Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-16

/ Deulilu, Willie sue SHteu dCICoo III
carpet to this door, and there sh
stood and listened to the sounds tha
came from the great canopied bed il
which her mother lay; the features 0
the sleeping woman were scarcel,
visible IN the faint glimmer of tht
jnight-lamp. She was forced to pu
herself under strong cOnstraint x
keep from rushing up to the bed ant
sinking down on her knees before il
and crying out: Mother, mother,
am here All, if you knew how I'm
happy l am. how very unhappy"
She gave a sudden sob. Thi:
pleasant old home, the memories tina
crowded upon her SO forcibly, the
depth of her grief for all she had los
and for all she was about to lose
coming all together, quite over
powered her A feeling of utter
weakness came over her; she sank
! down on the floor and scarcely knew
what was happening to her. Half
/ unconscious, she heard the beating
of the storm against the blinds, the
pelting Of the rain as she had heard
it so often as a child in her soft
warm bed, which stood close beside
her mothers; as she had heard it in
those first sleepless nights of heI
maiden existence, those spring nights
when she thought she could never be
glad again, that she could not live
without that pale, sick man, who had
said to her: Il believe you could
reconcile me again to existence" III
those nights when, by her father S
desire, she had tried to look on her
lover as lost to her forever, and then
in that blessed, sleepless night
when her happiness had robbed her OF
slumber, the happiness of knowing
that he was her own.
It seemed as if she were living this
all over again. She heard the ticking
pendulum of the tall clock; the dull
thud of the hammers mingled with
her dreams. She heard her mothers
heavy breathing, and held her owr
in order not to Waken her. 1t was SO
sweet, so comfortable, so safe, in
ILLS lo1Cy IOOlH.
All at once it seemed to her as if
it were again the night before her
wedding-day. Was not that her we'd
ding-dress lying there? The Goals
are glimmering in the fire-place-it
is already cold up here in the noun
tains-and her mother has come softly
into her room again to kiss her; but
she does not stir, she pretends to be
asleep, to hide from her mother how
happy she is at the thought of going
away on the morrow with this strange
man, far away from her home forever
And the mother weeps and prays by
her bedside; she can hear it so dis
tinctly, but the voice is faint and
mournful, like the groans from a
weak chest
Must | be unhappy then, mother?"
cries Ante. And then it seems as if
everything were going round in
circle with her, as if dazzling light
were hurting her eyes She tries 10
move her limbs, but they are as heavy
as lead, and then she feels herself
lifted by a strong arm and hears a
voice saying: Bring some wine
Hanna; she has tainted. God grant
that she may soon recover; all may be
over in half an hour; the Frau Ber-
grath is dying"
This brought Ante back to con
seriousness at once. She stood up on
her feet, and her anxious and in
credulous eyes sought DR.. Maiberg's
face. Dying? My mother-now--
dying now?" And with tottering
steps she went into the sick-room and
sank down by her mothers bed.
Mother" she cried, low and tex
derby; mother, I am here-your
Antje. Don't you know me?"
The hand which was already grow
ing cold did not return her pressure
but the eyes turned slowly toward her
and an almost unearthly light came
into them. Ante sat down on the
edge of the bed and threw her arm
round the dying woman's neck; her
head bent down over the gray head :;
her lips rested on the damp forehead
GO to sleep, dearest mother" She
! said, softly; q will stay with you
Ante" murmured the faint voice
my last will, Kortmer-my will
Yes, mother; everything shall De
as you wish"
Thank you my child. l mean il
we'll. l would always do my best
Antje-I am tired-your father is
! calling me-yes-yes-I am coming
Don't cry, Antje-dont break
down-be strong, my good child'''
Yes; I will be strong" said Antje
and held her mother in her arms til
she fell asleep; it was not long-sht
slept peacefully away. At Length
Ante laid the beloved head gently
down on the pillow, and kissed thu
eyes that would never see again.
Her former faintness came over he,
again, but she struggled against i
with all her might. Il will b,
strong!" she said again as she Wen
into the next room. There stood OLE
Kortmer and Maiberg, and there Were
the servants of the household, tn,
men standing gravely silent, tn
maids crying softly. My mother j
, sleeping" she said. GO to bed
now, all Of you. Tomorrow morning
early let some one go to the Her
Pastor. I wish to see him"
Il will watch with you by the Fra
BeIgrath, Frau Jussnitz," said the oil
housekeeper, pleadingly. But Anti
shook her head.
"You will need all your strength
> Hanna JzO1n must tn had too