Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-19

| writes that my mother has been III
conscious since the day befor'
yesterday
We'll, probably she is much bette
| by this time. The news is at leas
two days Old
Leo, how can you, I am 81
horribly anxious-she has no one BIZ
"Old Hanna is there" he persisted
obstinately. You cannot possibly
leave the house-now, You forge
that you have a young lady visiting
! you, who could not possibly sta!
alone with me-
Antje stood and looked at him witf
great, astonished eyes. And am Il
leave my sick mother alone for The
sake of this Stranger" she said in 8
| low voice.
you do not seem to take in the
situation" he replied, beginning &c
walk up and down the room. IF yog
| go, Hilda will be forced to go away
to go? Pray, calm yourself, and to
morrow I will telegraph to the doctor
and if your mother is no better, well
then there will be time enough to
make some arrangement"
She turned her back upon him and
walked to the door without word
Wait minute!" he cried, i'm
petuously. You misunderstood the
matter entirely" he continued when
she had stopped. You know that
ever since that Christmas eve at
Barrenberg's people have been talking
about this poor girl. If you go away
now, they will say, of course, that you
have left me. because-oh, confound
it, don't put on face like that, you
know very well what / mean" he con-
Guided, angrily. TT is too absurd,
but-in short, we are living in the
world, and must govern ourselves
accordingly"
Antje gave an almost imperceptible
shrug of her shoulder, and left the
room.
He looked gloomiIy after her, and
sank down into chair, the same IN
which Ante had just been sitting
He felt very uncomfortable at this
moment, for he had never before
seen his wife look so utterly
miserable.
But, good Heavens, what woman IS
so situated that she can get up and go
off when something happens in her
old home? And Ante could not go,
and must not go; it was impossible
just now.
Leo stopped to pick up the letter
she had dropped.
Il do not like to make you anxious
Frau Jussnitz," he read "but I con
slider it my duty to write to you, in
case anything should happen, which
God forbid! Your mother has been
very i'll for several days If it IS
possible, I hope you will come That
your mother herself fears the worst
is proved by the fact that she sent for
her lawyer yesterday. A few hours
later she lost consciousness. OIL
that does not necessarily
imply that the worst is to be feared. |
But it will be better for you to come, |
and then you will be here in any case |
and [ am sure it would do your |
mother a great deal of good
Leo folded up the letter and put it
in his desk.
Exaggerated, of course" he NUT |
tered, and began to open some other
letters which were lying there AS lie |
read the first hastily took out his |
and wiped his forehead, |
and for a few moments his face look |
ed quite haggard.
Another false alarm! HIM, Runo |
and Baskert are as solid as the uni |
could the old lady have |
wanted with her lawyer, I wonder?' |
be thought, half aloud TN that case,
perhaps it would be as we'll for Ante |
% go, after all. Bah! people do not |
lie SO easily. But tomorrow I must !
go to the bank again"
He stopped again and picked up d |
little red bow, the same that Ante |
had flung away from her. He stared !
at it as if lost in thought; he re-
membered that Hilda had worn it N |
her hair that morning. Then he |
sighed and laid it carefully down On !
the writing-table, but INN ediately took |
it up again and stroked it gently with |
his finger, as if he had the hand Of a |
beautiful and beloved woman in his |
own. Another deep sigh, and then he |
flung the dainty bow on the table
1T is enough to drive one mad!" he |
and got up and went to the
window, his cienched fist resting On
the sill. Suddenly it was clenched
more firmly for down below, there on
the light gravel path, moved a slender
dark figure-Antje.
To be continued
CHRISTMAS SONG.