Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-26

pressing her clasped hands against
her lips-"you will forgive me if l do
not come. I cannot suffer three
peoples lives to be ruined for the
sake of one. You loved your hus-
band, and your child, too, more than
anything in the world: you will under
stand that I must stay at my post"
Then she got out her pen and paper
and wrote two kilograms, one to old
Kortmer aud the other to DR.. Maiberg
in Berlin, which latter ran thus:
My mother very ILL., cannot 60 to
her; If you could go-very grateful
Anna Jussnitz."
CHAPTER XIV.
Antje did not come to tea that
night, and Hilda did not appear again,
but stayed in her room.
Sc Leo had the table to himself, but
the food tasted bitter in his mouth
At length he gave up trying to eat
and devoted himself to the wine. His
thoughts were in mad whirl-about
his pecuniary affairs, the stock specu-
latiOns in which he had risked Antics
fortune without her knowledge, TIE
mother-in-law who was by no means
fond of him and would have been glad
to put him on an allowance. He had
no luck, Weeks ago he had sent off
a picture to the dealer, and had since
him cly
neither had been sold, though never
had he been in more pressing need of
a few thousand marks than now.
He could send Hilda's portrait. but
the thought Of parting with it, Of
giving it up to some idiot, who would
adorn his room with it, and would rub
his hands and chuckle at the sight Of
her beauty, put him into such a
Jealous rage as nearly robbed him OF
his reason; and added to this there
was the agreeable prospect of his
mother-in-law's dying unreconciled to
him. She had already sent for her
lawyer, probably to bind the hands of
her 'extravagant son-in-law," so he
could not waste the principal.
That scene with Antje-if he had
only let her go! Now she would go
about like a poor, betrayed wife,
would jealousy spy upon all his
would be cold as ice to
that poor girl, and would sit op-
posite him at the table with that
martyr-like air, and-it is enough to-
drive a man mad, "The best thing I
could do would be to drive into Ores
den this very night-if it were only
not for that sick mother-in-law!"
And now Antje wouldn't go, out OF
sheer jealousy! There would be a
scene this evening, he knew that very
well, and there should be one, too; he
would not go out of the way of it. |
Better end it all with a crash than
have this sort Of thing going on
forever.
And Hilda? She had left him with |
out word, looking every inch of her |
ike an insulted queen. He gave q
bitter laugh, took a cigar, and went |
upstairs to make a scene with his !
wife. He expected to find her with the |
air Of a martyr, with fearful eyes. |
answering Eyes" and mo" to all his |
questions. That would be excellent /!
FOR a beginning, for then he could |
say: Listen to me, my dear. | have |
had about enough of this sort of |
hing! II | cannot do anything to |
suit you, If you take offence at every |
hing [ do, We had better put an end |
20 it. No man could stand such
ife-"
At this moment he reached the |
door of her room and opened it. She
was sitting at her desk, writing so !
eagerly that she did not look up. She |
id not see him until he came close !
Up to her, and then taking her pen IN |
Ter left hand, she put out her right.
EXCUSE me for moment, Leo: only |
he signature, and then I can attend |
o you"
She had looked I'D at him. Yes;
Ter eyes, her unfathomable eyes were |
still full of tears, but there was such |
: srieved, questioning look in them, |
under their dark lashes, that he
could not begin his contemplated |
attack. He threw himself into 4
chair and began to stroke his beard |
Wont you keep on smoking, Leo?"
She inq9fred, turning round as she |
perceived that he had laid down his |
cigar. 'YOu are always more COM
Portable when you have your cigar"
mo, thanks" he replied, shortly.
you a1ways-you know I like to
have you smoke, Leo"
To be Continued.