Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-08-19
FOR ANOTHER'S FAULT. !
W. Hein1b11r&.
W. Hei1nbur&.
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shadow. At the two windows were
gratings, such as were at all the lower
windows of the building, heavy iron
gratings with artistic scroll-work on
the lower part. I had once copied the
interviewed thistle-like flowers, the
thistle was the emblem of the Serren-
bergs. l now decided to draw the
entire house, just as I now saw it be-
fore me, dark, lighted up in the even
ing, and then in the bright sunshine:
had within it lived through the
whole happiness and the whole misery
of my Iife-it should be to me re-
membrance.
would have preferred to have sat
there all night, but the restlessness of
the old lady within there-she was
walking about the room again
seemed to me sign that she was pre-
pairing to retire; so glided from my
favorite seat and slowly took the
homeward path. A couple Of drops
fell upon my face, it was beginning to
rain. When it rains, one always
sleeps so well, mamma had always
said. I was tired, very tired, never
] theless I took a roundabout way,
before left the garden. When | en-
tered my room, did not see the old
lady, but upon the table next the lamp
and the open inkstand stood tray
with two large glasses of punch.
extended my hand one second, | was
very thirsty, then let it fall, and at
this moment, cousin returned.
''You do not want any, Anneliese?"
she asked, taking up the glasses in
order to carry them out. 1T is such
sweet, insipid stuff; he likes it so
sweet. | will take it out, let the
servants have it,"
I agreed with her, and when she re
turned, she said: eff you think as !
do, Anneliese, we will go to sleep"
I was now in the habit of retiring
at nine o'clock. What should I do?
The only time when I felt calm and
secure was when cousin at night had
turned the key in our room-door. On
bidding her goodnight I stroked her
cheeks; they were wet, and on her
black cap-ribbons lay several shining
drops.
''Have you been out, cousin?''
asked in establishment.
eyes," she replied. "Only across
the court to the gardeners, about the
asparagus for tomorrow"
was sitting half undressed upon
the edge Of the bed, when heard
her say she could not find the key to
her door, which led into the hall:
would l not come and look, 1 had
young eyes.
Three, four times we searched we
raised the mat at the door, but found
nothing. The locks were o1d-fash-
! toned, the key enormous, it could not
possibly be hidden from sight.
'"That is strange, cousin"
'I cannot imagine-I have not left
it sticking on the outside to day, be-
cause I have not been away at all.
Ard just now, when I ran out, I saw
it in the lock-"
'What shall we do?" I asked.
Nothing, child; we will sleep with
the door open. Or are you afraid?"
"T?-No"
s'Then lie down; whoever tries to
rob you, must go through my rooms
first, Anneliese."
FDo not speak of such thing,
cousin said I, putting out my light.
But I could not sleep; God knows
what absurd thoughts filled my mind
Now I fancied I heard footsteps, now
a resting and breathing. Silly girl!
I chided. In the next room cousin oc-
casionally coughed, it sounded so
comforting. Without, the rain was
falling fast, the monotonous. sound
really wearied me, I fell asleep.
Suddenly I awoke-what aroused
me, cannot tell; the next moment I
SAT up in bed and listened. The clock
at st. Mary's struck two; the rain was
still falling. The rustling and moving
came from cousins room, cautious
cropping and the rafting of papers "r
some such thing. Scantily clad, with
bated breath and palpitating heart,
crept in my soft felt slippers to the
door, which was ajar-what was the
old lady doing?
At the chest of drawers I saw a
form, busily engaged in rummaging
the open drawer. Cousin never
closed her blinds, therefore there was
a faint light in the room. The old
lady was in bed asleep.
My knees shook, my tongue was as
heavy as lead. Then I shut the doors
and rushed to the electric bell,
weirdly rang out the shrill peal
through the house. "Help!" ]
screamed, opening my door into thu
hall. Thieves, thieves!"
A dark form fed towards the stairs
I continued to ring the bells.
Then I FASTENED to cousins room
''For Gods sake, wake up! Wake
up!" With trembling fingers I struck
q light. See, thieves have been here
you have been robbed"
The old lady sat up in bed, without
any sign Of surprise.
See, see!" I repeated impatiently.
"Yes, yes" she murmured-'T pray