Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-06-10

la box. Inc perfume OF uOWSlo SlO0C-
ed me,-magnifcent fresh roses,
orange blossoms and violets. For
me? From whom? l glanced at the
postmark: Canes. All, BrankWltz!
My first impulse was to take the box
to fling it out of the window, when |
noticed that the package was marked
valuable" I now examined the con-
tents more closely, and found a
familiar case of red Russian leather,
with my initials upon it in gold
letters. The bracelet. He ventured
to send me the bracelet, the first
harbinger of the strife to be renewed!
The truce was nearing an end. Was
there no escape?
81 do not want it. I do not want it. :"
I cried, putting the flowers back in the
box and putting on the lid. What
should I do with it? The sender's
address was unknown to me.
Cannes? But I did not want to keep
it, it would have allowed of false
Interpretation I would send it 30
Herr Wollmeyer with the request that
he return it to his nephew, I con-
Guided. Il did not touch Herr Wolf
meyers box, nor mammals gift either.
Then cousin came and fetched me-
Nov you must eat something, An
neliese," she said, "and I shall take
the tree With me into my room, that
the boy may have share of it too
We three were soon seated at the
~ III VIII - Uhnxy''
opposite me, cousin between us. The
Christmas candles, shed their light
upon the coy room and a fragrant
aroma rose from the punch-glasses.
The old lady could scarcely eat she
was so pleased and excited. She
urged us to eat, and then would ask
me: 1'Is it not like dream, Anne
liese?"s
Eyes, cousin, truly!" | glanced at
the slender man beside me, at the man
who was such a stranger to me ana
yet so familiar. How pleasantly he
chatted with the old lady, how grave
and how hearty was his laugh! He
stroked cousins hand and reminded
her of trifiing occurrences of days
gone by, and when she bowed her
head as if beneath a heavy load, he
said kindly: Head up old lady! See
here, it will do no good. Do not enter
tain such gloomy thoughts all will yet
come right, believe me. Matters are
not so far at present-as long as / am
wearing my uniform shall undertake
nothing"
"Ah, Robert. it will cause my death
yet! would I were lying where
Hanchen is, she moaned. I sat by in
raise my eyes. It was that that
something terrible.
Listen, cousin, be sensible" he
admonished gravely. 81 shall need
you yet. Should Il
ooh, Jesus, no. no.' she replied.
IF I only knew how it would end!"
well, we'll! Cousin. here's to Ger
many and to all who have their hearts
in the right spot. Your health. Frau
lein Won Sternberg!'
"Ah, Lord, Anneliese!" murmured
cousin.
what do you mean?" he asked
hastily, and as looked up at him in
alright, sudden flush suffused his
brow, upon which | plainly saw a
deep furrow, which gave him an older
appearance. Then he, too, grew
silent, replaced ethe steaming punch
glass upon the table and glanced over
my head as il he were more interested
at that moment in the old green stove
than in anything else in the world.
Now you are surely vexed?' con-
tinued the old lady softly, with down
cast eyes, her bony hands folded on
the tablecloth. Robert, I speak for
the best. Don't begin anything,
Robert, you will but stir up a wasp's
nest"
cousin, cousin, what has come over
you?" he now said. DO you think SO
little of right and honor? Do you not
understand what I mean? Of course
you know; you do not want to know,
but, | assure you, will not again set
my foot on the ship until there can be
read in every newspaper that"
"Pst, for Gods sake!' cousin in
terrupted the young man, who had
risen in his excitement. Remember
Anneliese! All, Anneliese, go to your
room. Robert, consider; Wollmeyer
is not alone, he has now" Her
eyes turned anxiously upon me-
The nephew made no reply; he
stepped to the window and gazed out
into the darkness. rose to go, when
he turned, and in silence we looked
into each others eyes.
Pardon, Fraulein," he besought,
remain! If you leave us now the
shadows of the past will Cypress the
old lady and me. l promise you to be
gentle and tractable; everything rose
so vividly before me, and when a
wound that will never heal is freshly
opened the pain is more severe than
ever. Now, cousin, be calm!" He
tapped her upon the shoulder. "Do
not let us talk of the past, nor look
into the future, but let us enjoy the
present. Cousin, put fresh candles on
reS.c. L. u. j