Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-10-31
Continued.

ing for this moment.
She was tortured by the most vary
ing feelings. If he was gay. she was
sure he was in love with some one
else and had hopes of speedy en-
gagement if he was out Of humor. he
must be suffering from the faithless-
ness of some one whom he tenderly
loved Then again, if he gave her a
book or a flower, if he paid her some
compliment on her beauty, if his shin
ing eyes sought hers, she was in per
feet tumuIt of happiness. On these
days she walked home as though she
had invisible wings. She wrote alb
surdly merry letters to her sisters,
she Rugged and kissed Aunt Polly till
she nearly strangIed her, and tor
rnented the poor woman with increas-
ing questions about her picture
whether it was really beautiful,
whether it was like her, and if she did
not think it was admirably painted.
And on another day when he had
certain line between his brows, when
ne was pale and out of temper, and
stopped painting every few minutes
to stare out of the window so he need
not see her eyes or answer her re
marks, then she conceived the picture
as beneath criticism, called him amere
sauber in her own mind, broke off the
sitting before the time was up, and
then cried her heart out in her room
at home. Then she resolved TO write
20 him the next day that she was
sorry, but she should not be able to
sit to him; and she did write some
thing with trembling hand. only to
tear it up again, and after all she went
with a pale face and smiling lips,
Then when he asked why she looked
so i'll, if anything was the matter with
her, she replied in a tone of surprise;
What should be the matter? I never
was better, and am as gay as a lark"
Then she forced herself to laugh
till the tears ran down her cheeks.
She at length comforted herself
with the thought that when the por
trait was finished it must be settled.
She had hoped he would speak today;
she dreamed of it, that to-day y
And then a deep flush covered her
face, and all her pride was in arms.
She heard again his Indifferent tone of
%he morning, when to her half-jesting
words, Il thOught>it would be finished
to-day" he had replied: You will
have to come several days between
Christmas and New Year. | will tell
you the days by and BY do not
know yet when l shall be back in
town"
are you going away?" sheinquired.
Il am going into the country"
When"
To-day"
A half sob escaped her, and she put
her hand instantly to the string of
pearls that was fastened about her
slender throat. Il have little cough
think the stove smokes" she said II
excuse. and looked at him with such
proud eyes that he thought he had
better put a dagger into her hand in
stead of a fan.
Yes. she was proud; she would
never show him that she loved him
neyer But she could not bear it;
that she felt sure OF. She was so
changed, she cried so easily, she was
not SO strong as he used to be, she no
longer felt such faith in her future
she felt so poor, so small. so disheart-
ened
Suddenly she started up 70 get her
hat and cloak she would 20 to
church. But as she stepped out into
the hall Aunt Polly was just throwing
open the door of the best room, and
the brightness of the Christmas-tree
blaZed out in the darkness
Come, quick" cried the old lady.
and there was in her voice the delight
that even the eldest people feel at
this moment. of blessed Civ
ing and receiving Come. Hilda. you
will find all sorts of things from home.
too"
And the next moment Htlda was
standing before the tree holding a lit
tie package in her hand.
THAT is from Herr Jussnitz" eX-
claimed Aunt Polly, triumphantly.
open it; l am curious to see what is
in it, What should you say. Hilda, :
she continued in a lower tone. ''if
there should be a ring inside. a little
plain gold ring
The slender fingers had quickly torn
off the thin paper and opened the little
etui-three jewels flashed out their
colored rays before her A brooch"
she said in a disappointed tone, while
her aunt almost shrieked with delight
"The note" cried the old lady ;
there is a note too" But it was only
card: Leo Jussnitz. with kindest
regards" the girl read with angry
eyes.
Hilda threw the etui and the card
on the table, caught her hat and cloak
off the hook in the hall. and ran out in
to the street
She had forgotten her prayer-book
she no longer remembered the church
she only wanted to get out. Outside
the wind had gone down, the sky was
clear overhead aud bright with stars
and in the streets the last Christmas
shoppers were still lingering. With
trembling steps Hilda made her way
through the crowd, and at length
after wandering a long time, found
herself in front of the villa in which
Leos studio was situated She knew
OF no other place in the whole grea
city where she could satisfy her intol
cradle longing to be alone in SONS
quiet corner in which Sha mood no