Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-10
CHAPTER MI.

in me for appearing i'm that woman's
presence as Steinhardt's representative.
After her Outburst OF surprise she
looked at the letter again, and al me.
rose. uncertain.
"Fraulein," | said, 81 do not know
what to say. l did not seek to come
this journey myself; Herr Steinhardt
asked me To undertake it. He thought,
and thought, too, that your adver-
tisement, in which, OF course, you could
not use many words, signifed that you
were very i'll and alone perhaps, and
that you needed a-"U did not quite
know how to put it; l added hurriedly)
ia friendly hand"
"He did not think that l could wish
to see him for his own sske,-l mean
for the sake OF his own peace?"
Her German was becoming too rapid
for me to follow without an effort; |
was not sure understood her.
Gle has business" l said, "which
prevented him from coming himself"
"I suppose" said she, with some
touch OF bitterness, thought, che is
still always very busy making more and
more money in your rich England"
"It is now," l answered, "a lawsuit
that keeps him in England"
"a lawsuit? A trial?" she ex-
claimed, with a strange anxiety. "Is
he in danger?"
<'Indeed, Fraulein, do not know.
The other party to the trial thinks him
self in danger from HerrSteinhardt; he
accuses Herr Steinhardt of using, and
making much money by using, his
patent for chemical dyes"
az think" said she, simply, "you
are not Emmanuel's friend"
To this had nothing to say for a
moment. | took refuge in an evasion.
'Herr Steinhardt," 1 said. "has
sent me to act as his representative.
But it appears there is nothing for me
to do" q was standing uncertain,
but ready to go.) "What shall / say
to him when | return.'?'
81 WONDER" said she, more than
half to herself, "if you are the person |
have seen lately?"
was startled; stared in blank be-
wilderment. Was the woman mani
ac? The pupils of her keen eyes
eeemed to rapidly dilate and contract,
while she gazed into vacancy, and at
the same time kept referring glance
on me.
"a man." she continued, "who goes
about and about, and evidently causes
Emmanuel great anxiety about some
thing"
Conceive the sudden turmoil OF
thought and feeling, OF imagination
and hope into which l was thus
thrown! The Lacriox mystery was
until then almost absent from my
mind seemed to have left it in Eng
land, and though certainly thought OF
1t sometimes, it was as Of something
waiting in the distance for my return.
Now here was | presented with an allu-
sion OF it-a vague and uncertain allu-
sion, perhaps, but still unmistakably
Tor me an allusion--here in an attic OF
an old house in Basel! What strange
coincidence was this? Who was this
woman that brought it before me again?
was afraid to speak or to stir, lest
should break or dispel that filmy some.
thing her fancy or her vision had got
touch Of.
"You are a pastor" she continued
looking at me with more natural eyes
Emmanuel calls you Reverend Mr..
Unwin.' 1t is surely, sir, pastor 5
duty to bring repentance and forgive.
ness and peace to the hearts of men,
and not pride, and lear, and condemna.
tionn"
"You say very strange things, Frau.
lein," l answered; az think-I hope
understand what you mean. Perhaps
deserve your rebuke. But are you sure
you altogether know the terrible
mystery?"
"Ach" she cried. "There is ther
a mystery-and part OF the burden OF i
is with me! Ach! mein Gott! meir
Gottr"
'If you know"-I impulsively be
gan. in il-suppressed excitement.
81 do not know anything" she criec
suddenly interrupting me, and spring
ing to her feet. She paced nervously
up and down the room, her fingers
Wlluig pldyluS Will SdCH OllcT, VI
about her arms and her head. Sh'
stopped and looked at me, trembling
in every limb and nerve. "You nus
go away, sir"
lingerd uncertainty.
"Please go away, sir!" she urged.
cannot bear more now. Come again
tomorrow. 1t may be that my God has
sent you to mel"
1 withdrew without word, some
what awed by the emotion of the
strange woman. AS closed the door
caught glimpse of her with hand.
clasped and face raised, as if in en-
treaty or thankfulness.
After leaving the house walked fol
long time, without knowing whittier
went, about the streets OF Basel anC
along the Rhine bank.
In spite of my excitement 1 slep
well that night. l spent the next day
until evening wandering about the
town, examining the windows of its
sleeny shops wondering at the content