Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-03-06

low house, from whose windows the
red lamp-light shone out into the
gray dawn of the April morning.
Ante got out and hurried up the
steps to the door, followed by the
forester.
Upstairs, Frau Jussnitz, upstairs"
he whispered
And she climbed up the steep
stair. At every step she leaned
heavily on the banisters, as if the
boards were swaying beneath her
feet, as If the boards were tottering
over her head. She had only one
wish. one prayer that he might still
live. if only Tor a few minutes. 20,
iHct God. only long enough for me to
ask him why, why he has done this
thing to me-only long enough TO
let me press his hand, only that,
Oh. have mercy"
The forester's wife was standIng
on the threshold; she moved ASIDE
for the pale wife. HE is un-
conscious" she whispered, STOPPING
to pick up the fur cloak which had
slipped from Antics shoulders; then
she shut the door behind her. She
only saw how the wife went up to
the bed on which the wounded man
was laid. with her hands clasped.
Then she stood outside in the little
entry, which had for a ceiling the
open roof with it's rafters. me
house was still as death; they were
waiting for the doctor. who was
making his preparations below.
This waiting seemed like an eternity
10 her, and yet it was scarcely a
minute before Maiberg and the
forester came up the stairs, bringing
with them all that was necessary 70
bind up the severe wound.
Ante gave her aid during the ex-
animation, like an experienced nurse.
From time to time she looked at Mai
berg as If to read in his face the
answer to her mute questioning
death or life?
'Tell me frankly, is it very bad?"
she whispered at length, staring at
the blood-soaked pillow.
HE came near bleeding to death
and that is the most serious part Of
it" he replied. ''The ball went
through the breast, but 1t came out
at the back, and that is not unfavor-
able, and, besides, he has an ex-
cellent constitution. 1t is all in
Gods hand, Frau Ante"
And Antje silently assented. She
knew very well that he was nearer
death than life. And she helped to
place the unconscious man back in
the bed al.er the wound had been
bound up.
Can he be moved?" she inquired.
1T is not to be thought of" was
the reply.
Antje seated herself quietly in the
old armchair covered with blue and
her checked linen at the foot of the
bed
Order everything you need, Herr
Doctor" she said. There are ice
bags and all that sort of thing at the
house, and the carriage can bring
them all up"
He offered to watch, but she de-
clined. That is my office"
She hardly knew when he went
away. She looked dreamily about
the tiny room; then her eyes fell on
a letter which lay on the commode
under the flower-vase. She could
reach it without leaving here chair.
ITO my wife, she read This bit
of paper was folded round a letter
and telegram.
She read by the light of the dying
lamp the announcement of the
banker the refusal OF the picture,
and she dropped the letters and turn
ed toward the unconscious man.
That was why you did it," she said.
Was it for that?"
But he lay there, breathing with
difficulty, and could not answer,
could not even hear.
''Oh, If you had only had confidence
in me. if you only had" she walled,
and caught at his hand, which lay on
the coverlid tightly closed. And
then she started back, for between
the waxen-white fingers peeped out
the end of red ribbon. and when
she had carefully disengaged it, it
proved to be little red bow, bow
that she knew, ah, so well,
That was WHY" she said. aloud.
"Ah. yes l had forgotten that That
was why"
To be Continued