Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-07-29
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! FOR AN0THER'S FAULT. !
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to do with this person." I cried, with
agitation.
She remained quiet composed and
toyed with the embroidered null
curtains Gle 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 I opened the door myself. Then
he seated himself and talked about
his desolate house, and said that he
longed to see you. Inwardly | was
trembling with fear, Anneliese, but
said quite calmly: The child is as yet
much too ill, leave her here a while
longer Thereupon he explained: l
cannot do that. mush fulfill my dear
Helene's last wishes: shortly before
her death she obtained from me the
promise that would be a father to
| her,"
"He lies!" I cried, beside myself.
"I 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! I ex-
planned clearly enough to him that for
the time being you wished to remain
here. Whereupon he smiled, rose,
made me one Of his marvellous, four
corned bows and withdrew; what he
has in his mind God alone knows"
At this moment there was ring,
and Josephine brought in letter.
From him." said I, leaning against
the table. All, the Countess was
right; since mammals death l had
| been as in a dream, now came the
awakening, a terrible awakening.
tore open the envelope, unfolded the
letter, and was startled by the adj
dress:
''My dear Daughter and Ward!
Hereby request you to return to my
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.
81 shall expect you in a few days.
I leave you to fix the exact time
With a paternal greeting,
''Your guardian,
bernhard Wollmeyer."
I had not looked for this!
ST shall not do it, said in des-
pair, as I handed the letter to the
Countess.
''Poor child" she murmured, seat
ing herself in a chair and drawing
her brow into hundred wrinkles
''You are nineteen?"
eyes. Old enough to know what
want
s"To be sure, my chicken, but the
law!'
"Law?" l asked Indignantly, els
there law that can force me to live
with rogue?"
''No, Anneliese; but first you must
prove that he is one"
"Aunt, you know as well as L"
I eyes, know he carries on a de-
graded business, least I understood
him so; but cannot prove it, nor can
you"
ct will run away, but this time no
one shall find mel" I cried with a
return of my old energy.
"Wait for the present, Twill consult
my attorney first" said the Countess,
"and I shall attend to it at once?"
And in loud voice she called into
the hall for her waterproof and
galoshes.
ga r1o0 ~, oil hn
wide, illy-paved street in the middle
of the road; she scorned the narrow
footpath, because one would ether be
spattered or would have to turn out
into the gutter, and on this day these
cutters resembled tiny streams.
Attorney Schiller 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
wife's death he had lived in retire
ment-she had died two years before.
During the Countess's absence sat
in my room with an angry, desparing
heart, opposing with all my might my
step-father's request. In an hour my
aunt returned, she looked very pale.
and there was a bright red spot upon
her right cheek.
met her in the lower hall; took
off her hat and shawl and looked at
her anxiously, but she did not utter a
syllable. Finally, on entering the
room, she said, CURLY, busying herself
with the bird-cage: Nothing can be
done, child, you must 60"
I did not reply; I was f1rmy re-
solved not to go.
GAS far as your mothers last
wishes are concerned, that is evident
ly a 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 if should leave it notwith-