Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-12-17

hair, and extraordinary luminous
eyes. Her look struck mel can
use no other word-liko blow.
1t was quite dark when we reached
the house. My host was at the gate
awaiting me. His welcome was Of
the warmest.
II was grieved not to be able to
meet you and drive you back myself"
he said, as he brought me to my room
"but | could not risk it. Now, do
not trouble to Dress" he went on
rapidly my wife is already expect
ing us in the dining-room.'
He conducted me through the
house-typically Hungarian sumptu-
Gus, vast, comfortless and unhomelike
to the dining-room, which was as
large ms n church there, standing
under the full light of the lamps, l
beheld the Valkyrie of the road. I
felt shock at the discovery that she
was Herzfeldt's wife. Why, should
have been puzzled to explain.
"Hedwig, this is my old friend.
Bid him welcome"
She favored me with hard stare
and stretched out her hand, with one
word "Willkommen."
As we sat down and the meal began
| could not help examining her with
curiosity nearly as open as her own.
She was not by any means the ex-
traordinary beauty l had expected !;
yet hers was strange personality,
and one which / could not meet with
indifference, which from the first af-
fected me to the most inexplicable ex-
tremes. Strongly built but perfectly
proportional, skin of Opaque change.
less pallor, OH which the scarlet lips
made almost too vivid spot of color /;
light gray-green eyes. which each time
gave me fresh surprise when l fell
under their scintillating glance, and
coils and coils of dead yellow hair
wound round II curiously hattened
head She spoke in low drawl,
broken now and then with loud in
harmonious resonances
That night, however, for the most
part she was silent Herzfeldt, on the
contrary. talked a great deal, with a
forced joviality, unlike the real man,
and in painful contrast with his state.
At dessert the conversation turned Oh
riding.
ut is almost our whole life here, V
said Herzefeldt; "but just now my
rheumatism obliges me to abstain, or
we should have had some lengthy ex-
petitions together" He gave me a
sad look of warning as he spoke.
ave shall enjoy our gallops again,
shall we not, Hedwig? 1t was horri-
bic to have to let YOU 90 alone to-
day"
Her answer was curious one
She first leaned her elbows on the
table and looked ut him with IA broad
incomprehensible smile; then taking
IA cake in both hands, tore piece of
with her teeth, flung the remainder to
the great slate colored hound which
sat beside her, struck him sharply
across the muzzle the next instant
and laughed with loud, quick delight
at the brute's sharp bowls Of pain
Throughout the whole incident, hers
were the actions of II savage.
! Revolted, / glanced at Herzfeldt-
the soul of refinement. His eyes were
bent on his plate and his face was set
as if in some mental or physical strug-
gle. Noisily pushing her chair away
my hostess rose. She looked at me
when opened the door, as if expect
ing me to accompany her, but Herr
feldt showed no signs of moving, and
| took it for granted that we were to
adopt the English custom. With an
angry movement she passed out alone
swaying her body from side to side in
a way which again made me think OF
some unknown animal combination.
When came back to my friend, l
saw, with alarm that he was evident
ly suffering from one Of his heart at
tacks. His face was CHASTITY pale,
and he struggled for breath in his
shaking hand he held vial which he
was endeavoring to uncork.
Quickly as l gathered the sense of
the scarcely articulate directions he
stroye to give me, l measured out
and mixed the drops, which were
strong of some powerful others, and
poured them down his throat. The
medicine seemed to have all almost
magic effect; in another couple OF
minutes the paroxysm began to pass,
color returned to his face, and the
perspiration broke out on his fore
head-the danger was over for the
nonce. He lay down on the divan,
exhausted.
This is the second ia the three
days." he said, presently ; "thcy are
becoming much more frequent. |
generally contrive to dose myself at
the beginning, but tonight / could