Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-05-13
Continued.

OUICldl
me with great courtesy and even
wished to serve me first, although
number of people were waiting with
their books. Directly in front of me
stood small, plump woman, i'm
patiently shifting from one foot to the
other, but who drew back respect
fully on seeing me.
THANK you" said to the official,
leach in his turn, have plenty OF
time"
| knew the little woman who now
stepped back with me and waited
likewise; she was the wife of the
sexton of st. Mary's. "Good-day.
miss" said she, "you were with US
carry this morning"
''To be sure, l was Frau Sietmann,
I replied, the thought of the stranger
recurring to me, and with an air OF
curiosity, which l usually looked upon
as very despicable, | continued:
seThere was some one else in the
cemetery today, Frau Sietmann, tall,
strange young man; do you know
him? He was standing at Frau Wolf
meyers grave"
A broad smile appeared on the wo-
mans round face, smile quite
foreign to it; had never seen it wear
any other expression than that Of
compassion, an expression appropriate
for her position as sections wife.
For Gods sake, at what are you
laughing?" l asked.
"Oh, do not be vexed, miss, it is
only because the strange gentleman
questioned me so minutely this morn
ing. l was outside of our cottage,
cleaning the windows-one must
have things a trifie neat-the day
after tomorrow Major Won Tollen is. to
be buried and he will have large
funerals | said, | was cleaning the
windows when the stranger came up
the path, but passed me by. Well,
thought l, he might have hidden me
good-day, he must know that belong
here-when, suddenly he turned and
came directly towards me. Can you
tell me, dear madam he asked, who
that lady was whom | met in the
churchyard?' All, how should ]
know? l answered, "a great many
ladies come hither; what did she look
like?' He then said: Small, brunette
that meant dark-sshe had excep-
'tionally large eyes, and her curly locks
peeped forth from under her fur cap
That may have been Katie Won
Tollen,' replied, but the poor thing
will certainly not come to the ceme-
terry today, for the day after tomorrow
her father is to be buried here Then
bethought myself of you. All, see
here, sir, it must have been Stern
berg's Anneliese!' And it was so,
you have just told me, miss, that It
was you. Sternberg's Anneliese@ he
repeated after me, as if trying 10
recollect something. Then I said,
Why yes, she was at her fathers
grave; she comes in all kinds of
weather to see to her fathers resting
place. Her mother has married a
second time, she is Wollmeyer's wife.
Thereupon he drew forth purse and
gave me fifty marks, miss rs that
SOL? he SAID, well, my good won IN,
attend to the grave nicely, and many
thanks for your kind information
With these words he walked away.
Which grave?' | called after him,
but he did not turn around or answer
me. Now / am going to put the
money in the savings-bank, for such a
windfall is not a daily occurren &C.
l need not feel any qualms of con-
science in keeping it, for l attend TO
all the graves, those of the poor as
well as the rich, and the whole GENE
terry looks like a pleasure-gard
miss, everybody says So"
eff you pleased" now cried the clerk,
anG Frau Sietmann stepped up with
her savings-book.
No, he was not an actor. Fifty
marks! A Westenberg actor giving
away fifty marks! I smiled with as
much delight as the sections wife had
just done. Robert Nordmann! rang
in my soul like the singing of a finch
in spring-time, Robert Nordmann,
cousins Robert! If it were he, what
JOY for the old lady!
This mood was not of long duration,
and when at dusk I reached home, |
took myself to task How could any
one be so silly! The depressing
present again exercised it's influence
upon me. AS gazed at the shades of
night fast falling, mammals aid
seemed doubtful to me and flight" i'm
possible. The dread of a strange
land, experienced by every one who
for the first time goes from the old
home and familiar surroundings into
an uncertain, gloomy future, laid hold
upon me, How could it be, what
should do, to escape from the person
whom l loathed?
Then 1 saw coming across the
snowy courtyard a tall form and
recognized that monstrosity of a hood
and the muff out of which six of the
size Of those of the present day might
have been fashioned, and my heart
stood still with terror. The Countess,
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