Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-07-25


ing to paragraph so-and-so of the
Code How is that, dear sir?' asked |,
punishment by fine? Well, | will pay
it. Pardon, Countess he inter-
ruptcd with a smile, taking pinch of
snuff between his thumb and first
finger, It cannot be made right with
money, you would be imprisoned!
And he put the snuff in his nose as if
Imprisonment were mere nothing"
Aunt" / exclaimed, with horror.
Eyes, my darling! SO you see |
cannot help you now"
"Of course, of counsel" | STAN
mered.
"He then asked me II / was related
to you. But | am not, poor child, or /
would have the right to appeal to the
court OF wards that you be pro-
nounced of age. But, as it is
With an angry gesture she pushed her
cap from one side to the other, took
up her knitting, an immense piece Of
work, a coverlet designed for some
cousin and made Of the most delicate
shade OF blue and white, and soon the
wooden needles clicked fortissimo.
Within me fear and anger ragged
simultaneously.
This is all the result Of the rash
marriage" gTumbled the Countess.
Had Len in her absurd anxiety for
your welfare not rushed headlong
into this quagmire, things would be
very different tOday-you would have
your mother yet Yes, | maintain it,
for he tormented her in a manner
which is but only now quite clear to
me-"
buried my face in my hands;
what had mamma suffered!
Now he will torture you, and such
as we know it and cannot help it! oh,
| wish deluge would come and wipe
away all humanity" The Countess
was so pious that these words sound
ed strange from her lips. eff one
could but see when it would end" she
continued; 81 mean your stay at Woll-
meyers; you cannot endure it two
years. If you only had an oppor-
tmity to marry! But who Is there in
Westenbcrg to marry? No one! A
couple Of referendaries, who live at
their fathers eXpense-Steinberg is
betrothcd to Katie Tollen-and the
deacon is as suitable for you as u
catechism is beside a volume of lyric
poems-ah, child, it is hopeless!"
There is one would take Woll-
meyers daughter! thought |.
And as If to contradict herself, the
Countess said: There will probably
be no lack OF those who want your
money, or rather Wollmeyer's-fo
you are now his heiress."
And ! thought again; you should
but know, aunt. to whom the money
belongs by right"
"They will be after it. these men"
she went ON. "God-a-merCy!-a bank
rupt landowner or lieutenant, or some
one like Brankwitz-h 'm-this Drank
WITH" And after a long pause, dur
Ing which she knitted furiously, she
said with sigh: "You see, you are
now nineteen years old and have not
even been through with your first love
affair poor girl"
| blushed scarlet, and inyoluntarily
claspcd my hands.
you are so flushed, Anneliese"
ooh, indeed? | stammcred.
She looked at me searchingly and
ncredulously.
"Ah, God forbid" she murmured.
Suddenly-it came upon me forcibly
i began to sob, so violently, 50
bitterly, that | had no control over
myself. | fell Mt the terrified wo-
mans feet and hid my head in the
folds of her gown, while my entire
form trembled. oh, if you knew, if
you knew" gasped, "Why did
mamma not take me with her at
once!"
She let me weep for a long time.
Az length she said after stroking my
hair; who Is it, Anneiese?"
| sobbod on, but did not answer.
"Well?" she asked
"Oh, aunt, do not ask me, | could
not tell YOU"
We'll, If you do not want to tell It
| shall not try to eNtort your secret
from you; simply thought it would
do you good to pour out your heart. >
There was not trace of resentment
in her words.
BE sensible, Anneliese. rise" she
added kindly, mo ono can harm YOU
and the same God still lives"
No one can harm YOU" | could
not believe that the hated man could
have the right to order my return TO
him, and yet 1t was so. There was
reason against it, at least no official
reason, and the Countess implored me
not to run away, for" she explained
he has the right to withdraw from
you all means of subsistence. he can
Cypress and torment you in every pos
siblo way"
I shall not run away from vour
house, aunt, today nor tomorrow 4"
said l. but there will. there must
arise some means of escape from this
dilemma-do not deprive me of all
hope"