Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-10
Continued.

hands before a group in bronze,
gazing at it in silence, and gradually
q deep flush overspread her pale face,
and a few glittering drops trembled
on her long lashes. Wonderful alike
in composition and modelling was
this ideal figure of a man bending
forward he was standing on the
sumit of a great rock which he seem
Ell TO have just reached; his foot was
already hanging over the precipice,
and the next moment he would
plunge over into the abyss, which his
eyes, looking upward, did not per
ceive There was a chain about his
waist, and the other end of the chain
was wound round beautiful woman's
fgure; she, in chaste garments of
antique fashion, was leaning against
the rock, her hand holding a spindle,
the smybol of wOmanliness and do
mesticity, the slender foot firmly
placed against a stone on the ground,
but her eyes were fixed on the man.
There was a wonderful expression Of
love and anxiety in the features Of
this young woman.
Below On the pedestal were en-
graved these words:
Well for the husband bound by such
q chain
From misery and death it draws him
home again"
And Antie understandable under
stood the full meaning. She threw
herself on her knees before the writ
lng-table. and embraced the work OF
art in mute rejoicing.
Then she searched with trembling
hand for Ietter-a word; but she
found nothing. There was nothing
but the bill of lading, which bore the
name of a celebrated bronze-foundry
in Westphalian city
And then she looked at the group,
the woman's feet two little letters,
Il. j." the signature which Leo
always put on his pictures. She
Reaned her head against the cold
bronze and cried
On that morning Ante was not
accessible for business purposes;
Herr Kortmer attended to everything
with wondering shake of the head
But Frau Ante sat in her great
sitting-roOm, writing private letters.
The old man said to his wife at
dinner: Women are queer creatures,
that | must say; for six months she
has been perfectly reasonable. and
even devoted to the business, but to-
day she happens to take it into her
head to write private letters just at
the time when she ought to have
been attending to her affairs. And
she has sent off a telegram to Herr
Ferdinand Frey, to come here to
coffee this afternoon. | say, Frau
Antje. there must be something be
mind all this"
There was very long conversation
with Cousin Ferdinand. Finally Herr
Kortmer himself was called in. He
found two young people with eyes
sparkling and cheeks flushed with
eagerness and the ardor of enter
PRISE
All, and how Herr Kartmer OPP
posed the monstrous plan? Set up
oronze-foundry? 1t was impossible,
How could they compete with the
celebrated fOundries in France. for
Instance? All there they have first
rate artists-fOr the mere casting.
my friends. is not everything. You
can find the metal in more places
than one and we could manage the
composition; but the model for the
object to be cast, the idea. the art.
my dear Frau Jussnitz. the genius
alb, yes-you will have to search for
that. it is not to be found by the
wayside. No. it is impossible. quite
impossible. Or do you suppose an
artist by divine right will come TO
YOU if you only whistle for him?
Good Heavens. you might look for
ever and you couldn't find what you
Want-a man like that does not grow
on every bush. No, you had better
drop that idea. Frau Jussnitz; | must
advise YOU not to attempt it,
The old gentleman excitedly helped
himself to a pinch of snuff, and
waved his red silk handkerchief; and
when he had gone through with this
rather heightened ceremony he look
cd UP at Frau Ante and gazed into
her laughing face. Herr Kortmer
forgot to put away his snuff-box. for
he had not seen his young mistress
laugh Tor ages. And when he looked
across at Herr Frey he was laughin2
100
The faithful official felt for a
moment as though his confidence had
been betrayed.
Well, said tue young wife. I'VE
VIII manage the matter in this way
my dear Kortmer: | will first find
she artist, the genius, and then we
VIII set up the foundry with his
nelp. And | hope / may be able tc
introduce YOU to this artist within 8
fortnight. | hope So" she added. II
lower tone, for l do not know vet
whether he Then she raised heI
head-"yes, l do know it too. In 8
fortnight, then. And pray. NV dea,
kortmer, look at this group and tel
me how you like it,
She drew the old man toward tn,
mantel piece on which the work o
art stood. The lamps which burne,
on either side of it lighted up tn
charming figures, which looked won
dertuily beautiful in this light.
An, a genius like that-you ma,
ICok for a long time a long tima,