Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-07-18

since | kissed you! No, Anneliese, do
not fear-your mother is living and
my father is dead, and in the other
world, if the good and bad are re,
warded and punished, he has found
his honor a thousand-fold, the honor
of which he was robbed by mortals.
We will try to forget all this. Come
with me-where there is love, there
too is the true home! You shall miss
nothing in the foreign land; come,
Annenese, tell me what you wish"
These words sounded like a sweet
cradle-song; | was silent.
Say. yes!" he whispered, kissing
me. Must you think it over first,
| Anneliese"
started from his embrace, for
cousin entered with a light. She did
not see Robert at first, her eyes
were turned upon the Pickering taper.
"Anneliese," said she, in a faint voice,
your mother is very low" From
these few words came upon me with
terrible certainty the news-no hope!
| rushed out, forgot all. Upstairs
the physician refused to admit me;
in mammals tiny boudoir next the
death chamber | crouched among the
sofa-pillows and listened to the
sounds within, to the footsteps and
whispering. From time to time eX'
cessive lassitude stole over me, to be
interrupted by the torturing remem-
brance of the sorrowful present. Once
| | thought | heard the voices of Wolf
meyer and the doctor, but | could not
arouse myself altogether. Suddenly
| started from deep sleep; it seemed
tC me as if hand had stroked me
caressingly; a chill made me shud-
der! The next moment | was upon
my feet FASTENED to the door and
crossed the threshold.
All was quiet within; the candles
in the candelabra tlickered in the
breeze which came through the open
window. A terrible fear possessed
me, | did not venture to advance. AT
mammals bedside kneeled a man, his
face buried in the covers, his hands
clutching MS hair in despair; mamma
lay there motionless, her head thrown
back, her eyes half-open-ah, and the
fixed, despairing expression on her
face! The man rose and passed me;
do not believe he saw me. Slowly [
stole nearer the bed,
Mamma" said | softly. Mamma,
are you asleep"
Yes, she was sleeping
Without relieving tear | totterei
lnuynCtoipg Dnnn1n standing in
the hall and glanced at me compass
sionately; Olga Sellmann advanced to
meet me. | turned my back upon
her. Robert Nordmann was at the
window in my sittingroom; he turn
ed his face twitched, and silently he
extended his arms. He probably
meant to say: come, will be every
thing to you, father, mother, home
all; Mamma is dead" said |, pass
ing him by His arms fell, and he
looked sorrowfully after me.
seized a shawl, with a SILVER
wrapped myself in it and seated my
self in chair by the stove. | felt
frozen and dead. So We sat in the
cold room, in the winters night, he
and |. Mamma is dead, | thank you
for your sympathy-now you need no
longer exercise forbearance; fare
WE'LL" | should have said to him, but
not a sound could utter.
At length cousin entered, with a
pallid, sunken face. When she saw
me she turned aside and wiped her
eyes. God has taken a great deal
from you, Anneliese!" Then she
beckoned her nephew to follow her,
and they went into the adjoining
room. | heard them whisper, ana
cousin sob occasionally. Suddenly
started up and left the room; l would
go away-away to the Countess;
away from that abominable mans
house! Mechanically drew the
shawl more closely around me and
stepped out into the dusky, cold hail.
the clock was just striking six.
And there | met the Countess;
when she saw me she drew me into
the ample folds of her mantle. My
poor child" said she, now you be-
long to me. Come, we will go to see
Len once more, then we will set out
for my house,
On the stairs we came upon Olga
Sellmann; she wore a traveling-dress.
Behind her, with Brankwitz, came my
step-father, who in this one night,
had grown almost unrecognizable; he
stopped, his hair was grayer that it
had ever seemed before. He made t
faint attempt at his former politeness.
But the Countess held her head
proudly erect and did not notice him.
Fear was depicted upon his features;
he did not venture to follow us.
Once again | kissed mammals
hand. The Countess wept copiously;
i could not shed a tear We descend.
ed the stairs just as the carriage.
laden with Olga Sellmann's luggage,
drove out of the gate. My step-father
passed us again and again. The
Countess turned her head the other
way; he stood there with clinched
fists and looked after us, but he made