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


of being undisturbed. With regard
to all that had to be done in the near
future, she only felt that one thing
was cIear-Leo must not stay here
To treat with him face to face was
more than she felt able to do, and yet
she felt that it would be indelicate
to request him through the lawyer tc
spare her the pain Of seeing him
She tried to write To him, but she
could not find suitable words. How
ought one to write to husband from
whom one is On the point Of separat
ing? She laid down her pen again
and looked out over the open common
that lay there in it's Sabbath repose
All, if there were only one human
heart that she could confide in, that
would do her the friendly service OF
being the messenger between herself
and him, of telling him that she was
determined, irrevocably determined to
free him from the letters that had sc
weighed him down-oDly one, only
one human heart,
She suddenly started up and opened
the window.
Dr. Maiberg was just coming out If
one of the workmen's houses. She
did not call him She only looked at
him, but he read the entreaty in her
sad eyes, and came up to the window,
''DO you want anything, Frau Juss-
nitz?"
''If you can spare me a few mo-
ments, Herr Doctor"
Il am quite at your service"
In few moments he entered the
room. 1t was always rather dark
there; the only window was in deep
niche formed by the thick walls and
there was an iron grating outside it.
In the corner there was a small
American stove Ante stood at the
writing-table in her somber mourning
dress, with a pale, determined face.
May / ask you to do me a favor ="
she inquired
He bowed assent.
you have heard perhaps already
from Leo that"
She turned away her face; it was
so horribly hard to say the words
She could not bring herself to do it
Has he not said anything to you
Herr Doctor?"
Il haven't the slightest idea what
you mean" he replied, looking won
deringly ct her trembling figure.
Leo and I have decided to sep
arate," she hurriedly gasped out
That S impossible, Frau Jussnitz."
he said very quietly.
No. 1t is true. | see now that the
wife of an artist should be quite a
different person from such as | am:
not so prosaic, so horribly insight
cant. Maiberg ! know that Leo
suffers from these qualities of mine.
[ know it from his own Iips-he does
not love me. 1t is frightful. this c, r.
tainty, but easier to bear than my
life has been for some time past
Maiberg, do not say anything.
entreat you; do not try to persuade
me that there is misunderstood
ing" she continued DO not drag
me back into the struggle. from which
have barely come off conquerOr.
Ali ask of you-you are Leo's friend
is TO beg him in my name to go
away this very evening. | cannot
bear to have him here any longer; il
is impossible under the circum-
stances. Tell him that his letters
have fallen off; tell him that he shall
De legally free as soon as the first
months of deep mourning for mamma
nave passed. ! owe it to her--and he
does, too-not to desecrate that
sacred period with a divorce suit"
L was not prepared for this" re-
piled Maiberg, gloomily.
But | can not do otherwise. | can
mott" she cried
And what will become of Leo when
you forsake him."
He will be a happier man than ne
has been hitherto; he will be a great
artist, Herr Doctor"
Frau Jussnitz," he said. you a,e
over-eXcited, your nerves are over
strained. Calm yourself. and | VIII
send Leo away. Do you stay here till
you recover yourself Take courage
and one day you will be able to Danish
these gloomy thoughts and take up
again with renewed courage the by ito
means easy duty of being Leo's wife
But"
An indescribably sad smile parted
her lips
Never" she said in a loud, clear
voice. Il shall stay here. must
stay here-his path and mine are
separated forever. But l wish YOU
would say to him, Herr Doctor. that
ever since have known him l have
thought only Of his happiness. But
no" she interrupted herself-"dc
not tell him that. Why should your
God knows whether you are doing
right" returned Maiberg.
Go" she entreated. go! If h,
wishes to take the evening train, II,
must start soon"
She sank down, as if her strength
had suddenly failed her, into tn
chair IN front of the writing-table.
The young doctor left the ro,n
with long, earnest look at her. H
mad an inward conviction that all wa
over between these two: that thi
usually patient, long-suffering woma
could not act otherwise. But fo
Heavens sake, what had happened
Hilda's image rose before him for
moment, but he Indignantly rejecte
the idea that she was in any way col
nected with this breach. She was
foolish, coquettish, passioate, spoile
child, but