St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-10

| which fastened her mantle, she drew away
impatiently. After asking few questions
about Roderic's health and mental develop
ment, which was proud to answer with
glowing praise, she resumed her walk with
stiff adieu 10 me and not a work or look
for little Amalie. who, aided by her brother,
threw most affectionate kisses from her nit
tened fingers after the retreating figure.
/ felt certain unconQuerable dislike to
this woman; she was tall, stately and beau
tiful in a statuesque, heartless way, but
knew there was no more tenderness in her
than there was blood in her velvety cream
like complexion.
WHO is that lady?" ] asked of the foot
man. when she was out of hearing.
"Mme. Elizabeth of Beroldstein, the wife
of the late Dnke's younger brother. She
would be Duchess now if it were not
for this little man. gently touching Rod
cries curly hair. They say her mind is
sometimes astray, and believe the gossips
are right"
In feature, carriage and gesture she was
much more the high-bOrn dame than was
the amiable mother of the two children in
my charge, and it seemed afterwards 70 me
as if Nine. Elizabeth protested silently
against the fate that had not elevated her
10 the place which she would have adorned
so well.
HAS Mime. Elizabeth any children" 1
asked.
Eyes, two boys: but they cannot be
Dukes of BerOldstein unless misfortune
overtakes 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 acquaint-
| ance; she had come for visit of some
weeks, perhaps months, to the castle, and
L noticed that without exception the older
servants of the place either spoke III of her
or never mentioned her name.
''She is one of the beautiful demons that
one hears about in the stories of my coun-
trv," remarked Frau Bremen with a shake
of her 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 interesting to
me than the intrigues of the Won Berold-
stein family. Charlie, my lover-bleSs his
| faithful hearti-had by dint of persistent
search obtained a position i'm bank at
| Trier, triiing distance by rail from Ber-
oldstein, and had installed himself in that
town. The delightful knowledge of true
friend and protector being near at hand
gave the world wonderful brightness for
me, and even little Amalie began baby
attempt at repeating the simple home tunes
which from sheer lightness of heart l sang
in her ears all day.
To see each other again was happiness
enough for Charlie and me, and we found
no time during our brief meetings to mourn
that the prospect of our beginning life to-
gether was still in the dim future. had
most trustworthy messenger for my inno-
cent communications to Charlie i'm the per-
son of an Alsatian nursemaid, Lisette by
name, who declared herself ready and
anxious to serve me by every means in her
power. Her attachment dated from an
occasion when had shielded her from
severe reprimand. She had carelessly al
lowed little ROderic to play with dog
known to be fierce, and the little fellow
had been bitten just below the knee-only
a slight wound. but enough, perhaps to
cause the girls dismissal If discovered.
With little forethought l arranged to
dress and undress Roderic for few days
so that the wound would not be noticed,
and neither Lisette nor l ever called atten-
ton to the three little scars left on the
baby's round white leg. Lisette repaid me
by accounting most ingeniously for my brief
absences with Charlie.
Little Roderic had been slightly i'll with
some childish malady, and for a few nights
l had slept beside his bed, until at the
urgent request of Nine. Elizabeth, went
to take undisturbed rest in my room.
wondered at her sOlicitude, for she was
usually selfshly Indifferent to the comfort
of others. Rather unwillingly l resigned
my care Of ROderic 10 a rosy-faced country
maiden, who promised faithfully to keep a
vigilant eye on the young duke.
In the early gray of the following morn
ing was awakened from a sound sleep by
an uproar in the house. at the thought of
which still shudder. Cries and lamenta-
tons sounded from the children's apart
ments, and, rushing to the spot. saw the
duchess on her knees before Roderic's bed,
with group of frightened servants gath
cred near by, the one who had been left in
charge of the baby moaning and calling on
the name of all the saints, her face ghost
like with terror.
In heavens name. what is the matter?"
cried.
Look" was all the duchess could utter,
pointing to little form moving uneasily on
the pillows.
Instead of the beautiful sleeping cherub
that had kissed only few hours before
terrible face, purple and distorted with
lay before me.
when did this happen?" 1 asked with
shaking voice, seizing with grip like iron
the arm of the nursemaid. Lottchen.
1.-The Holy Mother forgive me-" the girl
began, ''for the five short minutes that
dozed! His young lordship was sleeping
like one of the blessed angels or should
not have given away. AS opened my
eyes glanced towards the door, when-the
saints defend mel saw the long trailing
garments and ghostly form of the White
Lady disappearing in the darknessl Ny
voice was gone with fright or should have
screamed. AS the life came back to me
looked at the bed and saw the awful
change that had come over the young
master. Oh, Fraulein, am to blame be-
cause the White Lady stole away his health
and beauty in her death kiss?"
The girl fell upon her knees in par
oxysm of grief, and could understand no
more of her incoherent ordinations
The whole scene was So weird and shook