Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-04-29
Continued.

Eyes, yes, it is so, dear cnllu, he
continued. II love you as father
and you-avoid me where you can, and
wound me at every opportunity. But
IN one point we shall agree, | believe,
and that is in our love for your moth
err. This one thought engrosses this
mother: What will be my daughters
future? She is worrying about it; she
knows as we'll as you and I, that you
are not just the strongest person IN
the world, and, moreover, that your
character is not such to enable you
to go independently through life. You
are proud little lady my good An
neliese; I concede that your name has
a pleasant sound, but you see, one
cannot live upon that. And if under
stand you Alright, you do not like TO be
dependent upon person for whom
you have little sympathy as you
have for me?"
''To be sure!" I replied.
"And when one calmly considers
all this. it is almost incomprehensible
why you should refuse an offer
made from genuine love and respect
for you and which must satisfy you
too in every way. You must not
think, Anneliese, that I want to per-
suade you. You may believe me or
mott is difficult for me to speak a
word in favor Of the man who desires
to take you from us, but consider it
my duty to do this, for I have your
welfare at heart, and besides your
mothers wishes urge me to do so.
have told Brankwitz, who is in des-
pair, that it was q little coquetrY on
your part; your natural spirit of OPP
position made you act so, and believe
/ was not far from the mark"
He paused, wiped his gold eye
glasses, and looked at me as if he ex.
pected a reply. But remained silent,
and rudely began to sharpen my lead
pencil
Il now repeat the proposal Anne
liese, in Otto Won Brankwitz's name,
and add that it is advisable that you
accept the same You will live at
Dammit near our mother. and the lat
ter would in our security find the con-
tentment which, God knows, is very
necessary to her."
My pencil was sharpened and
wiped my fnger-tips upon piece of
blotting-paper which I tore out of the
portfolio. | was trembling secretly
with fear and yet appeared Indifferent.
''You need not decide this evening,
Anneliese," he added pleasantly, ''you
can give me your answer in the after
Loon, the day after tomorrow, and. if
you please, do not annoy your mother
with the whole AFFAIR.""
could still find no reply l clutch
ed at my throat felt as if some one
were trying to strangle me-and still
maintained silence.
"Then until the day after tomor-
row!"
What Interest," mean. what can
it matter to you whether 1 marry
Brankwitz or whether provide for
myself in another way, since my
maintenance is the main reason for
this marriage, as you yourself re-
marked"
II any especial in-interest?" he
asked in surprise, what can you be
thinking of? Chiefly your welfare,
your assured future-your mother"
''Well, 1 thought you must be par
ticularly interested in seeing me cared
for in the manner mentioned. So
much the better if it be not the case;
then it will not be difficult for you to
thank Herr Won Brankwitz in my
name and to say I adhere to my
resolution. | shall get on in life
entirely alone. and so we'll that mann
mas fears and yours, too, Herr Woll-
meyer, will be allayed.''
He suddenly seized my wrist. ''Do
you love another?" he asked hastily.
I felt my face flush scarlet. 81 have
never though of such a thing" l.
stammered. But before me arose an
image, an image of the imagination,
the image of a tall, handsome man
with faithful, true eyes, tall and proud
such as a girls brain, be it ever so
sensible, will secretly conjure up; an
image which bore little resemblance
to the dissiDated Brankwitz. whose
glass and whose hair was so scant.
Such groundless refusal l will
not accept" said he, losing his former
amiability altogether times are not
such as to allow of it. AS your
guardian 1 have the right to assure
your future, and prospects like these
do not often come up a second time.
| tell you herewith, that this engage
ment is desirable, and, more than this, |
that it is necessary. I will give you
until the day after tomorrow to decide |
until the afternoon of the day after
tomorrow, Go you understand? Then
l require o yes, to-the-point yes! 7 /
have no desire to enter upon long and
childish discussions. Goodnight"
When the door closed behind him I |
remained seated as if paralyzed. I i
felt something strange, a power
stronger that l was. and l trembled |
with despair Herr Won Brankwitz