Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-29

consent OF kuONASNS ! W .
Answer me candidly; Are your al
fections already engagedf
The color surged into lrma's checks
and left them pale again. She glanced
nj Frau Won Woldc. There was 10 help
for her there. "This is q question which
YOU have no right to ask, Count Reitzen-
berg, and which refuse to answer
must beg you to excuse me-.
baroness Buchow is right" burst
in Albrecht. "She has suffered enough
at our hands already. She shall not DC
thwarted in her will. If she honors ne
with her friendship, accept it CRATE
fully. Listen to me, my uncle. lrcIuse
TO be party to your scheme.
The forest spread its wide wings even
as far as the castle garden. lrma 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 parting
words-he accepted her offer of friend
ship gratefully! Driven to bay, as II
were, in order to save her, that was
what he had said. During the last three
months she had come to understand
something of his uprightness, his h'gA
sense of honor. He would never marry
woman-though she were princess
to whom he could not give his love.
"It was my fortune ~ sighed lrma,
"that made him nearly hate me at first
Did he hate her now?
She shut her book and wandered still
further into the woods, down hillside
covered with fern and moss, toward the
stream that ran between high rocks
chattering and foaming on its way. On
the further side Of the stream was a
tract of open country, dotted with
ciumps of trees and underwood and
bright with heather. The stepping
stones were half covered with water to-
dav; the current was running fiercer
than its wont. She bethouGht herself
of a rustic bridge few yards further
down.
The bridge hung high in the air, sup
ported by rough pine stems; it was
picturesque but a fragile affair Half
way across Irma put her hand on the
rail-how noisy the stream was!-i'
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 by peremptory shout;
Gently, gently! Jump from that
projecting stem; it is safe!'
She looked up; on the edge of Tic
heather-covered rock stood Albrccht
Reitzenberg.
She paused uncertain, half inclined to
retrace her steps. pcrceiving her hes
tation, he raised his voice and shouted
still louder above the clamor OF tn
rushing water:
Can you hear me, Baroness lrma?
She nodded assent.
"Step thereto the left. Do not look
back"
Involuntarily she obeycd, He held
out his arms. The gulf yawncd betwcen
them. He could be Of no help.
THE stem will bear your weight. Dc
not be in too great a hurry"
'Why does he look so grave?" thought
Irma. SIS he still angry?"
IL had better return the way came
Count Albrecht. Do not trouble on my
account"
no; do as I direct you. You ser
which is the best place to stand? Drop
your book-it might be in your way
and jump as far as you can. No"!"
One spring, and Irma was safe CT
the moss ard heather, while the plan!
on which she had thought to stand
slipped slowly but surely into the foam
ing water. Albrecht held her hands
clasped in his.
THANK Heaven that you are safe!"
he cried. ooh, Irma, my Trina, could
not stop you! came just too late fol
that. I could only look on in agony
Are you frightened? Arc you hurt?'
81 am not hurt. did not know that
it was dangerous. did not, indeed"
She saw him turn pale at the thought
CT her peril, and the tears which she had
not shed for herself fell fast for his dis
trcss.
"Thc bridge should have been de-
stroyed long ago; it shall be done to-
day I did not dare to join You or to
speak to you until you had passed the
worst If you had been killed-ah! !
cannot bear to think Of i'll should
never have known another days haDpi-
ness, and it would have been my fault
mine How could let you wander
about alone when was longing to b
with you? My Irma, ny best beloved!
Thank Heaven that have you safe al
last. Surely we have played ct being
friends and enemies long enough! Look
at me and say that you love mel"
When he had made her an offer Of
marriage three long months ago shF
had been ready with her refusal. Nov.
when her whole heart was his, she coulG
fad no words amid her tears except
II love you! I love you'll"
1t was enough for him. MY bride.
my wife!" he said, and held her in his
arms.
TIE green ferns rustled and wits,
pered, the beeches tossed their boughs
in the sunlight, the red squirrels played
in the oak trees, the whole wood was
fls,l OF life and joy at that moment
when the lovers plighted their troth.-.
Woman at Home.
DiPHTHERIA AND CONTAG!ON.
Some Simple Remedies to Ward OF
the Disease.
Outbreaks of this dread disease are