Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-21
Continued.

count for her hardness" said JuSsnitZ
oomfortingIy. Il will write to her to-
morrow or go and See her myself; and
for the present you will be our guest.
The coachman drove home at a
furious pace 1t had grown colder
and light frost-fowers began to ap-
pear on the window-panes, made
visible as they dashed by street
lamp. Inside the carriage the ait
presently grew so close that Maiberg
without ceremony let down the window
halfway. Antje had drawn herself
close into a corner and drew her cloak
tightly round her.
Who was this who was 10 be ad
mitted into the sanctuary of her home,
who was to live in the rooms that be-
longed to her? What would her
child's clear eyes be compelled to wit
ness?
Her whole frame shook as she
crossed the threshold of her child's
room
'Merciful Heavens." cried old
Classen, who had been sitting with
the child, how you do look"
Antje had thrown off her furs as
she entered the warm, dimly-lighted
room of ner darling and knelt down
beside the sleeping child.
you had better go to bed" said
the old woman; you are feverish.
gracious lady"
yes, presently, dear Classen; only
first | will-go and find Minna; we
must get room ready-we have
visitor"
MY gracious! It must be two
o'clock"
Yes. but it happens so" And
Antie got out her key-basket and
went downstairs to the clothes press.
She heard Leos voice in the dining.
room; it sounded loud and angry.
Il did not think you could be SO
thOughtless, Hildegarde," he was say
ing. What did you mean by it? Did
you wish to make me angry? What
could it be? And now see what a
position you have put yourself in, and
me, tool"
Ante went to the door and opened
it little.
please do not speak so loud, Leo"
she said. quietly
Hilda was sitting with pale but
smiling face on the edge of a chair,
twisting her handkerchief about in her
hands. 1T was a joke" she said,
Struggling her shoulders.
you must have little patience,
Fraulein Won Zweidorf," said Ante
turning to the young girl Your room
is not warmed yet, but it will soon be
ready"
And She gave the linen to the
housemaid. bidding her make haste,
and promised to provide Hilda with
some clothes until her own could be
sent for. Afterward she herself
showed her guest to her cosy room,
wishing her a comfortable night in the
presence Of the maid.
There was no rest or comfort for
her. She lay wide awake the whole
long night, listening to the moaning
of the wind and the creaking of the
branches of the tall trees outside, and
10 the restless pacing to and fro OF her
husband in the adjoining room. If
he had come to her then and spoken
kindly with her about what had hap,
pened, how gladly would she have be-
lieved all he might have said; but
even now he did not make The slight
est attempt at an explanation.
He had declared that lie Was not
sleepy, out Ante knew that it was
only because he wished to evade d
discussion She could hear him at
length throw himself on a sofa, and
after while, when he thought she had
gone to sleep, he came in. Her hand
quivered; she would So gladly have
stretched it out to him and said:
Have confidence in me, Leo; do not
let us 80 on like this" But she
could not get up her courage.
Neither did Hilda sleep. She felt
as If she would like to cry. but no
tears came. She seemed to have
grown so poor on this Christmas eve.
She felt outraged and Inundated to
the last degree, and she hated the
woman who occupied the place that
ought to be hers.
The Baroness had told her niece
about it in the carriage as they were
driving away from the studio. She
had spoken French, thinking that
Hilda could not understandable
whose mother was a Frenchwoman.
She said this woman was an utter non
entity, and it was incomprehensible
how such q charming man as Jussnitz
could ever have chosen her. OF course
he had GXpI3ted his folly, for they
were miserable together Any one
could see how her Dutch phIegm. com
blned with the narrowest and silliest
views, made nim nervous to his very
finger-tips. The only thing which still
bound him TO his wife was her money
poo: fellow!
Poor fellow" Hilda said, now half
aloud, wringing her trembling hands.
Then, however, she clenched her hand
and cried with sob: ''Oh, he is base
he is wicked! Oh, what a silly, silly
girl | have been!" And she shrank
from the sound of her own voice.
CHAPTER X.
''Fraulein Won Zweidorf has head
ache" announced the housemaid the
next morning, as the family assembled
in the dining-room rather later than
usual for breakfast.
Ante sent to inquire what she
would have sent to her. coffee or tea