Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-06-24
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
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sorrowful air tucked us in the sleigh
felt very anxious as | extended my
hand in farewell to the good people,
[ felt just like one who leaves a safe
harbor Tor voyage on the stormy sea-
All, how desolate had been since the
| day before!
"Adieu, gracious Fraulein, we hope
you will find your mother well again"
said Frau Hubner.
The horses started off. The bells az
first sounded indistinct, then they be-
came more clear, the lantern cast ito
light upon the road, and forward we
went into the struggle Of life.
| Cousin seemed to be asleep; she sa'
there in the enormous fur coat without
stirring; the coachman on the box Waa
probably asleep, too, and sleepily the
horses trotted over the familiar road
At this moment something moved be-
hind me and, moving aside in alright
! saw a soldiers cloak and above it q
well-known face beneath military
cap. Robert Nordmann had swung
himself upon the sleigh.
| "You?" asked l.
81 want to bid you goodbye" he
whispered. ''You must give me your
hand once more, you must promise me
that you will retain in your memory
| pleasant recollections of-these days
/ between Christmas and New Year"
His voice sounded agitated, his eyes
wore a serious, supplicating express
sion
Whatsoever may come said l. 81
shall always remember these days"
always, Herr Nordmann.
The sleigh proceeded on it's course
with the slumbering cousin, the nod
ding coachman, proceeded into the
windy winter morning. There was no
comforting star in the sky, nothing
but the light of the lanterns which
family lighted the way; the future, az
we looked into it, seemed just like
our surroundings-not a star, not a
glimmer of light.
"Anneliese," he whispered, "Anne-
liese, do not forget that what must
come about will render me thousand
times more unhappy than it will you. !"
But why?" murmured, feeling as
if the breeze which famed my cheek
was hot, so madly did my pulses throb.
why? Do you not really know.
Anneliese?"
leaned back my head, could not
turn it, the space beside cousin was so
limited, and I would not have awak-
ened her at this moment for the world.
could not prevent a few tears from
coursing down my cheeks, foolish,
scalding tears. "You must not be un.
happy, you must not take it so hard,'
said I, in half-suffocated voice.
Then I felt my head between his
hands and burning kisses upon my
eyes ooh, we two" said he, 1--WE poor
beings!" Then a kiss upon my lips,
a long kiss
The seat behind me was empty, the
darkness still as dense; but my eyes
| looked into light, not like the light of
the rising, but of the setting sun, sink
ing in it's purple grandeur behind dark,
, heavy clouds. Farewell said the
glowing rays, might is now coming
The sleigh-bells spoke of parting, on
|
forest, while a. still worse storm shook
my soul. Oh, we two! We poor be-
ings! Life and death in one breath!
We had met but to part for another's
guilt!
cannot tell how I lived through
that days journey. The entire world
seemed different to me; I seemed
many years older, like one who knows
he must die in the midst of Maying
time. I no longer thought Of go
ing out into the world among strang-
ers, desired but one thing-to remain
with my poor mother as long as God
would spare us to each other, to be a
comfort to her in the days of trial to
come and to guard secretly the tiny
spark of happiness which the good
Lord had given me, were it never to
become a flame.
There sat, exhausted by my mental
agitation, unable to speak Cousin,
who did not wear the furs in the
warm coupe, was likewise silent, and
/ the burrows on her face were deeper
than ever. At the station at Weston
berg the carriage awaited us, but there
was no one to receive US. The master
and mistress had company, the coach
man said. In silence we rolled along
the dark streets and drew up at the
house. The upper windows were light
ed, but only housemaid appeared to
welcome us. Clearing her throat,
cousin preceded me to our room.
Mamma has been here,' said |, on
entering. The fire was lighted, the
table set, and beneath the lamp stood
bunch of violets. Before could lay
aside my cloak, footsteps came
through the anteroom, beloved foot
steps, and the next moment my head
rested upon my mothers breast.
my dear Annetiese," she whispered,
''you are here again.
"And shall remain with you, nam.
ma, always, always said I, with an
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