Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-04

to Hamburg? With matters as they
are, shall make no attempt to keep
you here, for it will be no benefit to
your mother to have your defiant face
before her eyes constantly. But now
you must follow her; you both have
your effects to pack and various
things to arrange, and, too" she
turned towards me-"and. too,
should like to remind you that you
must make allowances for your moth
er. There are times in life when one
would like to cry aloud with pain and
heartache, and yet one must force the
lips to smile. when at no price can
one betray ones feelings to the world
to mankind. to ones nearest and
dearest. Set your teeth together,
therefore, Anneliese, and smile if they
wish you joy to your stepfather-
smile for your mothers sake, even
though it be difficult"
She drew me to her and said:
"And, lastly. it cannot be helped,
silly thing! The English princesses
too have married beneath their
station and still remain what they
were; so be brave, my dear Anneliese
be brave!"
"You thing l am unhappy because
his name is Woolmeyer?" I asked,
Struggling my shoulders. "That
would be the last thing should have
thought Of Indeed, his name might
be the same as yours, he might boast
of a nine-pointed crown. should
loathe him as much as with his
plebeian name. But have no fear,
aunt, I will not annoy mamma; rest
assured. will set my teeth firmly
together. Goodbye, thank you!"
| CHAPTER VII.
|. I withdrew, and several hours later
i[ reached the conclusion that / could
not desert my mother. When | en-
tered the court, saw by the unusual
hustle, that mamma had given per-
mission for the announcement of the
engagement, that the great event had
/ been communicated to the household,
and, too, that Herr Wollmeyer had
certainly not announced the betrothal
| in the most refined manner nor in a
manner most pleasing to my poor
mother; no printed announcements,
but bombastic invitations, pomp and
show!
The house door was opened wide
and the gardener was entering, his
arms filled with green branches; in
the hall the maids were fluttering in
confusion like swallows before a
storm, one on her way to the cellar
with a basket for bottles and an
enormous bunch of keys, the other
stood at the cupboard upon ladder
handing down china; the coachman
came out of the dining-room and his
masters voice called after him: cat
eight o'clock, Friedrich. to a very
simple supper-and do your errand
WE'LL" Frederick smiled slyly and
nodded to the maids as he went out.
This was the Town-councillor'
way: he invited guests in order to
surprise them with his engagement
| Coarse indeed! thought I Indignantly
Cousin Himmel met me on the stairs
time noticed change in this usually
so impressive face, agitation, great and
with difficulty suppressed, quivered
thereon. When she saw me, a sudden
flush suffused her cheeks. "Anneli
ese!" she murmured.
Silently we. gazed into one another's
eyes and we understood one another
"Who would have thought it," said
she softly, hurrying on, for the com
handing voice of my future step
father resounded through the house:
''The other brand of Sekt! The real
POUNDS! I shall surely not have to
clink glasses today with German
wine!"
The maid in alright, fastened back
to the cellar, and I went upstairs.
For some time l stood in the ante
room, undecided as to how I should
conduct myself towards mamma
Finally l concluded to overlook the
whole affair and to play the indiffer-
) ent. Purposely | entered the bed
chamber in order to lay aside my
wraps and to re-arrange my hair, but
chiefly to avoid a meeting as long as
possible. There lay mamma upon
her bed, her hands clasping her head,
with pinched lips and sunken eyes.
Mamma! All, mammal" cried !;
the next moment was upon my knees
beside her, and with my face against
hers, began to sob anew. She
YEARLY raised her hand and stroke0
my tear-stained cheeks.
"My child! My one blessing!"
ooh, mamma, mamma, what have
you done?" l exclaimed. 1--WE were
so happy together!"
She made an evasive gesture with
her hand. "Fetch my drops, and then
-Anneliese, if he comes, I cannot re-
ceive him this morning head
this evening we will be down
promptly, will we not, Anneliese?''
At this moment there was knock at
the door of the drawing-room. She
waved to me impatiently, l was to go,
and went to receive him.