Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-05-02

malQ appeared WITH llCSSSNS AAtAlN
my step-father, to this effect Would
| dine upstairs with the family, or did
| prefer 10 eat below,
Il prefer TO dine here l replied,
And as | sat there alone, | wondered
if it was dehCacy which prompted
him to give me my choice. or fear of
me.
What. however could they have
told mamma? After dinner she came
downstairs quite pale and agitated. |
should have preferred to have fallen
upon her neck and to have told her
all, but close behind her came Olga
Sellmann, who seated herself upon
the window-sin and chartered sheer
nonsense, called me Little Miss vii,
full" "Hermitess" and so forth, and
acted as if my reserve was engender.
ed by capric., She did not stir, al
though mamma was upon nettles, aud
although l plainly showed that she
was de trop.
The famous cook claimed mammals
attention with the question whener
she should put the goos-livers or the
pasty in the basket, to be sent to the
superintendent.
The Town councillor took care that
even at the table of his less atllucut
acQuaintances his palate should find
something to please il, and there was
no danger of the hamper being re
| turned from the superintendent as 1t
| had once been returned from the
| Countesss The sorely-tired wife of
| the superintendent always welcomed
household purse of burden.
Are you going, too, this evening,
Annchese? You surely will?" asked
mamma, when about to leave the
room.
NO" said l, for did not wish to be
in the Countesss way, in case she
should wish to carry out her plan of
talking seriously to Herr Wollmeyer.
My mother left in silence.
"Pcrhaps you will come with us w.
asked Frau Sellmann. otto and IN
tend gong to the theatre. | haze
never seen a trayeling-show. such as
is so delightfully."- portrayed in novels,
should like to laugh, Come with
us.
acre will be nothing to laugh ut, %
replied. | had read at the street,
corner the announcement of the open
ing of the Westenberg theatre in the
! hall of the Three populars." Don
Carlos is to be presented"
''As if that would not be laughable,
she said Just fancy, what an eboli
will appear here"
NO, thank you" said !. u have
the headache-and shall remain Il
home" Suddenly she stood close be
side me; she had a red Russian
leather case in her hand, and pressing
the spring so that it flew open, she
held something scintillating before
my eyes. rs that not beautiful"
A bracelet set with brillants net
my gaze; in the centre of it, likewise
in brilliants, was the emblem of our
arms, the griffin's claw, holding a ball
in its talons; this ball was an enor
| hloNS pear w en- SHt dShttl,
1T is very handsome, but mamma
will not care particularly for it," re
piled |, thinking it to be Wollmeyer'l
Christmas gift for my mother.
That is not the question" she ex
| planned, my brother wants to give
this away" She did not remove her
eyes from the glitterng gems.
] turned away with a shrug of my
shoulders. How clumsy and stupid
They counted upon moving me by the
great attraction Of seeing my coat-of
arms in brilliants
Excellent taste" said she, re
turning the case to her pocket.
Meanwhile | seated myself at the
stove and poked the fire, one of my
faVoritc operations, but today it was
purely mechanical, for my thoughts
had suddenly taken another turn. into
a channel which agitated me strange
| ly. | wondered If the stranger whom
| had met in the cemetery belonged
to the troupe which today opened
their temple. This supposition panied
me; | must have certainty.
Probably | may 20 with you" said
| suddenly to Olga Sellmann that is
will reserve a seat You need not
be surprised If you see me there
will call for my old French goycrness;
mamma will allow me to-"
Frau SelImann laughed strangely
Il have ticket for you, Anneliese.
You will surely not let us go alonc?"
NO, ] have changed my mind. |
shall not 20" | stammered, flushing
with rage, for upon this fun, rosy
smlnng face was so distinctly visible
the expression of a triumph, which
she thought she had accomplished
through the medium Of the bracelet.
Il have letters to write" | added
curtly approaching my desk.
She smiled again. certain Of victory.
Il will not disturb you" she lispef,
| fouting out Of the room, as If | were
fish which had snapped up the bat.,
and which she mercifully wished to
allow a short raepita Jov.. roraroo /,