The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-10-17

little draWmT-rOom III lilaHk street and
was seen no more. lie himself came
regularly as ever, bringing his inslrll-
mcnt, which he invariably deposited
on the piano and left undiSturbrd until
his departure.
One evening IIcdwig, turning sud
denly upon him from the piano, badc
him play. His face flushed painfully;
but with II helpless, unqucStioning sort
Of obedience he tucked the violin under
his chin and took up the bow. She
struch soft chords aS he played: then
aS suddenly she badc hm leave off, and
nhrdirntlv he laid aside the violin with
II sigh of relief.
s.Why do you ask mc?" he said.
''lnu know can not play to you
IIcdwig looked beyond his head and
fixed her eyes upon the dusky ceiling.
She let her hands fall idly in her lap.
"Oh, what II world-what Il world!'
She mrIrmurcd, tragicaIly. '.rhcre is
nothing in it ut all-nothmg in it to
make one happy, and everything TO
make one miserable. wish had
died II hundred years ago.
Receiving no reply TO this imposSi-
biity, she continued, addressing the
ceiling: 81 wish were not so wicked,
| would give myself Eto God. How
divine it would be, shut away from the
worry and fret and vcXation of the
world! Nothing to disturb one-no
hateful people to throw ones life into
continual torment. Beyond the possi
biIity of making mistakes, of being
misunderstood. Nothing to do but to
pray, pray, pray in Il dim little chapel,
with other souls as secure and happy
as ones own. They would set me to
teach little children, pcrhaps-thOugh
| don't like little children-and the
good nuns rise at midnight to say their
prayers, and | should be so sleepy.
Aias have not the vocation; but |
feel now as if should positively enjoy
digging my own grave, little by little,
every day. How restful the feeling to
see it gradually approach completion,
and to know that, once within its
shelter, the world and the affairs of the
world could never trouble one again! "
Wilding made no reply. He was ac-
customed TO regard himself rs an au-
dience for her clOqucnce. There was
u sympathy in his silence, in which she
| reVelcd.
"Ah, yes" she sighed, ''therc is but
one consolation in life, and that is that
it cannot last forever. But ah, Heaven
1t is SO long to look forward, isn't it?''
"YcS, it is long to look forward,
| II bnut .lnnlt ,,,hnr hns nt Ia n a
to hope for
"Nothing but the gray hopelessness
of existence and growing old. oh, how
heart -sickening it all isl
Apparently this endless perspective
of misery was more than she could en-.
durc, for she covered her face with hcl
hands and sobbcd aloud, her shoulders
shaking convulSivcly with her emotion
As for poor Wilding, he was of III
men most miserable. He had IN idc;
that women's tears were evidences o
deepest feeling; an earthquake, cy,
clone, Il watcr-spout would not have
appalled, him rs this convulSion q
nature, going successfully forwar'
toward exhaustion before him. lii
east about in his mind for something
To say, but words seemed rankest pro
fanation. He paced the floor ant
wrung his hands, he rubbed his brow
and drew his handkerchief across hi
eyes. Finally he dropped on his knee
before her in an cndcavor To catch
glimpse of her facc-fruitless, bccaus
he was too tall, and, even in this hum
Bile posture, was compelled To looI
down on a mop of shivcrlng black curlS
"What can do?n he cried, appeal
: ing To the powers of the mir, and thel
to her. "What can do? DO not yol
know how gladly | would serve you
Have not been your friend? Is thcr,
anything in the past that you regret
. II is not too late. Are You sorry yO
; sent Burseh away, and klauschcr an,
l the rest? They would gladly com
again-all That is TO say all bu
> Klauschcr. lie has marricd-marricd
he said, to forget you. As it Eiichc
YOU want?'
In the midst OF her emotion sh
shook her head Scorniully.
''Biichcr, indeed"
''burSch, then? II must he he? III
is rs unhappy rs he was six weeks ago
He would return if You said but ON
= word. -
/ lie paused abruptly. Five minute
f passed. In the meantime llcdwig
emotion gained in intensity.
n '.ln Heavens name, hush" whispe
# Won Wildlng. - understand now
. is Bursch, after all You made II mi
: take. You did not know that yC
Il loved him until after you sent hi
T. away. ! know where Bursch is.
L will go to him-do not cry. He sha
: be here in five minutes
lie made motion to rise. Hedwi
r put out her hand and pushed him bacI
"Ies-yes-in five minutes. iC
&c shall see how willingly | serve you
IS how gladly | sacrifice myself?'
e "Oh, | hate you" cried Hedwi;
- her sobs suddenly checked.
"But will tell you iirst''-tl
J. kneeling musician went on, rcgardle
! of her words-''what would new
,c have told you otherwise, and then
: will 90 for Bursch: love you!
have no excuse to offer. You new
N encouraged me in any way. You we
# not halt so kind to me as to the Other
D. Don't think | mean to rcproach You,
,t no word could | speak against you if
o. would 1t has been no ones fault b
my own. don't know why did II
: 90 away long ago. No one but Il fo
al would have stayed to watch the Other
,t tormcnted by their hope and me-
10 enough To gloat over their disappoiI
mn ment. All, hcavcn-thc hours | ha
III spent in that corner. But will alto
tn for all. will 90 to Bursch and 81
o. sShe did not know her heart, and II
!, sent me to bid you come again. "
With heroic resolution he rose To
rr feet. IIcdwi% dropped her hands fro
D.. her eyes Tears had not marrcd Il
| face; il was flushed and wet, but ]
I eyes gliSlcncd and her lips smiled. 5
held WildIng's cnat-slrrvc brtwr
r. finger and thumb.
..Supposc, after all, III is not Bursch
,c "Thcrc is no musician here bcyo
m him.
To "But there is someone, after all
re- said lIrdwig, slowly-'.a great, Stul
fellow who never will understand ml
a he is told, and won't tell him.
Ir, isn't musician and never will be,
Il he is the best and most generous IN
in in the world. know I've loved Il
,lr rs long rs he has loved me-
,d ESQ" said Herr llamrrim", wi
! 4, L.. Il