Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-14
CHAPTER Nlll.

in order to so south with mamma, So
/ | was to be present at the wedding
/ festivities. nor did mammals request
for quiet Wedding receive any at.
/ tention.
! The few weeks spent at the
/ Countess's were converted into weeks
! of torture by the frequent visits of the
/ bridegroom. He came ut noon. he
came at night; he even one day sent
. baskets on delicacies and wines and a
! message that he would come to din.
ner My mother stood by in con.
! fusion. when without further ado my
aunt returned the basket to the ser
! want. The Countoss's compliments,
and il the wn-ComCillor wishes to
/ dine with her she will be pleased, but
he must then be kind enough to put up
with her simple cuisine. The Count
ess is not in the habit of being treated
in her own house.
! With a grin the servant left. But
the Countess turned away angrily.
He is harder to punish than young
dog" l heard her mutter We'll. il
only the heart is good" she said,
/ pinching my cheek, that is the
principal thing, is it not, little one?"
Yes, to be sure, but-was his good?
Daily we listened to his gorgeous
descriptions of the new furnishings Of
the castle AN in blue, Helene, be-
cause it is your favorite color" He
wasted money in order to afford his
beautiful wife an elegant home, for
which mamma did not even long.
The terrible day came and went
with its tactless grandu~e, with its
thousand,fold agony which lie held
over us. With self-denial the Count
ess played the role of mother; as If in
a dream / stood behind mamma at the
altar of st. Mary's and heard the
divine's words chosen by mamma,
For the mountains shall depart, and
the hills be removed; but my kindness
shall not depart from thee" As IL in
the distance | heard the toasts and
cheers at the table, and | felt pang
in my heart when the old hired ser
want, who was never absent from any
Westerberg festivity, whispered in my
ear with his husky voice: Frau Wool.
meyer begs the gracious Fraulein-"
for what l did not understand Frau
Woolmeyer! The word had hurt me
physically | knew no Frau Wool
meyer, | would have preferred to cry
out. "Oh, papa! papa" And sob
rent my breast, which | could scarcely
suppress. Nor could | have bidded
mamma good-by. AT the conclusion
of the meal | stole from the room,
although my neighbour Herr Won
Brankevitz begged me for the first
waltz.
1t had veXed me greatly that he
was to be my cavalier at this wedding,
but the countess had explained that it
was the proper thing for the daughter
of the bride and the nephew of the
groom to walk together behind the
bridal pair, and | was silent. He had
taken me to the church In a carriage
in a faultlcss coat and white waist.
coat, had presented me with magnifi.
cont bouquet of Merechal Mel roses
which harmonizcd eXcellently with my
gown of soft, pale yellow silk, as ex.
cellontly as if they had been grown
after a sample of the material and he
praised his gift as much as If he him.
self had been the creator of the won.
derful blossoms.
When | was leaving the room, he fol
lowed behind me with his insipid smile
and his bold glance. | did not even
understand what he said, but shut the
door Of the ladies' dressingroom in
his face, hurriediy sought wrap, TOOK
lace scarf that belonged to the
Countess, and ran across the court
yard into the garden adjoining it, A
gate in the old wall led into the
promenade, and on this bordered the
cemetery. From the cemetery could
reach the countesss garden through a
private gate.
! The September day was already
drawing TO a close; not a soul beside
the deaf old sections wife saw me as
hastily advanced 10 papas grave
There ! stood, my heart filled with
grief, and yet | could not weep.
gazed at the spot beside him, where
mamma once wished to rest. She had
spoken Of 1t so often, and now she
had forfeited this right! The perfume
Of the monthly roses and of the re
sedas was 50 strong, and from St
Mary's came the sound of the vesper
bell. An autumnal, weary air was
worn by nature All, If could but
sleep too, sleep never again to
awaken, here by papas side,
There too lay Hannchen, upon her
grave fresh bright flowers. The cousin
had no doubt adorned the grave, as II
to propitiate the deceased for what
had happened today. No one had
thought of papa, but it was well so
I Might he sleep, sleep, that he might
not see bis adored wife. My God. he
would have died a thousand deaths,
had he known that! My poor mother
Frau Wollmeyer
To be continued.