Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-04-01
CHAPTER x.


lions were begun in our house for the
reception of. guests, OF Herr Won
Brankwitz and his sister The cousin
aged feet had gone UP and down
stairs all day, and her face looked very
different from usual, two bright-red
spots burned upon her thin cheeks.
After dinner mamma had complained
of headache and was unable to &C
company Herr Wollmeyer to the sta
ton in order to receive the company.
I sat in my room trying to write a
French letter to some sham person,
when mamma entered and warned me
that it was time to dress. Then she
patted my cheek and thrust a package
into my hand.
'tYOu must adorn yourself Herewith
tonight, he says
The che" was Herr Wollmeyer, she
always spoke of him thus to me. |
opened the package; a gold medallion,
heart-shaped and set with tiny dia-
monds met my gaze.
Wherefore, mammal" escaped me.
sHe means so well. he would like
TO give you pleasure" she answered.
"You will wear it, will you not?' She
glanced anxiously at me.
eff you really wish it, mamma.
IF you please" said she, softly.
At this juncture the cousin entered,
flushed from her work at the kitchen
fire. Mamma approached her quickly
and extended her hand to her. cousin,
he did not mean it So she whispered.
L looked in surprise from the one
TO the other.
"Of course. of colhse!" murmured
the old lady, pressing mammals hand.
ssHe is right-to be sure-When we
grow old, our work is more faulty.
God has ordained that we shall slowly
fade and -WolImeyer cannot
change that, some day it will be the
same with him."
t'Do not be so bitter, cousin"
Il am not bitter, not at all; if | had
wanted to be bitter, why
Mamma turned softly to me. BE
good tonight" she said, "and affable!"
Then she left the room, YEARLY, look
ing years older than formerly in spite
of her elegant, almost too youthful at
tire
What has happened, cousin?" I
asked anxiously, as the door closed be-
hind her.
Nothing; really, nothing" said she
in her usual kindly manner There
are occasionally days when the
weather is stormy. Make amends for
it, look this evening as you once look
ed, as if the dear sun were peeping
into the little room, then things will
be better"
Mammals appearance had made me
more miserable than / had been for a
long time She was right, she could
require me to be more affable. Under
the influence of this good resolution
hastily began my toilette, and when
finished, the carriage ratified over
che stones of the courtyard and
went QUITO greet the guests for
mammals sake. Friedrich opened the
door and the carriage-doOr and I STEP
ped upon the threshold
A woman's high, lisping voice came
white-robed maidens to receive me?
Uncle Wollmeyer, you have original
ideas!''
Herr Wollmeyer, who, upon turning
around, saw me, laughed, as he assist
ed the lady to alight. "Yes, indeed, it
is Anneliese, our wild little stubborn
miss. Come hither, Anneliese so
kiss one another-so, sol"
was almost hidden in the full. silk
mantle, now spread out I felt myself
suddenly embraced, and inhaled a
sweet perfume mixed with patchouli,
which almost benumbed me.
"Ah, such tiny doll" said the same
high voice, like little figure of.
Nielsen porcelain, sweet, simply
sweet"
Let her go, Olga!" cried third per-
son, ''do you wish to smother her?
Good-evening, gracious Fraulein, am
pleased to find you so well, at the we'd
ding you were somewnat-h' M
Young BrGnkwitz outstretched both
hands, and at this moment 1 was again
possessed by the despairing mood of
that fatal wedding-day. | felt all the
blood surge to my heart, felt, that |
must look extremely pallid, and put
ting for one second but one finger in
his hand, | turned abruptly away
Fortunately, just then the Countess
appeared in the door, attired in her
favorite evening street-dress, with a
short skirt, on her feet enormous
WoOden-slippers, preferred in Weston
berg to rubber-boots on account of the
bottomless roads, an old-fashioned,
wide cloth mantle around her, an an
tiquated cap upon her head, a gigantic
lantern in one hand and in the other
an equally gigantic umbrella.
With a cry of delight | flew to meet
this grotesque and yet so welcome APP
partition.
~Good-evening!" exclaimed she, and
needless of the stranger whose full
rosy face looked nonplussed and as
Gonished from under her sealskin cap,