Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-04
Continued.

against you? / have been silent, al
ways silent, you know that better
than any other"
Il do not need your silence,' he
cried, returning, do you understand?
We'll" the cousin interrupted,
now can l do mischief here? In all
my life I have never been accused of
that. But l can go, tomorrow | can
go; | will go. You are quite right,
Wollmeyer, it is better So" She
passed the back of her hand over her
brow, and with Trembling fingers began
to gather up her few paltry me
mentos.'
Tell me, Annelese, have l ever put
you up?" she asked, thinking he had
left the room.
Certainly not" l cried. scarcely
able to control myself. Moreover |
never allow myself to be put up. I do
what l think right" | clinched my
fists and looked at the man with
hatred in my eyes, while he returned.
my glance, and shrugged his shoulders
with the sense of his superiority.
Il shall expect you upstairs in five
minutes; Brankwitz desires to play Il
duet with YOU"
made no reply.
Then the cousin again called the
man back from the door. Are yod
angry about Brankwitz, Wollmeyer?
All, good God, and were I now to be
standing before the jury in the court
room, could but repeat what l said to
Anneliese's mother this morning, that
he is nothing but a sluggard, who
squanders his money prodigally, the
money which his father accumulated
so misery and that his sister is no fit
associate for your wife, to say nothing
of Anneliese. | repeat this once more
before Anneliese, because | am obliged
to go away, and because | want her to
know what think of the guests up
stairs. Well, tomorrow | will start in
good season, Wollmeyer you may de-
pend upon it,"
She seized my arm. GO upstairs.
now, Anneliese, your mother is await
ing you. You need have no fear-go
i have word to say to him She
pushed me past my mothers husband,
closed the door behind me. and re-
manned alone with him
Trembling with agitation, leaned
against one of the cupboards in the
next room Very soon a terrible
storm would bust in the other apart
ment In mortal terror | waited in
order to go to the old ladys assis-
lance, but all was still; she spoke in
her usual tone and said little. There
upon I gathered up my courage and as
eended the stairs. Arrived there |
seated myself mechanically beside
Brankwitz and played, while possessed
by the anticipation of an enigmatical,
dark future. What did it all mean?
What meant to me the Cousins oft
repeated prejudces against Drank
WITT? What had taken place that
morning between Herr Wollmeyer,
his cousin and my mother?
Wollmeyer came up, tapped me on
the shoulder. alluded to me as little
runaway" held up to me Frau Sell
mann as model. recommended to her
the tanning of the little daughter
reared in such freedom. and handed
the delighted Countess a package for
her Christmas-boX If stranger
could have obtained a glimpse into
this cozy room, in which stylish wo-
men and men were seated together
chatting over their Mocha and Tur-
kish cigarettes and which was filled
with blue rings of smoke. whatsoever
could have seen. mamma in her chair,
her daughter upon an ottoman at her
feet, whosoever could have heard the
words of the host who addressed her
as dear Helene" and darling" he
would have thought; how enviable,
how happy are all these people!
That night when went downstairs
I found the cousin in the midst OF
chests and boxes packing her effects.
her old, wrinkled face looked strange
ly worn. Dear kind cousin" said
with fearful eyes.
81 have been with him twenty-five
years in sorrow and JOY" she replied
chiefly sorrow has it been It is hard
for me, But he is right, to be sure he
is right
YOU" ! stammered, for my rising
tears were choking me.
"Anneliese, you should not ask
that" she evaded modestly and with
emotion You have your mother,
and YOU are a fine lady, while | am a
stupid old person. But 1t pieases me,
nevertheless, and love you. Amen
csc, very dearly. and you are at
loss as to where 10 turn. then come 0
me; it is not so far DO not be vexed
with me but let me beg Of you to live
more peaceably with him than you
have done hitherto for your mothers
sake It cannot be helped Only II he
If he wishes you to accept attention
from Brankwitz, resist him: 1t would
but cause suffering and misery, No
you must not do that"
What is he to me-" I returned
Nothing, nothing at all. thank God