The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-16
iesolate this world and now insipid WAS

desolate this world and now lnslpld was
life
Suddenly she noticed that she and the
stranger remained alone-all the other visit
ors had left She had just drawn the letter
from her pocket to re-read II for the hum
dredth time. 1t was an odd handwriting
as if written with match, and the large,
heavy letters were formed straight up and
down. Really, the writing harmonized little
with the elegant young cavailer-lt only
Madam, how did you come by this let
ter?"
With this hoarse, half suffocated utterance
the stranger had suddenly grasped her wrist
Pale as death, with a low cry OF terror. FL
sic arose, for she thought him insane.
Don't be alarmed; / am quite sane. Pray
tell me the truth. How did you receive this
letter not intended for your
mot intended for me? 1t was addressed
to me?'
Won LasswiIZ?'
Eyes. that is my name. What does my
letter concern you Y
''Ahl there is the mistaken The strange
man looked as suddenly enlightened as II
he had been relieved of the burden Of a
great calamity. Pardon ME. madam, l
wrote the letter, and 1t was Intended Tor
different lady. The usher must have misin;
formed me. Tell me, were you In the third
box in the first row at the opera on Mon
day, Wednesday and Friday"
Yes, indeed. with my sister"
"a slender lady, darby clad?"
"Yes, that is my sister. Mas. Won Plan
us she married?"
''She was married. and is now widowed ="
The boxkeeper told me your name and
address only"
"He knows me and not my sister, who
has been in Berlin only a short time"
MY dear madam, will you take me to
Mrs. Won Planeck and introdue me? My
name Is Otto Raimar"
Are you Dr.Otto Reimar. the well-known
wrter?'
IL am a writer"
How delighted she will be to meet you !!
l happen to know that you are her favorite
author"
The stranger smiled aud nodded his head.
as ii he wished to say:
Il also know that!"
A few moments more and Elsie Won Lass
WITT and DR.. Reimar were driving toward
Mrs: Won Planeck'S residence.
As Elsie entered Mrs. Won Planeck's
drawDg-room with her companion, she
stood on the threshold spellbOund-in silent
astonlshment. There sat Regina, whose
lace showed plainly that she had been NOR
tally bored, aud opposite her. turning his
hat between his fingers, sat Ese's YOUTH vi
admlrer with most woebegone mien.
When Elsie understood the situation she
nearly laughed aloud. ID was indeed laugh
able.
There she had spent two hours of expec-
tation and despair in the art gallery with
Regina's sutton. while he, the object of her
longlngs, awaiting her in vain. had indefi-
nltely prolonged his call, and doomed poor
Regina 10 entertain him Oh the subject of
the weather, the theater or the latest rail-
road accident. Oh. if she had but remained
at home.
Regnas amazement looked very much
like glad surprise when she saw Elsie S
companion and heard his name
You are Otto Reimar? How strange
that the idea did not occur to me! l know
all your writings, and should also have rec
ognlZed you at oncei'
~ on have recognized me-the name cuts
no figure. my dear madam. / had written
all my best productions for you alone, be-
fore L saw you. But sometimes / would
lose courage, fearing that | might never fnd
you"
Regina silently gave him her hand, which
ne pressed to his lips. 1t seemed to her like
a dream that at the first meeting, she
should have given herself to the man whom
she had already learned to regard as one of
the best and Doblest of souls, and whose
thoughts had made so deep an impression
upon her through his writings
And then he spoke TO her, and Regina felt
as II. hitherto, all had spoken in strange
language, and as If now, for the first time
she were hearing her mother tongue ais
thonghts burst forth like a stream on whose
plllows Regina was carried away into
bonndiess regions of light.
The young couple, meanwhile, were so
interested in one another that they dis
turbed no one. Elsie too, and her fairy
prince. Assessor Won Lucknow, had an end
less amount to relate about the events on
the Promenade and at the theater. and
about the dear little white poodle
Dr. Otto Reimar and Assessor Won Luck
now were Tor some time daily callers at
Mrs Won Planeck's home, and when, later
on, Regina became the beloved wife of the
great poet and author, and Elsie the afi
anced OF her fairy prince, this first meeting
renamed source OF inexhRustible merri-
ment and pleasure to those concerne d.
From the German.