The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-01

"She has eyes to-day only for the
English lord" / heard the stout lady
from East Prussia say to the mater
familias.
1.-THE count-hem-the other has his
dismissal"
looked over at Mrs. Clifford, and saw
her carrying on the old game appar-
emily with the greatest success. That
had probably driven the count from
the room.
He now stepped up to his wife.
"May conduct you upstairs?" said
he. ELLEN has bad headache, and
asked me to tell you of it"
The countess rose, said good night to
me pleasantly, and the pair left the
room, followed by Mrs. Gifford's scorn-
full glances. could stand it in the hall
no longer; fastened to Lapotin. He
was already in bed. "You come late!"
he called out to me, merrily.
II come late, and not in festive
mood" said !, seating myself on his
bed and thanking him heartily for the
ring, the giver Of which could easily
guess. / also chatted about various
things. He listened to it all attentively.
"What disturbed your holiday hu-
mor?' he asked then. will you not
| tell me?'
"You, rather than any other man
You would sympathize with me the
best. but cannot make up my mind to
| it. must tell some woman first"
Speak with Miss Rennert; she Ia
still awake. heard her voice in the
| corridor short while ago."
/ knocked at Miss Rennert's door
She opened it herself.
murmured an apology for disturbing
her SO late.
Come in, baron. ! cannot sleep.
anyway. l really expected you Sit
down by me at the fire." She looked
sadly at me as sat opposite her. 'Poor
child" sighed she; II have just left
her."
"How did you find her?" asked l.
/ II found her on her knees by the
sofa, weeping. She was beside herself.
| took her in my arms and besought
her to compose herself. When she had
with difficulty quieted down | asked
her the cause Of her agitation. She
buried her sweet face on my shoulder
and said she could not tell me, and she
kept her word. although l urged her
am in great trouble. What can have
excited the poor child SO terribly?"
In few words described the scan.
dalous scene had witnessed. She was
very much excited.
1.-THE miserable man." cried she, with
flashing eyes, ITO dispell in such man.
ner the young girls dream Of childhood
and to allow her to suspect the bascness
of the world and the weakness of man
at a time when all seems good and pure
to her! And just this child, too. with
her idealistic thoughts-it is disgusting
Yes, now can fully understand her ag
itation."
The old lady buried her face in her
handkerchief.
"You cannot imagine how the whole
affair works me up" she said. "A,
first when you told me about it, my
thoughts went back fifty years to .
lonely castle in Courland, whence
went with my beloved young countess
when she married. She loved her hus
band devotedly, and he her, in his way.
But the climate was too severe for her
and she was i'll nearly all winter.
nursed her. At that time was young
happy girl, very much petted by the
family, for was brought up with thu
countess. l was not suspicious wher
the count jested with me and paid me q
good deal of attention. But once, II
the middle of the night, when | wa.
coming from my poor angel, who bort
her sufferings with such fortitude, ane
always thought of her beloved husband
the count was waiting for me in tn.
hall, and was reminded Of it by thu
scene you just described. ! tell you
baron, at that time there was riff
made in my mind. and after that
never trusted anyone again, and it dis
gusted me with men. have seen mucl
and passed through much and Otter
thought to myself: 1t is well that 70,
never married!' The worst experienc,
is the awakening from childhood; there
fore am troubled on my darling's &C
count"
The old lady stopped talking an.
gazed silently into the fire.
us not this case different" said
miss Ellen is still such a child. tn,
count is her uncle; she may think i
only joke-though coarse one"
Certainly the matter is different here
and Ellen will never allow a word I,
pass her lips, for she is striving to lool
upon it in that light. The worst is tina
her fine feelings cannot be quieted-
that such a thing should happen to he1
Just her!" Miss Rennert stared be
fore her. Her fine face looked SO wor,
and suffering that rose hastily AM
babe her good night
Good night" said she. "A sad end
ing for such . merrily-begun Xma
eve!"
| TO BE CONTINUED.