The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-02

'ha' 81 NouuS Il maiden should have
given away her preference without the
consent or knowledge of her guardian?
Answer me candidly: Are your af
fections already engaged?''
The color surged into Irma's cheeks
and left them pale again. She glanced
at Frau Won Wolde. There was no helm
for her there. This is Il question which
you have no right To ask, Count Rei,zen-
berg, and which | refuse to answer. l
must beg You to excuse me"
Baroness Buchow is right" burst
in Albrecht. 'She has suffered enough
at our hands already She shall not h..
thwarted ia her VIII. II she honors m,,
with her friendship. l accept ii CRATE
fully. Listen to me, my uncle ] refuse
to be party To your scheme"
The forest spread its wide wings even
as far as the castle garden. Irma loved
the green paths and quiet shades. and
here she came with her book the morn
ing after her interview with the count.
and pretended to read. But. though
she kept her eyes on the pages. she read
there only Count Albrecht's parrinn
wOrds-he accepted her offer Of friend
ship gratefully. Driven To bav. a. il
were. in order To save her. that was
what he had said. During the last three.
months she had come 10 understand
something of his uprightness. his high
sense of honor He would never marry
a woman-though she were a princess
to whom he could not give his la,,..
1t was my fortune" sighed Irna.
that made him nearly hate me at first. -
Did he hate her now2
She shut her book and wandered still
further into the woods. down a hillside,
covered with fern and moss. toward the.
stream that ran between high rocks
chattcrinr and foaming on its way. On
the further side of the stream was a
tract Of uFen country. dotted with
clumps Cf trees and underwood and
bright with heather. The stepping
stones were half covered with waterto
day; the current was running fiercer
than its wont She bethought herself
of rustic bridge a few yards further
down.
The bridge hung high in the air. sup
ported by rough pine stems: il was :.
picturesque but a fragile affair Half
way across Irma put her hand on the
~ n
snapped off at her touch. one wooden
plank tottered under her feet. another
fell with a splash into the water below.
She had plenty of courage; she was light
and active She knew. moreover. that
she could easily leap that formidable
looking gap and gain the bank She
was about TO make the attempt. when
she was stopped 10y peremptory shout:
Gently. gently, Jump from that
projecting stem; it Is safe
She looked up; on the edge of the
heather-covered rock stood Albrecht
Reitzenoerg.
She paused uncertain. half inclined tn
retrace her steps. Perceiyine her hest
tation. he raised his voice and shouted
still louder above the cIamor of the
rushing water:
Can YOU hear me, Baroness Irma p"
She nodded assent.
Step thereto the left. Do not look
back
Involuntarily she obeyed. He held
out his arms. The gulf yawned between
them He could be of no help.
The stem will bear your weight. Do
not be in too great 4 hurry
why does he look so grave p" thought
Irma. is he still angry?"
Il had better return the way came.
Count Albrecht. Do not trouble on nv
account"
NO; do as 1 direct you. You see
which is the best place to stand? Drop
your book-it might be in your way
and jump as far as YOU can Now"
One spring. and Irma was safe on
the moss and heather. while the plank
on which she had thought tn stand
slipped slowly but surely into the foam
ing wafer. Albrecht held her hands
clasped in his.
Thank Heaven that ven are safe
he cried .-Oh, Irma. my Irma l could
not stop you, / came Just too late for
that l could only look on in agony
Are you frightened? Are YOU hurt?-'
Il am not hurt. I did not know that
it was dangerous did not indeed
She saw him turn pale at the thought
of her peril. and the tears which she had
not shed for herself fell fast for his dis
tress.
The bridge should have. been de
Stroyed long ago: il shall be done to-
day | did not dare TO Join YOU or TO
speak to you until YOU had passed ths'
worst If you had been killed -ahi 1
cannot bear to think of it-I should
never have known another DAYS happi-
ness, and il would have been my fault
mine, How could L let YOU wander
about alone when | was longing To be
with you? Ny Irma. my best beloved,
Thank Heaven that l have YOU safe AT
last. Surely we have played Al being
friends and enemies long enough, Look
at me and say that You love me,''
When he had made her an offer of
marriage three long months ago sh..
had been ready with her refusal Now,
when her whole heart was his, she could
find no words amid her tears except:
Il love you, love youl"
1t was enough for him. MY bride.
my wife," he said, and held her in his
arms
The green ferns rustled and whis-
pered, the beeches tossed their bougbs
in the sunlight. the red squirrels PLAYED
in the oak trees, the whole wood was
full of life and joy at that moment
when the lovers plighted their troth.-
Woman at Home.
Homemade Mince-Neat.
Six pounds of beef boiled. then
chopped fine with two pounds of suet.
a quarter peek of apples cut fine. three