Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-05-02
Continued.

Fraulein. But first permit me TO ASK
YOU one question-who. lies beneath
the grave before which l was Just
standing?" And he pointed to Hann-
chen's resting place.
Frau Wollmeyer," replied |.
"A thousand thanks" said he. with
the expression of a person who finds
confirmed what he wishes to hear.
Again a pause. Involuntarily took
in his whole appearance with my as
touished eyes. He seemed so strange
to memo one like him had ever been
seen in Westenberg-his attire was
different; he wore a travelling cloak
of gray material, a hat of the same
color. a very elegant leather satchel
over his shoulder and fine gloves.
"Good-day, Fraulein." l heard him
saw as he raised his hat from ms
brown, glossy hair.
| nodded in silence and watched MN
as long as he could be seen on the
path. Suddenly thought occurred TO
Robert Nordmann be mere!
"Robert Nordman, Cousin Robert
and | began to run like wild school'
girl. so that my fur cap slipped back
from my brow. Then burning shame
nossessed me. What in the world dld
Robert Nordmann concern me?
put my cap straight and slowly
walked on. Absurd How could
could Robert Nordmann be here!
Absurd to imagine such a thing be-
cause a strange man had CHANGED to
stand at Hannchens grave! MY
fancy had again played me a trick!
-''Annelieseken," cousin would have
said with q shake of her head.
"Ah, cousin, cousin, were you but
here" | lamented and with heavy
heart I opened the Countess's garden
gate and entered the house with so de
jected an expression upon my face that
even old Josephine said; You are not
the proper company for the Countess
today. Fraulein Won Sternberg: the
Countess is making just such a face
as yours today
ventured to knock very shyly, and
the loud, angry Come I'M BODIED me
nothing good The old lady was
wrapped in a thick shawl and looked
as fierce as a bulldog. "Good-morn
ing, aunt" said | family.
"Good-morning! You can go to the
next wedding alone l want nothing
to do with the weddings of today, not
even were you to have one
Have you taken cold, aunt?
stammered.
Gold? | never take cold. | was
yexed. 1t has brought on the colo
and-weI. it cannot be helped. Oh
you people of the present day
have a bone to pick with you too
She cried suddenly. The so-calleo
Herr Won Brankwitz approached you
in a manner deserving box on the
ears, The follow looks like cheese
mite with syrup-sauce over it. But
it makes no difference. if it be only
some one!"
"Ah, aunt, Countess" l implored
listen to me-"
Il will listen to nothing, | viii
simply tell you that if your mother
commits a second act of folly in ad
dition to her first, and allows this
scare-crow. this-Well. | will not say
ito snap up her daughter, we vii
be strangers-tell her that. With al
respect to Herr Wollmeyer-hiS
nephew is" She was seized with a
fit for coughing.
Aunt, may explain to you?'
NO" she Numbered. Il want nc
explanation.
But want you to help me" | now
cried. louder than she did. Il am tC
accept him. and l do not want to
aunt"
She suddenly grew calm. rs that
500" she said at length. You have
to. but you do not want to? Who re
uuires YOU to do so? Len? Surely
not?"
MY mother knows nothing about
it," | sobbed, nor is she to know it
because t excites her, they told me
Wollemeyer, demands a final an
swer tomorrow noon there can be nc
refusal, he said, aunt"
Pooh" she replied; that is mere
ly form of speech to brighten you
remained SILENT NbAhtI lhS -
dared tell her the conversation l hat
overheard. But the fear of calling
forth something terrible, a scandalous
story, restrained me from doing so
He said so, aunt" | simply STAN
mered, and ! am afraid of him. If
could only talk with mamma. Nam
ma would give nc right, she could not
do otherwise"
1T seems strange to me that Len
should know nothing Of it" she
growled "sons-inlaw are things with
which no mother allows herself to be
surprised; in this every one wishe:
to put in word Of ones own Sud
denly she jerked her shawl off =
cannot argue with him" she cried
che is a city official. and he can get
such as US into trouble. but he shell
not have his way. AnneIiese. Now
confess seriously, child, for I mus.
understand it clearly, because / looB
tsuou the matter as a misfortune