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

here safely Such an awful storm a.
it isl 1t is raining and showing all a
once, and the roads are one sheet o
ice"
Mailberg stood listening at the win
dow, which he had opened. 1.-The
carriage is coming now" he sale
quietly, walking toward the door
In the hall, which according to ole
custom was placed in the middle OF
the house with great waste of space
and which by the carved beams under
the ceiling and the panelling of the
walls showed that the original destiny
of the house had been that of a ducal
hunting-odge, the housekeeper had
thrown the door wide open, so that
the wind blew the rain in in streams
The great lamp was lighted, but the
wreaths which the maids had hung
up in token of welcome, the old
Mamselle had had taken down again.
Good Heavens, is the poor young
thing coming home for pleasure?" she
had cried. Spare your wreaths; IN.
happily, there may soon be another
occasion for which we shall need
them"
In spite of the rain she ran down
the steps; her white apron streamed
behind her like a white banner in
the darkness, and before Maiberg and
Kortmer could get there she had flung
open the door of the carriage and
called out: "GOod-evening. Good
evening! Good Heavens, such
storm as it is, Frau Jussnitz, and
with the little baby, too"
But the person addressed did NOS
accept the offered hand; the figure
that slipped out of the carriage and
stood on the wet gravel, in which the
light of the hall lamp was reflected
was that of stranger, was-could
that really be Hildegarde Won Zwei-
dorf, that pale, haggard face with the
sad, weary eyes? Maiberg was quite
shocked as he came up.
'Fraulein Won Zweidorf, is it you?"
he stammered rs Antje-is Frau
Jussnitz-"
How is my mother?" now sounded
close beside him. There stood Antje
with her child on her arm.
Herr Doctor, dear Herr Kortmer,
| am not too later"
When this question was answered
in the negative, Ante tOttered and
nearly fell-the fearful strain was
removed. Leaning on Maiberg's arm.
she crossed the threshold of her old
ne scarcely spoke of the sick woman,
only saying that she was asleep, her
daughter could see her later At
present she must take some food.
change her cloths, and put the child
to bed.
And he was obeyed. The ladies
mounted the broad old staircase TO
the next floor. The housekeeper car
ried the child, who was sleeping
soundly and sweetly.
I'VE have been expecting you ever
since three o'clock this afternoon,
Frau Jussnitz. Were the roads SO
bad that you could not get here
earlier?"
No, it was not on account of the
roads, but it was the fault of my nurse
that we had to take later train" re-
piled Antje, in a whisper, as she
passed down the broad corridor,
touching caressingly the old presses
as they pasesd. I'VE stopped for the
night in Halle on account of the child,
and this morning the old nurse sud
denly declared that she would not &C
any further. All my persuasions were
vain. Is there one of the housemaids
trustworthy enough to take her
place."
She opened a door at the end of the
corridor and said: rs the little one to
sleep here, Hanna? Probably I shall
have very little time to attend to her
now, L In case of need we shall
have to look round and see if any one
is to be found at the works or in the
village"
Frau Jussnitz," replied the house
keeper, hesitatingly, "as for the maids
here in the house, good Heavens, they
hardly know whether they are on
their head or their feet now, for the
work there is to do. Just fancy, a
sick person in the house, and the
doctor and now you"
May would you not trust me to
look after the little one?" inquired
Hildegarde, and her eyes looked up
imploringly at Antje.
You? Look after a little child?''
replied the latter, smiling in spite of
her sadness. No, Fraulein Hilda,
that would never do"
Then the young girl began to en-
treat please let me take care of
her, Frau Jussnitz. l will watch
every step. l will not sleep at night
! will sit bv her bed. Do not refuse
me this"
The young wife made no reply.
Hilda drew back with a deep
blush, but in her eyes there was such
hurt look that Antje said quickly:
IF you will really take so much
trouble, I know you will take great
care of my Mousie. because she is
She stopped. His child" she was
going to say. but the words remained
unspoken.
Hilda did not understand her She
had taken off her hat and cloak. an(
taken the sleeping child from the ole
Woman's arms.
Nov you can be quite easy, Fral
Jussnitz, and thank you!" she said
And Antje saw the tears streamin,
from Hilda's eyes as she sat down ol
chair near the stove and began t.
pull off the various wraps from tn
child as if she had SDent her lif