Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-06-03

Continued.

hear from the Countess? had Writ
ten to her once to thank her. but hac
received no reply. Surely, though.
she would write for Christmas!
Mammals letters mentioned neither
her nor any other Westerbergers-I
lived like an exile in constant expecta-
ton of an attack.
Christmas Eve was there before /
realized it. The Hubner's son, the
student at the Gymnasium, had come
home; Herr and Frau Hubner had
met him, and the horses, home-return-
ing, painted beneath their heavy load.
I had never seen SO many Christmas
packages in one place.
The postman had a man with him,
who carried in bag on his back all
sorts of boxes, while the postman him
self had three of four fastened to-
gether across his shoulder. I saw all
this when going for walk; directly
after dinner I started off. Out-of-
doors, in the open air I felt the OPP
preston of my soul the least. This
time I did not turn my steps towards
the village, but in the opposite direc-
ton did not desire to see al the
Christmas preparations, what were
they to me! Upon the high-road IN
the midst of the forests l should be
reminded of them the least So with
hasty steps I descended into the
valley: l met several sleighs upon
each of which lay Christmas tree.
1t looked very much like snow, in fact
a few flakes were already falling. I
felt more and more disconsolate. more
and more anxious; my young heart
was filed with longing. I had moth
ing, nothing in the world! Mamma
did not love me, no. she loved me no
longer; she had sold herself for my
sake, and by this sacrifice had rem
dered me more wretched than I would
have been more wretched than | would
perience hunger and want. And the
worst of it was that she had sold her
soul as we'll She no longer felt that
she was helping to make me miser-
able, she thought like her spouse, and
if indeed a remnant of love still lin
gered within her for me, this too
would soon be bestowed upon another
object All, how terrible is the
thought Of having a brother or a
brother or a sister whom one cannot
love, whom one must hate! already
hated this child with my whole soul,
with a hatred such as can only be
cherished by a young creature re-
jected while thirsting for love. How
we'll they all seemed to understand
how to torment me!
A prisoner was better off than was,
he could work for the years of free
dom to come-I was inactive. I had
no set purpose in view. I was like a
child under-age, whose wishes are not
needed because she is childish, and
who is not allowed to express an
opinion had not even any money.
would not ask mamma for any. nor
would I ask cousin either; | could not
even buy trifing Christmas gift for
the faithful old soul. What did l
need money for they probably
thought. I was provided with cloth
ing and food. and more might cause
trouble: I might have gone away with
it. Time alone was given me. ample
time in which to consider my actions,
and possibly to see what simpleton
had been to refuse my wealthy
sutton.
I clinched my fists in my muff. And
they talked about PERSONS. a wo-
mans, free will! Was it in my power
to escape from this position? Ger
tainly not In what way? I had rot
even the money to take me to the
nearest town, not even enough to pay
my expenses at the most inexpensive
hotel until I could find a position, not
enough to ray the fee at an employ
ment bureau or the cost of an adver-
tisement I could not beg my way
upon the high-road. 1t sounded so
simple: by ones own power, through
life independently But how difficult
it is for a girl who has not been
trained thus from her earliest youth.
This had been my relatives intention,
but illness. that miserable illness had
interfered! Oh. I was begger in
worldly goods, in protection, in love!
Occupied with these thoughts I had
not neeQeQ the distance ndQ gone.
when suddenly stood at the point
where the road wound around sharp
ly-projecting rock, and upon the other
side sloped towards q ravine. guarded
by a plain low wall The day was
drawing to close. and casting it's
last faint light over the ravine with its
frs, over the hills round about; was
surrounded by a grand impressive soil
tude. There was not a sound in these
woods, the snowf1akes dance around
me- I held my breath and listened.
Suddenly I grew uneasy-all was so
still, there was not to be heard even
the rustic Of a leaf. the crack of a
whip, not a shot re-echoed in the
woods. Even the sportsman was not
hunting today. 1t was Christmas,
peace upon earth for every creature;
peace and joy, happy meetings and
happy hOurs-but not for me!
My grief overcame me. I seated
myself 1non the little wall in the snow