Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-03-27

could look down from here on the
manor-house and the garden. Al
though she was far above them. Ante
could plainly distinguish the white
figure Of her little daughter, who was
playing with her tiny garden-tools
beside the nurse, who was busiIy
knitting
How delightful it would have been
if husband and wife could have been
sitting here, looking down on their
happy home,
She leaned her head against the
trunk OF the tree. She would gladly
have wept, have wept all this wretch
ed weight from her heart. but she
seemed TO have no more tears. She
sat thus for long time, till a light
step sounded on the path: through
the bushes she caught the CLEAN of a
light dress, and the next moment
AntJe saw, little above her, Hilda
walking along swinging her garden
bat in her hand. Then she stopped.
and Antje heard a familiar voice
saying, in a tone of good-huomred
reproof:
How unpunctual you are, Hilda,
You will have to break yourself of
that"
Then followed a kiss, and Maiberg
yes, it vas Maiberg-added: 81 am
always The instructor, my poor little
girl. and never the tender lover.
How will you bear that, Hilda?"
The girl was silent for a while.
and then she said clearly and
heartily: 81 am so thankful that I
have you. I could not imagine nv
self engaged to any one else but you,
Wolf"
Antics eyes had opened wider and
wider. and every trace of color had
fed from her face She walked On
with tottering steps, on and on into
the green wilderness. and when she
had at length got beyond the sound
of those two voices, she stopped,
flung her arms round birch-tree as
if for support. and gazed absently
along the high-road, which she had
come upon without being aware of it.
How was it possible, how could it be
possible.
A couple of wood choppers who
were coming along the road took off
their hats to her-but she did not see
self; she stepped out into the road,
and then walked hurriedly along in
the direction of the forest-house
She must keep Leo from hearing this
news; he must not have this last
and most bitter cup to drink while he
was still so i'll, before he had begun
to recover his strength. 1t would
crush him to the earth. it would be
his ruin. Good God.
She would await Maiberg's return
in Frau Dora's parlOr, would entreat
him to be silent until Leo was quite
well again.
By walking quickly she was able
tC reach the forest-house in three
quarters of an hour. The gnarled
oaks in front of it had unfolded all
their leaves beneath the rays of the
hot sun, and the Forsterin had hung
her washing out to dry. Leo's gable
window stood wide Open and his gay
cover-lids and the carpets that Ante
had sent up for him were hanging out
of the window to air. The dogs were
out on the stone steps be-
fore the door in the warm sunshine,
and on the threshold of the house sat
Frau Dorchen, with her red-haired |
Lola in her lap. talking to the
animal in tender, compassionate
tonet
Antje bade her Good afternoon"
The little woman looked up; her eyes
were red with crying. Good Lord,''
she cried. without getting up, you
look like ghost, Frau Jussnitz, If
you had only come a little earlier!
Herr JussnitZ went down into the
valley only half an hour ago. Good |
felt as if one of my own
relations was going away, we have
had him here so long"
He is gomez" inquired the young
wife, her face turning a shade paler
Dorchen nodded. But Ante walk
Gu past tHe pretty woman, VINO was
washing Lola's wounds, received in
the last foX-hunt, with tea, and
mounted the stairs to the sick-room;
she could not conceal her anxiety
from the eyes of this woman.
The room bore traces of the recent
departure of it's occupant; it looked
bare, empty, and forlorn, the bureau
drawers left open, a sheet of paper
lying on the floor, withered flowers
in the vases and a half-empty wine
glass.
She sat down, quite exhausted, by
the bed, and looked about at the dis
order. as if she could discover in this
miserable rubbish what had driven
him away. But she knew already-it
was Hilda's infidelity, Hildas false
hood.
To be Continued.