Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-28
WILHELMENA.

NO common WORKER III gOlu anu gems
was he. You might rather speak Of him
as an artist in jewels. He looked upon a
diamond as a connoisseur might upon
rare picture He basked in its beauty he
gazed no it by sunlight and by lamplight;
he brought forth its charms by the richest
setting, and did for it what few could do
by the exercise of taste and fancy. No
wonder that his patrons were the richest
and most noble Of the land, and that he
became almost as wealthy as they. He
might have married the fairest of all the
fraulcins Of the rich old town.
But he was more impenetrable than his
own diamonds. He was courteous to all,
but his Jewels had all his love. lie saw no
beauty in woman's lip to equal that Of the
ruby-no luster in her eye to match that
Of the sapphire. There are two arrows that
fate seems to have in store for every man.
One brings him love, the other death. But
Rudolph seemed TO have steeed his heart
against the first. He fancied that he had
escaped unwounded. He reckoned with
out bis host. Where he least expected to
receive the shaft of Cupid the little god lay
In ambush for him.
One bright day Rudolph set forth upon
journey. There were no steam cars in
those days, and travelling was very sol
emn operation and a very slow one. II
the distance were long there must be stop
pages upon the road at sunset, and depart
ures 40 the dawn Of day; good wishes
from the host and prayers from the hostess
that neither robber nor evil spirit might in
tercept the traveller on his way through the
lonely forest.
Consequently the jeweler, after a long
and toilsome journey, was glad TO find
himself at the door Of time worn hostelry
lying at the mountain foot, and TO read
upon the great swinging signboard the an
nouncement that here good cheer was Of
fered to both man and beast, and that
there were good beds for those who wished
10 sleep. The host came forth to welcome
him, and while his supper was in course Of
preparation, the stranger stood upon the
broad porch and looked ont upon the road
which wound down the mountain, upon
the dark pine forest which bordered the
western horizon and the limpid stream,
clear as crystal, that bounded from
rock TO rock until at last Il leaped from
. one of them, a fairy waterfall pure aud
silvery as though IL yelled Undine.
Along the center Of this stream figure
moyed-a girl in peasant costume bearing
pitcher upon her head.
Her dimpled, blue veined feet were thrust
into wooden shoes; her long braids Of hair,
faxen in the shadow, golden in the sunset
beams, hung below her waist. Her fea-
lures had the sculptured beauty Of an am
tique statue, and as she tripped along she
sung, in the sweetest voice that ever WON
an owned, a love song of the peasant folk.
Rudolph Won Elsenheim had gazed un-
moved upon many proud city beauty, but
herein this simple mountain village Cupid
buried his shaft IN his heart. Henceforth
therein, living gem more precious TO him
than the choicest jewels Of Golconda's
T mines.
? What mattered it, he asked himself, that
q the girl was but peasant, a handmaider
e Of the poor innf She had beauty that made
her worthy of a throne. II she was un
learned She was pure-far purer than mos
8 titled danes His wOOing was brief ant
u successful and he bore her back with hin
e decked IN rare velyets and rich laces
is wrapped in furs fit for an empress, will
; silken shoes upon the blue veined feet tina
< had worn wooden sabots and followed tn
Q kline to pasture.
For year even his Jewels were forgotten
in this new treasure and a happier pair 0
married lovers never lived
y Alasl leopard cannot change its spots
X When year had passed and another WA
following the old spell began 70 creep ono
IS more over the jewelers. soul He love
e. Wilhelmena still, but he left her side MOI
IS frequently, and sat long hours absorbed i
m contemplation Of some new jewel.
u, Wilhelmena never reproached him wit
* this change, but what she saw saddene
ia her greatly. With his return 70 his d
&c idols, the love OF them began TO be mon
az mania with Rudolph.
IS, 1t grieved him to part with jewel no,
IS and when one was Felinquished he sougi
-s eagerly for another TO supply its place. II
glOated over them. talked Of them strang
ly--told impossible tales Of them Men b
gan 70 whisper that Rudolph Won Else
81 helm was going mad, and once poor w
he helmena saw something very strange
g. her husbands laboratory, something
he which she never spoke 70 any one-a da
are form with fiery eyes and horns upon
in head standing 20 the jewelers. elbow. II
for rifed, she fed 10 the church hard by al
there prayed long and ardently, and
awhile after that Rudolph seemed hims'
!. again and caressed her as he had used
do but the better mood soon vanished.
are IL was az this time that jewel Of gre
value, diamond OF wonderful size a
beauty, was the theme Of conversation
eek erywhere. Princes contested for its y
session; dealers were mad over it.
re- dolph, richer than even those who KIN
nut him best had guessed became its pro
,.t possessor. His Joy knew no bounds
Wilhelmina's heart grew sick with ter
when she saw once more at his shoul,
that black and hdeous being she had o.
sex seen before. He himself saw nothing,
are turning and seeing sadness on the brow
Wilhelmena, a touch Of the old tendern
tba made him wish TO share his joy with
~ and he arose and, clasping her waist "
his arm, drew her toward the window
ont upon the little balcony that lay
nooi meath il and extended over the blue wat
on of the Rhine.
Feast your eyes upon this diamond,
ware ANGEL he said 1t is among Jewels W
bins you are among women. Look, you do
yet comprehend its splendor or the com
- ment pay you in likening it to you"
He placed the diamond on her palm
0ss1 he spoke, and the young wife, tiuttered
happy bent over IL. seeking for words
PEN might please him in which to utter
said praise But nt that instant she once n
y OF espied the demons face thrust between
husbands and her own, and the tie
rail oyerpowered her every other thought
hand was raised to repel the hideous be