Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06

severely punished, and whose self
respect had been deeply injured.
And, all at once, the slender young
figure sank on her knees before the
young man, two not feverish hands
clasped his, and in the midst of her
sobe she gasped out the words: ooh.
l did not realize what l was doing. /
only meant-oh, don't think so badly
of me-I-O God, l cannot say it-oh,
do beg Frau Jussnitz to listen to me
swear to you +
The rest was choked by her sobs.
He held the trembling little hands
firmly in his own; her wet cheek
rested on his right hand, and he had
not the heart to thrust it away.
"Hilda, you love him, do you not?"
Yes-I did love him at that time
when he was painting me in his city
studio, before knew he was married.
It was so sweet-ah; and 1 was so un-
happy wnen l found out"
And now?"
She made no reply; she only shook
her head violently
you were playing with him
Fraulein Hilda; I saw it with my own
eyes"
There was silence for a while.
Yes she said then.
You wished to make it plain that
but you diu not realize what you
were doing, did you?"
Yes, l did" was the answer,
scarcely above her breath.
For Heavens sake! But were Won
not sorry for his wife,"
NO" she replied Il thought it
was true what they all said, that she
had no ideas beyond her housekeep-
ing. She was always so different
from the others. Oh, | would give
my life if l had never seen him
And she began to sob again.
Maiberg felt strangely moved He
could not help recalling the wistful
look with which she had caught at his
arm that evening at Barrenberg's, as
if entreating his aid
Poor, foolish little child" he muir
INJURED.
What do you think? For Heavens
sake, Herr Doctor, tell me what I
shall do. People will ask WIN they
have eparated-my God, if my name
should be mentioned! Dear Herr
Doctor, my father would shoot me
dead, my father is so frightfully
strict about such matters. and-he is
quite right, too"
Your father is very fond of you?"
Yes, yes she replied, impulsively;
he loves me, and he is so good, and
l would rather die than stand up be
fore him and see his eyes fixed on me
so full of grief and reproach; and it
would be the best thing for me-"
Her head sank down upon his hand
again, and once more he felt the
streaming tears.
Can they say anything against me?
| did wrong, but I have not been
wicked, dear Herr Doctor" she
sobbed
Il am afraid you can hardly
escape" he remarked, quietly.
She ceased sobbing in sheer terror.
But why did she bring me here with
her? Why did she not turn me out
Of the house?" she said at length.
He put his hand on her shoulder
Because Frau Ante he's a noble
nature" he said slowly; because she
would not expose her to reproacn
who would one day fill her place Did
you not understand that?"
Hilda uttered a low cry, and started
up from the floor. Tin her place?
Oh. never, never! From the very
moment l heard that he had a wife,
I'-she hesitated for a fitting word
hated him. No-not exactly that
at first don't know how it was. it
was all so dreadful-but afterward |
hated him, hated him with all my
might-and now"
"Hilda!" he said, reprovingly.
She was quiet for a while; nothing
was audible but her hurried breathing
Il will speak to her" she said at
length in a determined tone, "and
then I will go away, far away-to
England-or, farther still, to Amer
ica!" And as if an idea had suddenly
occurred to her, she added: Give
me recommendation for Brazil-you
were there a long time"
And what will you do in Brazil o.
he asked in a tone Of fatherly mild
ness
To be Continued.