Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-21

the station, Friedrich was going to
drive over.
NO" was my brief reply
But / sat there in the deepening
twilight and my heart throbbed wildly
at every stroke of the clock in the
cousins tiny chamber. The lantern
at the gateway cast out a red light in
the fog and mist of the November
night and in front of the window fell
the first large snow-hakes, at first
singly and slowly, then quicker,
thicker, and finally in a mad, wild
whirl A shimmering cover lay soft
and white upon the branches of the
old elms at the windows, and COW
cred the courtyard with a cleaning
carpet From the stove in which the
peat slowly burned, | could see the
snOw-Aakes dance, but, owing to this
soft carpet, | did not hear the carriage
and sat there, unconscious of the fact
that my mother with a disappointed
air had just crossed the Threshold
paused and considered. Only when !
heard a noise in the rooms above me
did | start Could it be she already?
But no. She would first have inquired
for me, would first have come to me.
The cousin entered her severe old
face crimson from the fire and from
working. you might at least have
met your mother at the door-she
looked so sad, and he-he looked like
a thunder-cloud."
Now the struggle was to begin.
said to myself, ascending the stairs
with clinched teeth, in order to well
come mamma, fully convinced that |
would meet with an unpleasant recep-
ton. But it was not So Her master
and mistress were laying aside their
wraps, said the housemaid, ushering
me into a drawing-room, truly charm
ing in its appointments. | had leisure
to examine all this, as well as the
adjoining dining-room, in which the an
Cestral portraits of the Serrenbergs,
touched up by a master-hand, looked
very well, and lastly mammals boudoir
upon the other side of the drawing
room, furnished in pale blue, Nothing
that taste and artistic skill could pro-
duce had been spared, and | was fore
ed to confess to myself that Herr
WOllmeyer had done all in his power
to prepare a Veritably elegant home
for his second wife Want, poverty
80 at an end, but NJ conviction
that the old happiness had fed from
these rooms with Frau Won Sternbergs
modest furniture, remained mistaken.
At this moment l heard my step
fathers fat voice, teeming with in
ward satisfaction, say behind the
portiere: Our little daughter, where
is our dear little daughter?" and i'm
mediately thereafter he crossed the
threshold with outstretched hands
and beaming Countenance. How do
you do? How do you do, my dear lit
tie Anneliese?" he cried, as if we had
always been the best of friends, and
notwithstanding my resistance he
drew me to his breast and pressed his
lips upon my brow.
An icy chill ran through my veins.
maintained silence and drew back,
then mamma entered and | flew into
her arms and scanned her face, as
though | could read therein if she had
quite forgotten my beloved papa and
me. She looked fresh and rosy and
wore a strikingly elegant house-dress,
such as actresses wear upon the stage
in a French play.
MY dear little Anneliese,' said
she, now | must be angry with you
at once, Upon the entire journey
dreamed of seeing you at the door on
our arrival, and"
"Ah, do not scold Helene" inter
rupted Herr Wollmeyer. 1T is not
easy to hear the rolling of a carriage
upon the snow, nor could the child
stand at the door exposed to a draught
on our accounts How is your health,
Anneliese, is the cough better?"
Wonderfully kind and good-natured
did his words sound.
q thank you. yes" | untruthfully
answered, looking with some degree
of establishment at my mediator.
And you are not living up here in
your pretty rooms?" complained mann
ma. still further.
mo. feel more comfortable down
stairs
Helene, pray you, he interrupted,
his hands crossed upon his back and
a smile on his face, leave her alone,
She will grow accustomed to it up here
in time. Give her time dear Helene,
give her time! You must not require
the little iceberg to melt all at once,
eh, my dear Anneliese? By degrees,
when you learn to know your step
father, you will be more kindly dis
posed toward him-eh! EN-" he laugh
ed, as | inyoluntarily made an avasive
gesture-"of course not today and to-
morrow-time brings everything to
pass" With these words he threw
me kiss and disappeared in the din
ingroOm, in order to take a look at
the table.
You might at least have shown