Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-06-24

had told me that mamma would miss
me SO much because she was com
PEELED to spend a great deal Of time in
her room upon her couch.
She looked at me in surprise "Ah,
no, Anne1iese, we have many guests,
and therefore am [ SO pleased to have
you here to help me little; and | am
very grateful to cousin for coming
too. She will certainly relieve me Of
much responsibility" She said all
this as languidly, as alphabetically as
| if it were not worth speaking about.
Then she asked with somewhat more
animation. and a flush suffused he1
| thin, suffering face: "You returned
Brankwitz's gift to Wollmeyer, did you
not?'
eyes, mamma. Did you expect any
thing else?"
In confusion she toyed with her
handkerchief, and her form trembled.
.sAh-I--" then she hesitated.
elias it caused you any trouble,
mamma?" I asked anxiously, Selling
her right hand.
mo" she replied with downcast
eyes, 'for You will forgive me, An
neliese-I intercepted the package. I
retained it, because I thought
thought it would be better were you
| to return the gift to Brankwitz your
self, or through cousin, for Bernhard
you see-he-he-" She tremb1ed
still more, and her hot, slender fingers
shook within mine.
do not excite yourself, mamma;
| you are probably right, said. HAD
| I known his address, should certain
| ly have sent it direct at once-come
tell me where the tactful donor is at
present, and will do so Immediately. ;"
She looked at me as helplessly as
sick child
II can give you no information, An
| neliese; he has left Cannes, but
this she said in low voice, "he will be
here in a few days"
'Here?" uttered this word violent
| ly and fearfully She maintained ST
lence, while her face wore an express
sion of sadness.
Mamma" I besought, approaching
her, tell me but one thing, give me
this one comfort cannot believe
that you who always loved me" 7
paused, for at this moment Wollmeyer
crossed the threshold. He looked
flushed and warm as usual, for he
had eaten and drunk to excess.
Helene, I beg of you'll" cried he re-
proachfully, 'Fthe counsellor's wife is
standing at the piano, notes in hand
come, come, who is to accompany her
but u?-Good-evening, Anneliese;
we will talk together tomorrow. Did
cousin come with you? Good! She
probably has a great deal of news to
tell me? Well, goodnight! Come,
Helene!" They left the room.
Every one is just the same" said
|, glancing at papa's picture, "only I
am changed"
Just as the old lady and I were
drinking our tea there came sharp
rap at the door and the Countess en-
tered.
"Ah, ah!" cried she, you have re
turned to the nest?" She kissed me,
put me back in my chair, and seated
herself beside me. do not let me dis
turb your meal, I have come to see
this child. How are you, my dear?
Why, believe you have grown, and
your eyes are quite serious!" She put
her hand under my chin and lifted up
my head.
where have you left your blessed
holiness, little one?" she asked ten
derby "You look like a tame doe; is
that the effect of the clausure up
there?" And then she began to CUES
! ton and to relate, and heard much
that was news to me.
| "The Brankwitzs are expected;
your step-father is to give a ball, a
fancy-dress ball; the invitations are
being sent out already. You must help
your mother a little, Anneliese; you
must indeed try to aid her in looking
at life with more courage"
Yes, aunt"
| Since when have you been so sub
missive that you say: Aye. and Amen
at once?" she asked in establishment.
! 1T is to be hoped that you are not so
on certain point, or have they tanned
you up there?"
! ooh, no, aunt
well, that is good. And because
you have become sensible to a certain
degree, will tell you something. Do
you know, cousin she interrupted
| herself, ''if BrankVitz has a brother,
or if there are any Brankwitzs besides
him in Berlin?"
He has no brother, Countess" MUIR
mured cousin, she is the only son.
And, as far as I know, he has no rel
atives besides his sister,
Then she laid her spoon across the
emptied cup, a sign that her meal was
ended, folded her bony hands in 81,
ami won I,