Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-21
Continued.

gtpDB coming from the ulieCllOn Oh inc
entrance; q number of persons were
proceeding to the vault, ! started
from my kneelng posture, shudder
shook my frame, n strange, terrible
horror. gathered up my dress and
went, as quickly as | could, towards
the countcsss garden-gate. There
stood aunt's old servant looking with
a palid, curious face towards the
cemetery.
"Oh Lord, miss" she stammered,
chow frightened ! am! You stand
there like ghost!"
what is that over there, Joseph
ine?" asked, and nodded my head in
the direction of the people.
"Ah. that is--that Is something sad,
miss. Button Martha, has drowned her
self in the pond; they pulled her OUT
I'm the castlo.garden just now"
passed, in my horror incapable of
utering word The heart to which
could have flown in my fear of these
dark secrets was now far away, 1t be-
longed to him, to him who had driven
the young woman to her death, who
nHu maze ING emu hu vi Bhhh' Nv"
wildly ] ran into the house, into my
room and buried my head in the pill
lows. az If could hide myself from
the ncomprehensble happenings of
life.
The Countess found me In a state of
silent despair; she scolded me for run
gnr
looked so pretty. Now she was my
mother, she had given her promise
and she would be very angry II were
not reasonable, did not disrobe like
other people with five sound senses
and go to sleep, Mamma sent her
started from among the pillows
with clinched fists. mo- not he! DO
not mention hint" | ravod.
For Gods sake, Anneliesel"
81 hate him, oh, hate him!"
THAT Is really very nice Of YOU"
said the Countess drly. "To whom do
you owe IL that you recovered from
your severe illness, you wildcat? TO
him alone Or do you think that your
position to obtain for you one hun
dredth part of that carer"
now stood before her, incapable
of controlling myself, had suspected
that mamma had accepted his aid In
her embarrassment, In her anxiety
for me. | suspected that in return he
had demanded the highest price, her.
self but IL had not yet been told me-
The certainty "for your sake" had
never laid such hold upon me as at
these words of the Countess. There
are people who are maddened by the
discovery of "A terrible truth. No long
or mistress of myself, | cried; why
should be to blame for so much mis-
fortune, for ali my mothers misery?
He is murderer, aunt, he is"
You are mad, Annelioso'"
"He Is murderer, aunt" | cried
again, che has killed Button Martial"
why child Why, Anncliese!" But
she stammered and could not look at
me.
"She drowned herself for his sake"
l continued,
Drowned herself, did you say"
"Ycs--for his sake"
All nonsense! Button-Mnrth0 will
not drown herself"
a am not lying! She has drowned
herself-she Is dead"
what has your stopfather-----"
Aunt"
How can Herr Wollmeycr help
that? DO not be absurd, Button
Martha was always an eccentric per
son; God knows why She"
Il know why, | know" | said ox'
hausted. "Ah, my mother"
Nov so to bed, silly little toad" re-
piled the Countess, beginning to as
sist mo in disrobing whilo she chided
me, halfangrily, halftendorly, in or
der to conceal her anxiety Mt my agi-
tation. you act like n childl You
Pull faces at your mothers husband as
" You were Ave years old; II only re-
mains now for you to stick your tongue
ant at him You did not answer the
best man, but sat there like deaf.
mute. Then you did not even bid your
mother goodbye, ran away from the
dance, so that Brankovlt2 wandered
about in search of you as II you were
a pin, and asked every one II they
had seen you!"
i shrugged my shoulders, How could
she speak of such unimportant things"
Did she not see that was trembling
with indignation THAT Brankovtz Is
a horrible croature," | cried
''Is that so?"
II cannot bear him"
You scarcely know him, Annoliosc!
The few times"
"Hc is HIS nephew"
THAT is sufficient"
We'll, later on YOU three will have a
blissiul life together Your poor
mother"
Il shall always be kind 10 mamma"
Il can sec il coming In the future
EHn XliIt livy. hatuu,,v, t,vp Dyay