Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-22

| longed; but the thought of Frederika's
| face as she had fled away, made me
certain that l had best send him away
until l had first talked with her.
After he had gone, l went to Frede-
rika's room. She sat swaying herself
| to and fro upon the edge of chair.
Her face, no longer white, but looking
| as though the blood was ready 20 burst
| from her crimson cheeks, was full of
anxious expectation, and her eyes
looked as though they belonged to
some animal at bay.
She clasped her hands and exclaim-
| ed, with wild vehemence:
| .Dz-z'+ AL L:-4- Ls=gi IL L-s
come for her! Oh, what shall l tell
him?"
1.-The truth, Frcdcrika," l said, try
ing TO speak lightly. ut isn't anything
so hard, is it. to tell young man
where to find his sweetheart?''
90, if | could tell him-if | could
only send him to her! But that can
only be when the sea gives up its deadr'
and her voice rose into q wild scream,
which made the blood curdle in my
veins.
Calm yourself Frederika. 1t is a
sad thing to tell him if his promised
wife has been buried at sea, but you
are not responsible for ii"
THAT is all you know about itr'
she began with savage earnestness.
Then, with 4 sudden furtive look at
me she said: But of course he cannot
blame me unless [ had killed her.
But here she broke down and threw
herself upon the bed, sobbing and
moaning as though her heart would
| break.
''Hadn't you best send for the priest,
! ma amp" whispered Katy in my ear.
She had, unperccived, followed on
after me, thinking, she said afterwards,
that | was putting myself in danger by
| going near Frederika. Il don't like to
| tell tales on her, but she runs on that
way all the night, and it's myself
! thinks she needs to confess to the
| priest"
rs she Catholic, Katy?''
Eyes, ma am, that she is. But she's
a mighty bad one, Notwithstanding she
| tells her beads by the hour. She never
goes to confession"
'Then 90 at once for your own
| priest, Katy" | whispered
Not for the world, till the master
| comes. She might go crazy and kill
| you dead at her feet! and sure it's best
| to leave her alone entirely the while.
| She'll get over the turn all the sooner
| If no one is with her I've seen her
worse than this. -
Convinced that Katy's advice was
sensible, l went down stairs again
| Bus my peace of mind had been exer-
cised for the day, and as to that, for
many days. For Frederika went raw
ing mad, and had to be carried from
the house in strait-jacket.
Fortunately she did no harm to any
of US in her frenzy. But we all sympa-
| thised SO deeply in her affiiction that it
| cast shadow over our hitherto sunny
household.
Zintha's betrothed husband came
again for news of her, and was much
troubled by what | told him.
81 should think my Zintha had come
to some harm through Frederick" he
said, after a few moments thought,
''but she was SO good and winning
| that no one could have felt angry at
her! And as to Frederika, though she
was always a little strange and moody,
[ don't believe she would have hurt
| chicken, far less one who had never
! done her any harm.
Gould Zintha have made her ieaI-
Gus by her beauty and gentleness?" l
asked.
Herman flushed to the roots of his
curly faxen hair.
Our families once made some talk
of marrying Frederika to me-, he said.
But | was in love with Zintha So
the proposition fell through"
This was the key to the mystery.
Frederick had been scorned by her
handsome young countryman, and,
perhaps, finding her rival in her power.
had taken swift revenge.
Poor Zintha! trusted to cross the
wide ocean with a woman who knew
her to be the cause of her blighted
hopes! What had been her fate?
[ went with Herman to Castle
Garden, thinking to ease his mind by
making enquiries myself.
was met with the intelligence that
they knew nothing whatever about
person of that name. But while talk
ing with the gentlemanly superintend-
ent, a group of new corners made their
appearance from a-ship which had just
come into port.
Herman, looking downcast enough,
had stood beside me and had heard the
discouraging reply to my question.
He glanced up mechanically as the
strangers entered, and then with
wild exclamation of Joy, darted towards
a young girl who formed one of the
group.
"Oh, my Zintha! I thought to never,
never see you more! Where is it you
have been?n
Il have been near my death, Herr
MANI was Zintha's answer. But for
the good God, and for these kind peo-
pie, should now be lying white and
still at the bottom of the ocean! All, I
have such q dreadful thing to tell you.
Frederika pushed me over the side of
the vessel. She meant to drown met"
The wicked Frederikar' exclaimed
Herman, stamping his foot. Il will
ta ka the Ia w on harp'