Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-13

trembling hands. He could now see
( her tear-stained face and her eyes
flashing with anger.
Il do not recall anything that | have
to forgive. Herr Jussnitz,s she replied
| coldly. you have probably made a
i mistake and wish to offer you1
| apologies to your wife
| = He looked at her in surprise You
have been schooled admirably. he
said, but you must not imagine that
| shall take this lofty reproof in
| earnest"
why not?"
Because your eyes told me a very
different story only few days ago..
A deep flush overspread her face,
and the small hands were clenched
her pride and modification almost
robbed her of her senses.
My eyes? My eyes have now and
never had anything to say to you!'
| she cried. vehemently.
Nothing-nothing at ALP" he SAID
mockingly.
Her breath came quickly, the tears
rolled down her cheeks. She de-
terrnined that, cost what it might. she
would now and forever disabuse him
of the idea that she had even felt the
slightest interest in him.
you were always perfectly indiffer-
ent to mel" she gasped out.
He gave short laugh and made her
a low bow.
why, then. this passionate denial?
Do not agitate YOURSELF" he said. II
believe you, Hilda, since you wish it
to be so. l give you my word, l be-
lieve you, until YOU"
But it is SO, it is really So" she
interposed
Il am convinced of it." he said,
sarcastiCally. Nearly week has
passed since that evening in Sibyllen-
burg-of course you have forgotten all
about it. | have been described to
you as a monster of iniquity, to whom
nothing in the world is sacred; they
have been preaching to you about
morals and decency and Mrs. Grundy.
and-you are good, obedient child.
1t is quite right of you; I wish you all
sorts of happiness as reward for
your docility. FAREWELL"
No one has said a word about you.
and no one has given me advice!"
cried the girl, quite beside herself.
''And if you wish to hear the exact
truth, made my eyes lie to you on
purpose to revenge myself on you. 1t
was only a whim, a madness, if you
like, of mine, for what can you pos
sibly be to ME? I have loved another
man for a long, long time. There.
now, you know the truth"
He took up his hat, which he had
let fall. The candle cast it's pickering
light on his pale, quivering features,
and on the girl who, covering her face
with both hands, had turned her back
on him and stood there trembling all
over.
Another, Hilda?" he exclaimed.
She gave a sob as she bent her
head.
''Maiberg?" he asked, and as she
made no reply, he said: F'Of course it
is Maiberg."
He suddenly laughed aloud.
well, then-good luck to you,
Hilda! Farewell! surprises come
to us all now and then. My heartiest
congratulations
All this was uttered between out
bursts of the same loud laughter
which sounded strangely out of place
within these walls from which the
dead had just been carried out. Still
laughing, he left the room, where the
terrified cries of the child mingled with
the sobs of the young girl, and still
laughing, he walked along the cor
ridor and reached the staircase.
There he met Maiberg coming hur-
riedly up the stairs.
Il have been looking for you every
where, Leo
The laughter ceased; the painter
measured his friend from head %
foot
you are devilish fellow,
Maiberg," he cried, but don't
grudge you your good fortune; [ was
never a dog in the manger. I only
pity you for having the misery of such
a choice. Well, good-by; don't trouble
yourself about me. You might be
missed here where there are so many
tears in beautiful eyes to be wiped
away"
He was about to pass his friend,
hut his stems were arrested nv a con-
fused murmur of voices coming up
from the hall below; a shrill woman's
voice rose above all the rest In the
large, din.ly-lighted hall several
people had collected round a poor
woman, who shrieked all the louder
the more they tried to soothe her.
To be Continued.
GAMBLING IN SOCIETY.