Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-04-03

with clinched fists, said not a word,
but his gloomy eyes spoke for him,
and what they said was not reassur-
ing. But Antje, apparently, did not
observe this. Three days after, how
ever, the great, tall fellow came TO
her and begged to be taken back
again; he said he mad found that she
was just and merciful and he would
never offend again. And Ante put
him on probation, on the result of
which depended his reinstatement.
The building of the new furnace
was in progress, and the yield of the
mine was excellent; the business was
greatly enlarged, and the number of
workmen increased. Antie had the
plans for the houses for the men and
for the hospital lying on her work
table; the contract for the new
ply sician's dwelling-house had al
ready been signed by her, and she
was choosing the situation for tit
was TO be Swiss chalet For the
rest she lived a perfectly secluded
life, for which her deep mourning
afforded sufficient excuse She did
Dot know what explanation was given
with regard to her husbands absence.
and she did not wish to know. Herr
kortmer took care to spread the re-
port that Herr Jussnltz was travelling
in Italy.
The pastors family was the only
one Ante ever visited. and some
times old Frau Kortmer came to
have chat with her, carrying her
huge pompadour, which always hello
some little dainty for the child;
and then they talked about the time
when Antics parents were still alive
Occasionally, also. the Frau Forsterin
made her appearance. She always
liked to come, for on a little bracket
in Antics room stood a photograph of
the Witch Of the Brocken," and the
vain young woman took great
pleasure in looking at the picture.
Ante employed her leisure hours
in reading. and never in her life
had she found SO much time for this
occupation. She discovered many
treasures in her bookcase; she did
not choose light literature, but select
cd instructive works, and history
above all, the history Of art. She had
read all these books before when she
took lessons Of the Herr Pastor. but
now she read them again with eager
ness and with newly-awakened in
teiligence. She had thoughts which
xxyt. Oh, l.
book; the question concerning the
future, to which there was only one
answer, -"Patiencei"-she tried to
forget in the society of her child.
But secret voice kept whispering
in her ear, which spoke of hope and
approaching happiness; she had a
presentiment as If, somehow. the
clouds which hung over her so
heavily must part a little, a very
little. TO let one-only me-single
aieam OF hope shine through.
She went down stairs in the early
morning into the dining-room to take
her breakfast. The cold gray light
o. an October morning shone through
the window; her cup looked so lonely
on the great table. the tiny teapot
which the maid brought in held tea
enough for one person alone-the
young wife could not touch IL.
Five years ago today" was the
thought that kept passing through
her mind. Five years ago today the
sun had shone brightly into the room.
and garlands and evergreen hung
about everywhere; five years ago to-
day a fair young girl was sitting at
breakfast with her parents for the
last time. She could not drink her
tea, because each one of the two ola
people had caught one of her hands |
and was kissing and stroking IL.
How rapidly the hours had passed, |
how quickly the moment came when
figure clad in white silk walked |
through the hall on his arm to drive !
to the church, with such pride and |
happiness! And how soon the mo-
ment came when she got into the |
carriage to go away with him.
The young wife pushed away her |
cup, and said to herself, half aloud. |
Il must not keep thinking of this, I |
must not.' But who can Danish |
thought?
She rose with an air of determine |
ton, pressed her hands for q moment |
over her eyes. and went through the |
counting-house into her study. The |
post-bag seemed to have been full |
that day, for as many as twenty |
letters lay on her writing-table.
A box also stood beside it on the |
floor. With the cover already taken |
off.
She read the letters, went to speak |
to kortmer at his desk, and after |
long conversation with him came |
back to the study. AS she was about |
to sit down to write. her foot struck |
against the box. and she laid down |
her pen. knelt down on the floor. and |
began to unpack it. What could it |
be? An endless amount OF excelsior, |
hay and paper-and at last q hard !
substance. She tried to lift it out. |
hut il was impossible, IL was too |