New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-30
A TERRIBLE MONSTER.

u iMsd never seen her handwriting
bfOFe; and yet, the instant the letter
bus brought to me, I knew it was
om Paula, whom I had not seen
IF three long years, in fact, not since
he had become the wife of Frederick
Fertheim the brilliant botanist
hose researches had won the plau-
its Of the whole scientific world.
Faula and I had been friends from
childhood, and I had naturally ex-
1,ected to see her handwriting embell-
she'd with all manner of capricious
III p twists and curls; but I knew it
Easfrom her as soon as I saw my
Enme on the envelope, despite the
l,.rried, nervous letters. and [ felt in
|ti.sctively that something was
hiss
= 4 broke the seal hurriedly-the
tseest bore but two words ''come" and
Ter name, "Paula.".
Such a request from her was to me
In order. I did not hesitate an
Instant. Paula and her husband
WE'D on a large estate about six
%es distant from the city. But my
rolls had never led me in that direc-
zion; it would have brought up
firearms of my childhood that were
pest forgotten-but there, it does no
good to sentimentalizei in this fashion.
It was early autumn, and had to
urge my horse through a. heavy fog.
The chateau in which Paula lived was
SITUATED at the extremity of an alley
of chestnut trees whose boughs inter-
laced to form a long, dark tunnel. AS
L entered this alley, it seemed to me
that far in the black circle, which
looked like the cave of some terrible
Vast, could see the vague features
Vof d horrid. grinning mask, shadowy
las mist, which menanced me and
dared me to come on. The sinister
impression of this hallucination was
so strong that drew rein and half
stopped, leaning forward on my
Ihorse's neck to peer into the profound
darkness. Then, driving the spurs
Adeep in my horses tanks, I
dashed into the unknown.
I Twas almost thrown by the alb.
fuptness with which the horse
stopped, for just before NE was an
iron gate, surmounted by a curious
: ly carved head, a masterpiece of the
iron-worker's skill, which accounted
/ for my strange Illusion of the mo-
ment before. And behind the twisted
sFUS5ars1 of the gate stood Paula await
ing me, her rosy baby in her arms.
Even in the darkness Icould see that
she was very pale and her face show
ed signs of suffering. dumped from
! the saddle, and in an instant was
raising to my lips the hand she
@extended to me.
y Arrived at the porch, she stopped
! a moment as if listening. She could
! have heard nothing, for she slowly
pushed open the heavy door, which
swung silently to disclose a heavily
| carpeted hall. And a moment later
we were in small reception room
lighted by candles which threw fit
full CLEAN upon our faces. IL ~ H..
esListen.'' ~
! K They were the first words she haC
Aronounced, and the sad tones Other
}Sice told me she had suffered deep
D I have summoned YOU" she went
ia; you are the friend of my child
] hood. The bond between us: has
been strained, but it is not broken
Three years ago became Frederick
s$asife. As a child / had thought o
him, whom they already called pro
! lessor, as a being whom none nigh.
\ isobey; he won me with a word, hi
Elance held me, and l felt myself con
tuered by his will. My weakness
saned upon his strength, | was prout
\ 10 bow before this will that SCENE,
TO dominate all things. speak Q
these matters because it is necessar.
that. you should understand all, &c
i have sore need of your help
Why. what is the matter? Doe
frederick dare -
7ss Frederick is goodness itself, b
1; loves me-but, Lam afraid, ] fear
year him above all things, Why? Oh
81 if ] could but tell you, if could bu
know myself But this fear Whic
torinents me every day, and ever
night still more, is the more poignan
because it is inexplicableP'
Bah! Terror, fear these are ner
words, . said ], lightly though / wa
far from feeling atlease.
w ords which sound iii our brains
nevertheless, which are Ineligible t
Dur reason, which awake dread eel
{ -oes. Why dosyou smile? Do 70
not know that mystery is stronge