Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-28

she mad DG6n nuTrylng as II II were
matter of life and death. Ant
there stood the castle behind the
bare branches of the linden-trees
looking so stately and 50 home-like
Lace curtains cleaned out behind the
bright panes, and in one Of the upper
windows a mass Of hyacinths anC
lilies-of-the-valIey was in bloom
making little spring in itself But
Aunt Polly did not see the womans
fair head against which a childs
sunny curls were nesting.
At length Aunt Polly approached
he castle.
What did you wish?'' asked d
stately servant in blue velvet small
clothes and a leather-colored coat
who opened the door.
rs there young lady here by the
name Of Zweidorf?"
Yes"
Il am her aunt. and would like to
| see her"
Very we'll; will you come in?"
Aunt Polly went into the house;
| Antje saw her go in from Ter window
upstairs. The young wife had come
y back from church, had taken refuge
! in her little room, and had sat down
by the window with her little Mousie,
her heart full of care and anxiety,
but also full again of courage and
determination.
THAT must be her aunt, Mousie,"
she said.
Some time passed, and then the
servant came to Ante and reported
that Fraulein Won Zweidorf refused
to see her aunt. and the old lady was
crying bitterly and begging him 10
take her to the young lady, but She
had locked herself into her room.
Ante gave orders to bring the lady
to her. She set the child down on
the carpet and went to meet Aunt
Polly, who appeared on the threshold
with wondering, tear-stained eyes.
Have | the pleasure of speaking to
Frau Berger?" inquired Antje.
Yes, ma'am," stammered the little
woman, quite upset.
And l am Frau Jussnitz," CON
.tinued Antje, kindly. "Will you not
sit down and throw off your cloak?
You have come for your niece, sup
pose, and Fraulein Hilda is offended
and will not see you-isn't that the
case? But you ought not to have
been so severe last night when my
husband and | brought her home; Il
is not every one who could put up
with that"
Antje smiled as she spoke and
united the old woman's bonnet
strings. Aunt Polly submitted pas
sively; she could not have managed
it herself in her agitation.
"Fraulein Hildegarde went to a
little party under my protection"
continued Ante. "She represented
tableau vivant in her Spanish cos
tune to please my husband, who is
painting her, as you know. She
ought to have told you of it, IF
course, but it was a sudden thought:
and | hope you are no longer angry
with the poor child, and you will
allow her to stay with us a few
weeks, will you not?"
Aunt Polly sat speeches. on the
sofa; she had not word to say.
She could not yet grasp the fact that
she was sitting here with the wife
of the man who, she had firmly be-
lieved, loved Hilda and was loved by
, her in return. The affair had taken
On a new aspect, and a better one
thank God! But the child, the poor
child!
/ I'VE had no idea" she stammered
out in her confusion, that Herr JUS
snitz was married. beg your
| pardon, but I thought, l believed"
! Antje turned pale. Her grieved.
wondering look pierced the old lady's
heart, and gave her a glimmering of
the truth.
/ mean-we never thought about
it, she went on, awkwardly "What
business is it of ours? Hilda had
nothing to do with Herr Jussnitz
except to sand still while he painted
her, and | always went with her
And then you know, gracious lady.
we did not talk very much, for Herr
JusSnitz always is so occupied with
his painting, and We were always in
hurry to get home Besides, VIC
live so quietly, and the people we
know do not know Herr Jussnitz. and
that is how it happened that we
never knew that Herr Jussnitz was
married. If Hilda had known it She
would have come out here to call and
pay her respects to you, madame, be-
cause Herr Jussnitz knows her
family, and"
She stopped, quite out of breath anG
in great confusion.
My husband is so wrapped up in
his art that when he is painting he
forgets everything else" said Ant1e
smiling with pale lips. ''You must
not be offended at that, my dear Fra
Berger; he did not mean the least
rudeness to Fraulein Hildegarde
though he did not mention me OF
ask her to come and see me. He was
simply entirely taken up with his
work. For the artist who is creatins
a picture, the outer world does no
, exist
Then she got up and brought he
child.
, Come, give your hand to the lady
, Don't you think he is like my hus
, band, Frau Berger?"
, Yes, yes" said Aunt Polly, Will
; her eyes full Of tears as she strokec