and protection of her fathers
roof.
Without taking into aecout the rigor-
GUS season of the year, the impossible
state of the roads, or her own slender
resources, she had hastily put together
her few belongings, and with her child
IN her arms had set forth In condition
OF alf-dream, with only sense enough
to cover her little one from the cold and
TO ask her way, till, wandering she knew
not how long, the snow clagged her
footsteps, the chill air benumbed her.
and she knew nothing till she found
herself in the forester's house. "Fritz's
house." she moaned, as she lay pros
trate on her bed in an agony of grief and
despair.
AS she lay thus, Barbara, the servant,
came into the room, carrying the child
in her arms.
Madame" she said, "the little one
IS surely very sick; her face burns with
fever, and she is moaning, as if in pain.
See, she does not even ask to go to YOU"
Kathleen was at her side instantly.
She seized the child, and, pressing it
convulsively to her heart, "Oh, my
darling" she cried, edo not you, too,
leave me Barbara" she said, address
ing the woman, &" I cannot have her
sick. I must leave this house this very
night. I must 60"
''Then, madame, you wal imperil the
little ones life, for she is sickening of
child's illness, and will require careful
nursing and rest. Tie Her Forster Will
never allow you to go, madame. You
do not know how good he is. II he
knows the child is sick he will insist on
you remaining" Aud before Kathleen
could prevent'her the woman had gone
Kathleen kneIt down by the bed. en-
c1rcling Ler child in her arms. Pres
emily firm step passed along the foor
She did not need to look up. She knew
who stood thege.
Kathleen" he said, and his yo'ce
sounded softer anG huskier than il mad
the short hour before Kathleen, yva
must stay. You must not imperil yo.lr
child's life by going. We shall not meet
any more than we did before, for had
you not sought me we had neither of us
known that the same roof sheltered us
two."
There was silence in the room, save
for the little ones means then: IF
you have any-any one-whom your long
absence will render anxious I Will send a
messenger, if you will tell nae to whom"
The great beads stood on Fritz's fore
head. It had cost him much to say
this.
81 have no one but my child"
A thrill of iOv tranSfiXed him at the