Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-19
Continued.

stayed-well, who noticed that? !
kindly expression was never wantin,
in the countenance Of the youns
hostess, and, in fact, Ante had ~
cause to show unfriendliness to the
beautiful young girl.
Hilda's conduct was blameless
She was very modest, very attentive
and-verv cold. She had assumed {
grave, serious air. which was {
wonderful contrast. indeed. to hel
deep, wistful eyes, but Hilda received
all her hosts attentions with as much
reserve as was to be expected from
a welI-bred young girl. She would
be nothing more than an ordinary ac
quaintance and guest.
If Ante could only have forgotten
what Leo had said to the young girl
on that Christmas morning; if she
had not always had ringing in her
ears that passionate softness of his
tones; if she could Danish the memory
of the young girls heavy sobs.
And Leo stayed at home so much
now; he only went to Dresden oc-
casionally-"on business" Antje
knew what he meant by that-to get
money from the bank She watched
him drive away with a grave face
and she received him without re-
proaches when he returned. which
was always in very short time.
But that might all be because he was
in, N l,
And if he did accompany Hildegarde.
who liked to go out with her sketch
book, what could be more natural +?
Then they wandered far away among
the wintry hills; sometimes they did
not come home till dusk, and Ante
could see by the eager expression in
their faces that they had been dis
causing something which she, accord
ing to Le0's ideas, could not com
prehend. On such days she would
stand for hours at the window, look
ing out into the distance, where they
two had disappeared, and a sigh of
relief escaped her lips when the
couple at length returned
1t had grown very quiet at Sibyllen-
burg. Irene Won Erlach, after a
rather hurried marriage, had left
home with her husband, and they
were enjoying themselves somewhat
on the Nile. The young men who
had always been hanging about the
gay young widow had made their last
appearance in the neighborhood on
n ri IN hoI
invited them to come and see him, be-
cause he had his work to do" and
Antje preferred a quiet life. There
was in the house now that quietness
which the young wife had always
lOnged for, but there was no peace n
her little daughter. When the our
came round at which the beautiful
Spanish girl was accustomed to APP
pear in the studio in her yellow, lace
trimmed silk, Ante took refuge with
her child. She taught it little verses.
played with it's dolls, sometimes
pressed the little one close to her
breast, laughed at whatever the
childish lips let fall, and seemed like
a careless child herself, only that the
tears often streamed down her cheeks
as she played.
Once she had gone into the studio.
carrying the tray with the daintily.
ordered lunch but only once. She
had appeared with her caviare and
her salmon sandwiches in the very
midst Of a dissertation of her hus-
bands, to which Hilda, sitting on d
low stool, slowly waving her fan, was
listening intently, with dropping
lashes. Leo was talkig about the two
Madonnas of Holbein in the Darn
stadt and the Dresden galleries, with
great ardor. They did not even see
the young wife, whose step was noise
less on the soft carpet. She set the
tray down softly on a table and Went
away.
At the time when she had first
visited the Dresden gallery with her
husband, she had said to him: Tell
me, Leo, which of the Madonuas do
you consider the originate" And he
had replied "Ah, child, you do NOT
understand enough about it now; |
should have to make a long expIana-
ton. l will tell you some time"
But this some time" had never
come. Now he was giving this ex-
PLANTATION, but to another, more
worthy of consideration than she.
How long will this torture lasto'
she said to herself bitterly. and she
knew very we'll that it would last a
long time yet.
Il must make some COMPENSATION
tO Fraulein Won ZweidOrf for sacrifc.
ing so much of her time to me-" sale
Leo to Antje one day I cannot very
well offer her money. although
Heavens knows, that is what she needs
most. l think we shall have to keer
he's here for a while, and as soon a,
my picture is finished I will give he
some lessons, or get some one else t,
do So
Ante replied that she could nc
Judge of this matter. Il do not know
how far Freulein Won Zweidorf is abb
to dispose of her own time" sh
added.
BAH" he replied. They will b
glad enough at home to know that sh
is in good hands for a time"
Antje was silent; the matter wa
settled. Hilda did some paintin
herself now; she had declared thu
she must earn some money. LIE
procured silk, leather, and waite