Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-10-03
Continued.

70 90 to dinner. AS she passed out
she turned her head and looked lacros;
at her cousin, and quick asa fasI
the tip of her little tongue Appeared
between her red lips, and fthe saucy
face under the short hair looked
surprisingly like that ofa naught!
boy
'Incredible." murmurpd the blond
giant, with an expression of infinite
amusement
A2tjo sat at the head of the table;
on her right was Maiberg; on her left
an elderly painter with long nair aid
an interesting but rather peevish-look-
ing thin face, Who was inwardly
wondering why he, who really had &C
complished SONG thing in the world
aust be forced i to starve. while this
fool of a Jussnftz had been wrapped
by tate IN Dix and velvet. These
observations however, did not pre-
vent him from enjoying his oyster S
very much.
The Baroness had AT once monop-
ollzed the conversation; her clear,
belt1Fe voice was heard continually
above the laughter of the men; she
seemed 70 be in particularly good
humor today,
AhtJe lpOked scrutinizingly at the
tap" o29C or twice, as she found
everything in faultless order, from the
fichiy Embroidered table-cloth of the
same design as the china to the silver
epergne filled with flowers, she seem
"a 70 Take no more notice of what was
gong on. She dropped her lashes
ana broke off small morsels of her
bread which she put mechanically
betW cen her lips. One of her neigh
oorS, was entirely absorbed in mis-
dlnIer; Maiberg on the other hand,
watched her with discreet curiosity,
without addressing her She had
Such a lovely, pale face, but her ex-
preston was no longer sad. only
indifferent. When the Baroness
frequent laugh came to her ears she
raised her eyes for moment as if
startled, and then sank back into her
apathy
"Osten and I want to spend this
Christmas at Barrenberg," said Frau
Ivol Erlach's cousin.
They are like Hans who wanted to
learn to SILVER" cried the Baroness;
they want to see the White Lady of
? Barrenberg'
'Barrenberg is an old castle on the
! other side of the Elbe, which belongs
! to Frau Won Erlach's cousin. The
colonel stays there sometimes in sum
ner and autumn. but at Christmas
time--in fact, all winter-it is always
empty. For many years the oc-
cupants have deserted the castle at
this time of year because, as people
say, the White Lady walks there
then. They say a Barrenberg once
stabbed his brother there on Christ
mas eve for the sake of a beautiful
woman"
This explanation was given to
Maiberg, in reply to his request for
information, by his next neighbor
My belief is. however" added his
informant, smiling, that this dc.
sertion of the old barrack at this
time of year is not occasioned sc
much by the White Lady as by the
charms Of Dresden"
Il would give anything to see the
ghost said Frau Won Frlach.
You can if you like, cousin" said
Barrenberg. L hereby invite you"
But who else will you ask"
We'll, what if all who are here now
were to celebrate Christmas eve in
the old banQuet-hall?" cried Barren
berg
1T is to be hoped there will be
snow, and then it will be more
romantic" said a wellknown land
scape painter THE yellow light OF
the candles will steam out into the
deserted courtyard, and we will stand
at the window and see the figure o.
the White Lady coming across the
snow through the arched gateway O.
the little garden-and the traces o.
her footsteps will be plainly visible il
the snow"
And" interrupted the Baroness
we will put out the lights, and We
shall see the figure come into the hal
and glide past us with eyes cast dowI
it makes my heart beat just - thinl
of it. So, is it bargain, gooC
people?"
But what will become of your TIVE
cadets, cousin?" cried Barrenberg
gayly. you can't possibly burden
their youthful spirits with ghostl,
adventures like that, and besides"
They would be in the way, cousin
know that They will stay at home
of course"
Acne, on Christmas Day." erie
Lieutenant Osten. DO you know
Baroness, if NY mother had treate
me like that"
"Well?" inquired the beautiful We
man, drinking off glass of chan
payne.
Well should have been yer
much surprised. to say the least,
said Osten, quietly.
my boys can be that too, if the
like" she replied. "They can hav
their presents the next day. To con
fort them for my absence will civ
them big box of bonbons and cake
and then
you will ruin their digestion" re
marked Maiberg, dryly.
Dear me. Herr Doctor" sighed til
Baroness. that wouldn't be the wor!
thing that could happen. Then the
would be little subdued. at leas
during the vacation. and wouldn't I
nd r-o,~i,,