The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-28
81 must pay my respects to the


She took little Roderic's hand in hers
and looked at him long and intently
but not with the expression that his
rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes ought
10 have awakened in the face Of
woman. Her look was more as If
she bore the innocent little fellow NAL
ice, and when he pointed with delight
to the lions heads in dead gold which
fastened her mantle, she drew away
impatiently. After asking few ques-
tions about Roderic's health and men
tai development, which was proud to
answer with glowing praise, she resum-
cd her walk with a stiff adieu to me
and not word or look for little Ame-
liza, who, aided by her brother, threw
most affectionate kisses from her init.
tened fingers after the retreating figure
felt q sudden unconquerable dislike
TO this woman she was tall, stately
and beautiful in statuesque, heartless
way, but knew there was no more
tenderness in her than there was blood
in her velvety creamlike CON pleyion.
"Who is that lady'" ] asked of the
footman. when she was out of hearing.
"Mme. Elizabeth, of Beroldstein, the
wife of the late Dukes younger broth
er. She would be Duchess now il it
were not for this little man"-gently
touching Roderio's curly hair.
"They say her mind is sometimes
astray, and l believe the gossips are
right"
In feature, carriage and gesture she
was much more the high-born dame
than was the amisble mother of the
two children in my charge, and il SEEM
ed afterwards to me as if Nine. Eliza
beth protested silently against the fate
that had not elevated her to the place
which she would have adorned so well.
"Has Nine. Elizabeth any children'"
l asked.
"Yes. two boys; but they cannot be
Dukes of Beroldstein unless misfor.
tunes overtake my young master,
which heaven forbid! Nine. Elizabeth
cannot become reconciled to the fact
that her husband is only the second
son"
The dislike had conceived for the
new conner only increased on nearer
acquaintance she had come for visit
of some weeks, perhaps months, to the
castle, aud | noticed that without ex
ception the older servants of the place
either spoke ill of her or never men
toned her name.
"She is one of the beautiful demons
that one hears about in the stories oi
my country" remarked Frau Bremen
with shake of the head. "But one
should not Judge her too hastily; she
lived all her youth in a lonely part OF
Russia, with no mother to guide her
and under the influence Of father who
was none too sanity"
Shortly after this my attention was
taken up by an event much more in
teresting to me than the intrigues oi
the Won Beroldstein family. Charlie
my lover-bless his faithful heart!-
had by dint of persistent search OBJ
tanned position in bank at Trier, a
trihing distance by rail from Berold
stein, and had installed himself IN tha
town. The delightful knowledge Of a
true friend and protector being near a
hand gave the world a wonderful
brightn ness for me, and even little Ana
lie began a baby attempt at repeat
ing the simple home tunes which from
sheer lightncss of heart l sang in he
ears all day.
To see each other again was happi
ness enough for Charlie and me, ant
we found no time during our brie
meetings to mourn that the prospect o
our beginning life together was still il
the dim future. | had most trust
worthy messenger for my innocen
communications to Charlie in the pei
son of an Alsatian nursemaid, L'sett
by name, who declared herself read
and anxious to serve me by ever
means in her power. Her attachmen
3 dated from an occasion when | ha
shielded her from severe reprimant
4 She had care lessly allowed little Roc
1 eric to play with a dog known to b
7 fierce, and the little fellow had bee
bitten Just below the knee-only
l slight wound, but enough perhaps
t cause the girls dismissal if discovered
Q With little forethought l arrange
: to dress and undress Roderic for fe
= days so that the wound would not /
n noticed, and neither Lisette nor l eve
called attention to the three little sea-
o left on the baby's round white lei
}, Lisette repaid me by accounting mo
It ingeniously for my brief absence wit
: Charlie.
Little Roderic had been slightly
. with some childish malady, and for
r few nights / slept beside his bed, uni
o at the urgent request of Nine. Eliz
/, beth, / went to take undisturbed ro
e in my own room. l wondered at h
IS solcitude, for she was usually selfish
@ Indifferent with respect to the comic
{ of others. Rather unwillingly l 7
IS signed my care of Roderio to a ros
g faced country maiden, who promis'
Q faithfully to keep vigilant eye on d
u young Duke.
r In the early gray of the followir
"a morning l was awakenened from
ot sound sleep by an uproar in the hous
N at the thought of which l still shu
30 der. Cries and lamentations sound
n from the children's apartments, an
OF rushing to the spot, / saw the Duche
I'd on her knees before Roderics be
er with group of frightened servar
a gathered near her, the one who HI
in been left in charge of the baby moa
er ing and calling on the name of all t
saints, her face ghostlike with terror
le SIN heavens name what is the M
as tor2' ! cried.
"a T.ook - was all the Duchess COT
ID utter, pointing to little form mcvi
I'd uneasily on the pillows.
re Instead of the beautiful sleepi
ID cherub tina. l had kissed only fe
IN hours before, terrible face, purple a
ne distorted, with wild eyes and lin
rigid with suffering lay before me.
ty "When did this happenf' l ask
X with a shaking voice, seizing will
a grip like iron the arm of the nur