Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-07-22


pride, since that hour of parting
since kissed you No, Anneliese, do
not fear-your mother is living and
my father is dead, and in the other
world, if the good and bad are re
warded and punished, he has found
his honor a thousand-fold, the honor
of which he was robbed by mortals
We will try to forget all this. Come
with me-where there is love, there
too is the true home! You shall miss
nothing in the foreign land; come
Annenese, tell me what you visit"
These words sounded like a sweet
cradle-song; I was silent.
Say, yes!" he whispered, kissing
me. Must you think it over first,
Anneliese?"
I started from his embrace, for
cousin entered with a light She did
not see Robert at first, her eyes
were turned upon the Pickering taper.
''Anneliese," said she, in faint voice,
''your mother is very low" From
these few words came upon me with
terrible certainty the news-no hope.
| I rushed out, I forgot all. Upstairs
the physician refused to admit me;
in mammals tiny boudoir next the
death chamber I crouched among the
sofa-pillows and listened to the
sounds within, to the footsteps and
Whispering From time to time ex-
cessive lassitude stole over me, to be
interrupted by the torturing remem-
brance of the sorrowful present. Once
thought heard the voices of Wolf
meyer and the doctor, but could not
arouse myself altogether. Suddenly
I started from deep sleep; it seemed
to me as if a hand had stroked me
caressingly; a chill made me shud-
der! The next moment I was upon
my feet, FASTENED to the door and
crossed the threshold.
All was quiet within; the candles
in the candelabra fickered in the
breeze which came through the open
window A terrible fear possessed
me, I did not venture to advance. At
mammals bedside kneeled man, his
face buried in the covers, his hands
clutching mis- hair in despair; mamma
lay there motionless, her head thrown
back, her eyes half-open-ah, and the
fixed, despairing expression on her
face! The man rose and passed me;
| do not believe he saw me. Slowly
stole nearer the bed.
Mamma" said I softly. Mamma,
are you asleep?'
Yes, she was sleeping
Without a relieving tear I totterei
downstairs. People were standing in
the hall and glanced at me compass
sionately; Olga Sellmann advanced to
meet me. I turned my back upon
her. Robert Nordmann was at the
window in my sitting-room; he turn
ed, his face twitched, and silently he
extended his arms. He probably
meant to say: come, will be every
thing to you, father, mother, home
all; Mamma is dead" said I, pass
ing him by. His arms fell, and he
looked sorrowfully after me.
I seized shawl, with a SILVER
wrapped myself in it and seated my
self in a chair by the stove. I felt
frozen and dead. So we sat in the
cold room, in the winters night, he
and 1. Mamma is dead, thank you
for your sympathy-now you need no
longer exercise forbearance; fare
WE'LL" I should have said to him, but
not sound could utter.
At length cousin entered, with a
pallid, sunken face. When she saw
me she turned aside and wiped her
eyes. God has taken a great deal
from you, Anneliese!" Then she
beckoned her nephew to follow her,
and they went into the adjoining
room. heard them whisper, and
cousin sob occasionally. Suddenly
started up and left the room; l would
go away-away to the Countess;
away from that abominable mans
house! Mechanically drew the
shawl more closely around me and
stepped out into the dusky, cold hall;
the clock was just striking six.
And there l met the Countess;
when she saw me she drew me into
the ample folds of her mantle. My
poor child" said she, ''now you be-
long to me. Come we will go to see
Len once more, then we will. set out
for my housed"
On the stairs we came upon Olga
| Sellmann; she wore a traveling-dress
Behind her, with Brankwitz, came my
step-father, who in this one night,
had grown almost unrecognizsble; he
stopped, his hair was grayer that it
had ever seemed before He made Il
faint attempt at his former politeness.
But the Countess held her head
proudly erect and did not notice him.
Fear was depicted upon his features;
he did not venture to follow us.
/ Once again I kissed mammals
hand. The Countess wept copiously;
could not shed tear. We descend
ed the stairs just as the carriage.
laden with Olga Sellmann's luggage,
drove out Of the gate. My step-father
passed us again and again. The
Countess turned her head the other
way; he stood there with clinched