Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-04-15

1
with a food of words.
She could not have denied herself
/ the pleasure of inviting such dear
friends of Adalbert's; moreover, in
small town there was always lack OF
affable young men and beautiful wo-
men, and she heartily thanked For
tune for having sent two such charm.
ing persons.
And how are you, Fraulein Won
iSternberg? Have you conferred with
Katie Tollen about your dress? In
New York all the bridesmaids dress
alike, it looks so pretty. very much
regret that we shall not have the
pleasure of seeing Herr Wollmeyer
and his young wife here, but-we
have never exchanged calls. Well.
the children must make up for the
parents neglect! Those two intend
to be very sociable! And you, Frau
lein Won Sternberg, have placed your
self under The Countess's protection?
lCharming woman! Do you know the
Countess, Frau Sellmann? | have
not overrated her, have [? Going al
ready? All, you intend to call upon
the Tollens too-give my love to my
little daughter!" My head whirled.
A terrlDIe creature! secretly won
dered why the Beckers had not sought
my step-father's society. Had | been
more worldly, would have seen that
the similarity of disposition mutually
repealed them-the parvenus had
recognized each other! I had only
been invited as friend of the Tollen
girl, as bridesmaid. and for Lore's
sake went, although I disliked being
present at a wedding which in my
opinion was as sad as my mothers.
| We were not received at Tollen's;
the silence of the grave reigned in the
tiny house. nothing pointed to the eve
OF such a fete. Frau Sellmann there
upon insisted on calling upon the
Countess, whom ! wanted to visit
alone, but as l could not rid myself of
| the brother and sister, we three
stopped at the old lady's home. She
was in, sitting at her window. arrang-
| ing some old lace upon an old gray
silk dress, which she intended to wear
| in honor Of Lore on the morrow. She,
| too, was only assisting at the cere-
mony on account of the Tollens.
81 am delighted were the words
with which she greeted us. Pray, be
seated. Anneliese, pick up that bow!
Excuse me, this is my living room;
do not have the best room heated
every day." A scornful, plying smile
fitted across Frau Sellmann's full
! face. The Countess remarked it and
said "Ah, that is something strange
nowadays, my dear Frau Sellmann.
You probably have all of your rooms
| heated and those of your servants as
well. We Of the past age do not know
anything about the chase after over
refinement; in my time the whole
family lived in one room, of course
with the exception of the master of
| the house. Then we sat around three
small candles and did the finest work
| or mended linen, and that was the
case everywhere, at least in our circle.
| My father was minister, my dear
Frau Sellmann,' she added, land we
were well and happy in our mode of
| life. You smile? Do you think that /
| lost a pearl out of my crown for that
reason? There remains to us no
other means of distinction from the
vulger herd of today than our old
simplicity, of which there is SO strik-
| ing an example in the grandest man in
our realm, in our dear old Emperor"
but the intellectual life suffered
surely, Countess, by the tallow-can-
dies and the mending" replied Frau
| -Sellmann.
intellectual life suffered in the
period when a Goethe lived! | know
of no generation in which the women
| we're more active!"
But it was all so horribly senti-
mental and extravagant," explained
the young lady
ITO be sure we did not read French
| plays" said the Countess drily; Sat
the present day the taste is different.
| Which is the best is uncertain The
world struggles on through all manner
/ of changes. No maiden grieves to
day for blighted affection, she is con-
soled and weds wealthy man, with
out dying of a broken heart do not
know what I should prefer"
Now the, to me, very painful con-
versation was changed, few common
phrases were exchanged, and finally,
the Countess said: "Apropos, where
in the world was the fire at noon to-
day, Herr Won Brankwitz? You drove
through the streets with Anneliese at
such mad pace!"
'Ah, did you notice it, too, Countess?
was going to Damnitz-I wanted"
Ito Damnitz?" I asked ''You did
not say word about it,
'sAh, dared not say a word The
gracious Fraulein was in very I'M
approachable mood, Countess, and so
came home without having effected
my object"
did you wish to purchase
Damnitz?" asked the old lady.