Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-03
Continued.
BY ". HEIMBURG.

! Continued.
20 God, grant that he may not be
| driven to despair; support him for
! his child's sake" she prayed. She
| was overpowered by a perfect agony
OF dread. She started up and hur-
| ried TO the door, but she stopped, for
some one was coming up the stairs,
and then toward the room where she
was. 1t was Maiberg. who started
back in amazement when he saw
Ante
You here? And where is Leo?''
He is gone, l wanted to ask you
| why he decided so suddenly" she
stammered.
The doctor looked as dismayed as
if some one had told him the Broken
had suddenly been removed to China.
He has kept his own counsel" he
said at length.
She looked at him wonderingly.
Why, Frau Ante, what do you sup
poser" began Maiberg. He has
gone out into the world! You
couldn't expect that he would go on
living here like a bird in a cage.
having his little dishes filled with
food for him every day? He has
gone to carve out a career for him
self But l did not know he was in
such hurry about it; | believe he
went secretly because he didn't want
to take me with him
Then you knew that he had a
plan?" she inquired
Yes, to be sure! | meant even to
accompany him little way on his
re ad-at least, that was my intention
yesterday noon; but since then, to be
sure. my life has undergone a
change"
He leaned against the bureau, and
quiet smile played about his
bearded lips.
Did Leo know of this changer"
she inquired, still unable to control
her agitation.
The young doctor laughed lightly.
How could he know it? l only
knew myself last evening-that -
He caught the trembling woman's
hands and pressed them warmly. 4
may say to you, as | was just going
to say to Leo, that | am engaged to
Hilda,'' and still continuing to shake
her hands, he went on: Frau Nntje,
| know you will be surprised: I
wonder at it myself. She does not
possess one quality Of all those | had
hoped for and dreamed of in my
future wife. [ had only one ideal IN
my mind-a woman like yourself
Frau Antje, gentle and good as an
angel, wise and reasonable He
laughed, and there was a glimmer of
tears in his frank blue eyes. And
now Fate has put in my way a child
with all sorts Of wrong and silly ideas
in her head; a creature that I must
watch over as if | were her father; a
girl who can, perhaps, never give me,
OF all that a man expects from his
future wife, more than feeling of
Geep gratitude and a childlike trust
and faith; and yet whom | have
loved ever sinch she first looked at
me with her great, splendid eyes,
telplessly and imploringly, better,
Perhaps than | should have loved
better woman. And now do not say,
Frau Antie, that | am on the point of
committing folly; do not say it!
know what | am doing, and you,
Antje, you, have shown me what
true, faithful love really is! 1t strug-
giles. it is tortured, it can be stern
and hard, but it is unalterable in it's
| fidelity"
He released her, and moved away.
She stood where he left her, with
! bent head. And Leo? When he
hears it," she whispered.
Frau Ante" he said. putting his
| hand on her shoulder, Leo has for
| gotten that dream Of his. | know it:
I am not unskilled il reading charac-
| ter. And YOU will not visit it upon
| blm because he has erred once And
| it he had not forgotten, if he had
| still to learn to forget, you must not
make it harder for him by a false
rity.'
She made no reply; she walked
suddenly up to the table, stopped and
| picked up a little red bow from the
floor, which lay dusty and crushed
among the rubbish and torn papers.
She looked at it for little while.
Has he the lesson still to learn %
she asked of the tiny thing. Mo-"
replied the mute little messenger;
MOI"
In the evening OF that same day
Antje sat at the table at home with
the newly engaged couple, wishing
them all happiness with grave but
friendly face. And when they sep
arated at length, Hilda caressingly
accompanied the young wife to her
room, and there she knelt down be
fore her and sobbed out an entreaty
for forgiveness
: Antje stroked the young girls head
See that you make him happy" was
!, Der only reply.
4 will; will with all my heart,
: asseyerated Hilda.
'Hilda,' asked Ante suddenly, in E
trembling voice, do you love him."
2 The girl lifted up her tear-stainet
? face; a roguish smile displayed al
? her little pearly teeth. Il think
t do" she replied in whisper; 'ant
? if l do not love him yet as passion
S ately and as deyotedly as I have al
2 ways fancied l could love, I am sure
e | shall learn to do so some day"
i Antje bent her head sadly. &c
- tluSt YOU NAV not find Yourself mis-