The record-union., 1896-03-14

and ever she kept her arm raised and
her forefinger pointed at Klaus.
Come. Waltz he said sternly, and
with so unnatural voice that she looked
up quickly and at sight of his face
grew fearful.
God in Heavenl What means it all,
Klaus?"
''She is a maniac, Walli. Come away,
beg" and he spoke more gently.
"A maniac!" repeated the woman,
mockingly. "Ha, ha, ha, a maniac!
And if SO, then, thou, Klaus Werner, art
the cause
| why, dost thou know the poor thing,
Klaus? She called thee by name" And
Walli looked up wonderingly at her
husband.
| A black look it was that he threw at
| the woman as he answered: "YeS, l
know her for a crazy wench from s.,
| a long way over the mountains, where,
when it suits me, supply the innkeeper
with game. Truly she was ever thought
harmless, but now she appears wild
she raves-it were better thou left her,
| Walli, or she might do thee harm. :
| He tried to laugh-but how different
the laugh, with it's hollow ring, from
that of a few minutes previousl
Yes, go' shrieked the woman. 60
ere / do thee a harm! But first know
that thy Klaus is the father of this my
| child. And also that one year ago L
was as pretty, as admired, as thyself
Know that thy gallant lover or--hus-
band-promised to marry me. That be-
cause of him was I turned away from
my home-to wander, mayhap to die.
Ach, Gott, why did I not die? It were
| better than to live on thus and be
| scorned of all for the remainder of my
| days. While he-oh, surely it is meet
he may continue to play the gallant and
may WOO more pretty girls, and who
knows-perhaps leave them? Ha, ha,
ha, who can tell? Yes. go; say it, too,
and quickly-else surely I do thee
harmi"
The poor creatures eyes burned, her
| breath came in gasps, and she laughed
| wildly as she ceased speaking and
waved Walli away with her still up
| lifted arm, its finger of scorn pointed
ever toward her faithless lover.
| Walli looked from one to the other
with frightened gaze. All color had left
her face and she clasped her hands over
her heart convulsively, for it seemed to
her that a knife was piercing to it's very
core.
Dear God, it cannot be true!" she
groaned.
mo, no; it is false! Come away,
WALTZ"
But Klaus voice, his look, belied his
words, and without moving Walli con-
tinued looking from one to the other,
then cried in pitiful tone:
"Ach, lnerciful God! 1 fear it is true.
Oh, 1 cannot go! No, no, Klaus! I
leave not this unfortunate"
WALT, Liebchen, art thou, too, mad?
Come with me, 1 beg" His voice had
again become tender and he moved a
step toward her.
mo, come not nigh me, Klaus!
Never more can 1 go with thee. But
ach, my heart breaks. Oh, great and
merciful God, have thou pity upon us
all" Then. looking up wistfully at the
peaceful Madonna, she added: And
thou blessed Mother Of God, pray for
us, intercede for us before the throne on
high Her prayer finished, Walli
buried her face in her hands and sobs
shook her slight frame
The woman at her side had marveled
at the brave words, though, until the
girls tears began to flow, she had
thought they could be but mockery.
No sooner, however, was she convinced
of their sincerity than her heart was
touched; and she in turn became COM
forter. She slipped her arm around the
kneeling girl, and drawing her head
down on her shoulder said gently:
Weep notl Waste not thy tears on
him-he is unworthy of thee, poor
child"
Klaus, who had meanwhile been pac-
ing up and down excitedly, suddenly
stopped close to Walli and Selling her
arm attempted to draw her away. She
resisted, throwing a look of reproach
that made him recoil.
"Once again, imp1ore thee, Walli-
and it is the last time. Come away
Come with me, trust me, and all will
be well, for-I love thee, WALTZ"
"Never" she replied firmly. Thy
looks, thy actions, Klaus, have given
the lie to thy words. Leave me-leave
us both in our misery-and the sooner
the better for ALL
Klaus moved angrily few steps from
her, then turned and said:
'I go, thou false-hearted one! But,
had 1 only my gun, yonder game were
first laid even lower-for she has come
between thee and me! Also take warn
ing, Walli, that sooner or later surely
return to fetch the trusty companion of
my rambles. Take warning, / repeat;
there is a task for that weapon which
one day shall be accomplished. even
though I must travel to the worlds end
in search of the rare game"
He launched hittpr1v and StrOda aWay
without another word and without
again looking back.
Just then the baby awoke, and catch
ing sight of Walli, smiled up into her
face.
Tell me-" said walli, .how art thou
called, and the little one, too?"
81 am called Beppi. My boy is Hansel
poor fatherless innocent!" and the
woman leaned over and kissed her baby
passionately.
And is it true, then Beppi, that thou
fearest to return to thy far-away
homer"
God Forbid Never-never again will
face my fathers wrath, my brothers
scornful ragei Mother 1 have not; did
she still live, perhaps she had had pity"
Then thou shalt come with me,
Beppi, Wrath I have not to fear, but,
alasl I have fear that my poor fathers
heart will break. ne-the soul of honor,
and This one treasure, so ill-treated!"
The girls voice broke; then, as the
woman 6emurred, hesitating to accept
the offered hospitality, she added has
tily:
"Dost mistake? Fear thou not! My
c+l,o,. o1yo,. Icx,ipo and era1tIa T,bo1,