The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-10-28

next Miss Rennert on the sofa: only
see, aunt, how lovely and how oddl
Should It be worn around the neck?"
I'm my YOUTH" said a corpulent lady
from east Prussia, "such an ornament
was worn fastened over the forehead by
small chain; It was called; Think OF
me.'r s
"Wel1, would rather wear it around
my neck" said Ellen, smiling; and
kneeling down gracefully she allowed
the countess to fastcn the chain
''It looks very beautiful" said the
stout lady, "but on the forehead it looks
very well, too, you may believe me-"
The little ones nudged one another
and laughed. They could picture to
themselves the old, fat lady as looking
very droll; and yet there was one
Christmas when she stood under the
tree rosy and beaming, and loving
glances rested on her as they now do
on Ellen and the delicate English
woman.
In the meantime numerous packages
had been opened amid laughter and
mirth.
Count Degenfeld had received large
bottle containing Eau dc Cologne; Miss
Rennert lovely, little homeopathic
medicine chest.
One of the neat little English girls
came and gave me, with a curtsey, pack
age addressed to me which had rolled un-
der table. opened it, astonished, and
found'an antique, very finely wrought,
wide ring, which was SO small for me
that could scarcely get it on my little
finger.
"Ahl Baron Aschenr said the pro-
fessor, whose long, pointed nose was
everywhere to-day, "you must certainly
give that wonderfully beautiful ring to
your future wife as an engagement
ring it is without doubt talisman."
"You are right said l, and looking
over at Ellen our eyes met. She blushed
wildly.
At that moment the countess called
out to her something that / did not
hear, and saw her slender form hurry
through the hall and disappear
approached the ladies'.
"Ohl how tiresome!" | heard the
countess say. 81 sent that poor child for
my handkerchief, and here 1t is behind
me on the sofa-hov re will hunt for
it!'
81 am just on my way to Lapotin,"
said l, perhaps | can inform Miss
Ellen?"
"0h, yes, baron, please do sor' l
could hear the countess saying, when l
was on the way.
The doors Of the countess salon were
ajar. I entered the room was dark, the
second one also, but in the third was
bright lamplight, and through the open
portiere, saw Count Degenfeld stand
ing, one arm thrown around Ellen's
shoulders, while he raised up her little
head with his left hand ~
"Well, little mouse, what brings you
here? How warm you are; you have
walked too quickly. can feel your lit
tie heart beat" and he held her tighter.
Ellen's voice sounded labored, as she
told him about her aunt's handkerchief.
"Ahl don't speak Of aunt, she can
wait; she has you always, and only
seldom. You have not even once
thanked me for the watch with which
presented you to-dayl Is II not worth
at least kiss, you neat little witch?
No, not your cheek, little fool, your
mouth, your sweet, little mouth, would
kiss, my little rosebudr' lie drew the
trembling form violently towards him
and rained glowing kisses upon her
face.
heard the counts last words while
standing under the portiere without his
seeing me.
Count" cried !, in voice trembling
with excitement. With n muttered
oath he drew back, and Ellen, freed
from his encircling arms, put her hands
before her face and rushed away.
With very red face, and in an icy
tone, Count Degenfeld asked:
"Ahl baronl TO what do | owe the
pleasure of visit from you at such an
unusual hour, in nay private rocms2"
Your wife sent me after Miss Ellen,
as her handkerchief had been found"
said |.
"Ahi the handkerchief, yes, Ellen
spoke of 1t, too. think II very strange
in my wife to send young man after
my niece so sans faeonl''
"The countess need not fear that any
insult would be offered TO such young
lady as Miss Ellen"
"What do you mean by that signif-
cant tone, my young friend?" inter-
rupted the count, smiling. "You seem
TO forget that Ellen Is my niece-can-
not On uncle kiss his little niece. es-
specially on Xmas eve, when he has
given her such nice presents! The stub
born little mink did not wish TO give
me kiss, and therefore took one,
which seems to me altogether n very in
nocent thing. Ellen and / are good
friends, only she is already somewhat
of a coquette in her wayl DO not fear,
we shall make II up" n
81 beg pardon for having interrupted
this little domestic scene. said /, calm.
ly, bowed and withdrew.
A feeling Of deep sadness possessed
me. ] felt with bitterness that the
pure image Of my beloved had been de-
filed. | saw continually in my agitated
mind her slender, shrinking form in the
old roue's arms
] concluded that II / intended to make
Ellen my wife she must remain no
longer amidst those surroundings, and
1t seemed almost necessary TO take the
important step nt once, for ! loved
Ellen more dearly thaz ever.
Moved by conflicting feelings, ] up