Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-07-25
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s FOR AN0THER'S FAULT. !
w. HeiInburg. n


agitation,
She remained quiet composed and
toyed with the embroidered null
curtains. He has been here several
times, and each time asked Josephine
when you would return to him. Yes
terday, when you were watering the
flowers at the cemetery, ! met him
in the hall; | thought when the bell
rang that it was the butter-woman,
and / opened the door myself Theh
he seated himself and talked about
his desoate house, and said that he
longed to see you. Inwardly | was
trembling with fear, Anneliesc, but !
said quite calmly: The child is as yet
much too Ill, leave her here n while
longer ThereupOn he explained: !
cannot do that. | mush fulfill my dear
Helenes last wishes; shortly before
her death she obtained from me the
promise that | would be a father to
her."
"IIo lios!" ! cried, beside myself.
II will not got to him, never, never!
Oh, Aunt, help me! But ! care nothing
for this person-how can he force
me?"
''Anneliese, listen to me! | eX-
planned clearly enough to him that for
the time being you wished to remain
here. Whorcupon he smiled, rose,
made me one of his marvellous, four
corned bows and withdrew; what ne
has in his mind God alone knows"
At this moment there was ring,
and Josephine brought in a letter.
From him." said |, leaning against
the table. All, the Countess was
right; since mammals death had
been as In n dream. now came the
awakening, n terrible awakening. |
tore open the envelope, unfoded the
letter, ana was startled by the ad-
dress.
MY dear Daughter and Ward
house. 1t was your mothers express
wish, which she impressed upon me
on her death-bed, that you should con
tinue to live under my protection.
Il shall expect you In few days.
leave you to fix the exact time
with paternal greeting,
your guardian,
BERNHARD Wollmeyer."
had not looked for this!
II shall not do it," said in dos.
Countess.
Poor child" she murmured, seat.
ing herself in chair and drawing
her brow into n hundred wrinkles
you are nineteen
Eyes. Old enough to know what
want"
"To be sure, my chicken, but the
law!"
Law? asked Indignantly, rs
there law that can force me to live
with IA rogue?"
mo, Annolioso; but first you must
provo that he is one"
Aunt, you know as we'll as /"
"Yos, know he carries on de-
graded business, a least understood
him so; but | cannot prove II, nor can
you"
81 will run away, but this time no
one shall find met" | cried with Il
return OF my old energy
wait for the present, Twill consult
my attorney FIRST" said the Countess,
"and shall attend to it at once2"
And in u loud voice she called into
the hall for her waterproof and
gnloshCs.
wide, illypayed street in the middle
of the road, she scorned the narrow
footpath, because one would oiher be
spatterod or would have to turn out
into the gutter, and on this day these
cutters reGomblod tiny streams
Attorney Schuler was her adviser.
He was very highly respected by all
the families in the vicinity, and was
not only a shrewd lawyer but a
pleasant companion; but since his
wifo's death he had lived in retire.
mcnt-she had died two years before
During the COuntesss absence sat
In my room with an angry. desparing
heart, opposing with all my might my
stepfathers request. In an hour my
aunt returned, she looked very pale,
and there was II bright red spot upon
her right check.
met her in the lower hall; took
off her hat aud shawl and looked at
her anNiously, but she did not utter a
syllable, Finally, ON entering the
room, she said, CURLY, busylng herself
with the bird-cage Nothing can be
done, child, YOU must go
| did not reply; was irmy re-
solved not to go
AS far as your mothers last
wishes are concerned, that is evident.
~ falsehood," she continued, NOR
would that have any weight in the
matter; but you canont leave his
house without his consent until YOU
are of age; you are under his guar.
dianship."
What il | should leave It notwith.
standing?"
She cleared her throat. Il asked
the lawyer what could be done with