Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-12
By ". HEIMBURG.

Wdlheu Oh mechanically, SJ1u looking
after it. A vague, tormenting fear
had seized upon her. The carriage
soon disappeared from her sight, and
she wanderd on, entirely occupied
with her thoughts.
But it could not be he, He had
spoken TO her yesterday Of trials and
struggles in which he had been almost
overcome, and that man in the car
riage did not look like an artist who
had had many privatiOns to endure.
And Hilda laughed at her own folly.
The man in the carriage, with his
wife beside him, was no doubt some
rich manufacturer. She thought of
her roses at home A man who had
a beautiful woman like that beside
him did not send flowers to other
people in that secret manner. She
gradually grew calmer, and made up
her mind that in future she would be
more reasonable, and would do her
best to get on with Aunt Polly, for
she was quite dependent on her at
present. She asked the way to X
Strasse, and finally reached home
after a long walk.
Aunt Polly was lying on the sofa
with her apron over her face, taking
her afternoon nap. The room smelt
of soup and mudels; dish was being
kept warm, for Hilda no doubt, as the
table-cloth was still on the table and
her plate and knife and fork were
awaiting her. The old lady did not
wake; Hilda silently ate her dinner,
and after she had finished cleared the
table as silently. She had never done
this at home. She had been petted
and spoiled by them all, and had been
looked up to by them as the talented
one" Then she softly opened win
dow, and sat down to try to darn the
stockings.
She was not very successful, for she
was quite inexperienced, and the
roses which stood in front of her con-
fused her SO that she took blue yarn
for black stockings. But the old
lady, who had wakened unobserved by
Hilda, when she saw the young girl
so busily at work by the window, de-
cided to overlook the past. She lay
quite still, looking at the picture
before her, and thought to herself
that after all it was very pleasant TO
have such fresh young creature in
the house. She would try as far as
it lay in her power to make her
sensible and to get all those silly
ideas out Of her head which the Zwei-
dorf training had put there. And if
Hilda got on with her-well, then
there might become reason for max
ing a will
"Look here, Hilda," she cried, sud
denly sitting up, eve will try it again
if you like Come here and give me
your hand"
And Hilda crossed the room and
put her hand into her aunt'S fat one.
But you mustn't talk any more
nonsense like that of this morning."
81 know very well what I am about,
and | know the world, if I am
young" remarked Hilda.
Aunt Polly laughed a little. 'You
little goose!" she said. But she was
SlleHCSu Wy Tic hcI SlduCS VI LnIo
young creature.
and" continued Hilda, 81 must
beg of you not to forget that | am a
Zweidorf and that our motto is,
Honor above all!'"
Aunt Polly turned quite red. Hilda
was standing before her with the
majestic air Of young princess.
Aunt Polly suddenly discovered that
she had found her master. She felt
quite crestfallen as she went into
her little dark kitchen, and stood
there like stranger III her own four
walls.
There would be a pretty kettle of
fish if this girl was to be forever
fourishing her motto and crest! At
length, with deep sigh, she went
downstairs to the shop and sent the
grocery-woman's little girl for the
charwoman. 1t was no use to try
and do without her. Aunt Polly
couldn't get up the courage to set her
high-born niece to washing the dishes.
She couldn't even imagine now how
she had ever come to think of it.
When she came back she found
to arrange sort of easel by the win
dow with the help of a big portfolio.
ct is no use," said the girl; "it IS
too dark"
And Aunt Polly inquired if Hida
wouldn't paint in the best parlor. AS
soon as she had said it she bit her
lip and wondered what had made her.
And yet she seemed to be impelled to
open the best room and look on in
silence as Hilda began eagerly to ar
range her things. She NODDED
resignedly Hilda removed half a
dozen china fowers-pots containing
artificial roses and camellias from the
window-seat, with the simple inquiry:
May I, aunt?"
ooh, thank you SO much, aunt" said
the girl, when this was done. Il will
take the very best care of your nice
room.''
Inwardly she shuddered at the
of this room, especially at
the carpet, which was bright blue
with white roses strewed over It.
She was also very much disturbed by
the horrible portraits of the aunt and
late husband. But this was only for
little while; some day she would
neither have to look at the blue carpet
or those wretched portraits. She
took out a water-color picture Of
her fathers house, behind which was
a rude old stone tower and some tall
lindens, and while she was getting her
color-tubes and. brushes out of her
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