Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-16
CHAPTER XVIII,

| CFNH NVlEl.
My husband will not be able to
come, dear Kortmer,'' said Ante to
the little old gentleman, when he ex
pressed his surprise that the carriagc
which he had sent to the railroad
station had returned, bringing tn
two unmarried sisters Of the late
Bergrath Frey, but without the soa-in-
law of the dead woman.
But r2y dear Frau Jussni,z, I beg
your pardon" said the polite little
man, ct is not a question OF being
able to come; he must come, for by
| the wish of our dear friend, the will
is to be opened and read Immediately
| after the funeral. 1t says expressly:
Jussnitz, and her husband, Leo Juss-
nitz, as we'll as of all those relatives
who shall do me the honor Of attend
ing my funeral So
Antje was standing in the little
private study which had been her
fathers. 1t looked out on the iron
works, and was very plainly furnish
ed Against the wall stood a large,
much-Worn leather-covered sofa,
above which a hanging clock swung
its pendulum; massive writing-tabIc
of mahogany stood near the window
on which were placed books and
papers, bits of ore, plans for buildings,
and so forth, in perfect order
The middle of the table was taken
up by an enormous inkstand of cast
iron. Antje knew it we'll; she could
recall perfectly the first time her
father ever used it, It represented a
locomotive, the boiler Of which con.
tanned the ink. The Frau Bergra-h
had had it made as emblematic of her
husbands business-railroad IRON
and felt very proud of her invention.
Behind this extraordinary inkstard
stood Herr Frey's photograph.
Antics sad eyes wandered over
these familiar objects, and her lips
quivered. She recalled the day when
she had crept softly into this room.
had thrown her arms round her
fathers neck, had laid her fearful
face against his cheek, and had said
imploringly: Father, father, give him
to me; do not make me so unhappy"
And he had replied:
Anna, your strong wish has i'm
paired your clear judgment. I cannot
imagine that man your companion for
life. You will be unhappy, my child
But she had begged and prayed. !"
When did strong passion ever listen
to reason? She was not different
from other people. Does one who
really loves ever see clearly?
She had implored him again and
again; she had gone down on her
knees to her devoted father, and had
cried: Say yes, father. l would
thousand times rather be unhappy
with him than live without HIM"
Then he had yielded. But do not
blame me when you find yourself un-
deceived; do not blame me-"
Ant Antje had kept her word. She
had never complained when she be-
came conscious that she had deceived
HeTS9lI, anu tnaC ne was disappointed
in her.
She made Up her mi15 to co her
duty, and to force Leo b. her example
to do his. She would be co1t1rA
with the fact OF living beside him
even though she was neglected, for
the childs sake, in the hope that
some time things would mend-and
then then he had told her that she
was the chain that dragged him down.
that would not let him mount to the
sunny heights of art; and then all her
strength her hope, and her will had
given way.
''He must come" said Kortmer
again. you must send him an urgent
telegram, Frau Jussnitz."
To be Continued.