Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-20
Er Y. HEIMBURG.

could not pass a moment beside him
without being forced to feel how IN
happy she made him. how her pres
ence weighed upon him! No, no! II
was all over, it must be all over!
Outside she heard a light step al
her door.
Frau Jussnitz!" said a clear voice
She did not stir.
Only one word, Frau Jussnitz
Please, Dlease!"
Antje held her breath and looked
gloomily at the door The handle
moved slightly In vain; the door
was locked, and the steps reluctantly
retreated.
Ante leaned her weary head on her
hand again. At last she reused her
self and rang for the housemaid. The
latter came in inquiring if Fraulein
Won Zweidorf was here.
mo"
Good Heavens, we have been look
ing all over the house for her, and we
! cannot find her anywhere. And the
master has gone away, and the Herr
! Doctor, too"
! The young wife made no reply. She
calmly ordered the girl to look after
the child. and then went downstairs.
In the hall she met Maiberg.
Where have you been?" she asked.
81 have been to see that unlucky
drunkard" he replied, with a slight
touch of irony. HE just died before
my eyes, and so his wife has her wish
But [ never witnessed a more heart
breaking burst of grief than hers
when told her it was all over"
Ante nodded with a strange look
'And where is hep" she asked 1T
length,
Maiberg sighed.
Leo was to wait for me before the
house in which the dead man lay, but
when | came back he was gone. One
of the miners saw him on the high
road. l am going to have a horse
saddled and ride after him; l promis-
ed him | would"
She did not look at him. "And
where is she?" she asked.
''Hildegarde; we have been looking
for her everywhere"
Then she turned to shake hands
with her cousin, who had just come up
to say good-by.
Cousin, command me If you ever
need my service" he said.
Thank you' Are you going to
J-?"
mo; through Oberrode, past the
cliffs"
She nodded YEARLY. A safe home
coming, Ferdinand"
Maiberg hurried past her up the
staircase, but Hildegarde's room was
vacant-and the night outside was so
dark and stormy, and she was so
young, so alone, so unprotected! Of
course she had gone, with her usual
impulsiveness. But where had she
gone?
He lighted a candle and looked
about for note or something which
might give clue, but in vain. He
rushed into his own room-it was q
cOrner-rOOm. The spring storm beat
against the shutters, and the columns
Of fire from the works shed peculiar
red, Pickering light over it. He
stopped in the middle Of the room and
listened to the bowling of the wind
Good Heavens, where was that
thoughtless child in this dreadful
night He pulled up the overcoat,
which he had half thrown off, with
sudden jerk over his shoulders. The
horse must be saddled by this time;
perhaps he might overtake her on the
high-road, with-him? In the deepest
agitation he caught up his hat, but
something moved in the dark corner
by the window, and the slender figure
glided toward him.
"Hilda!" he cried out. BY the
fltckering light from outside, he could
see the same pale. despairing face
she had worn before.
Good God, Hilda, to what mis-
constructions you expose YOURSELF:
he said, reprovingly, as she hung
down her head.
Il was afraid" she said in a low
| lOllt, Where -COulu L go!
| And so you came to me?"
He threw off his overcoat and flung
! his hat down on the table.
''To whom could l go?" she asked,
as if it were quite matter of course
| that she should take refuge with him.
When l knocked at Frau Antje' s
door, she would not let me in"
He took her trembling hands in his.
They were cold as ice y
ITO whom could you go?" he -e
peated, softly. But as he heard steps
outside in the corridor he started and
looked at the door. "You must &C
straight to your own ROOM" he
whispered, dropping her hands
"Hilda," he continued in a sup
pressed voice, even you can under
stand that no one must find you here.
What did you want of me? Speak
quickly, for one of the servants MAJ
come in at any moment"
Good Heavens. what have I done
uow?" she cried. "Oh, if you only
knew all! Have then no refuge
want nothing but to be allowed tc
go away, only to go away from
here!"
Yes, you shall go if you like
But you cannot go. this evening, yor
silly child"
please"