Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-03-13

His patient said nothing. but ne
smiled bitterly. Then he could hear
his friends voice outside, and a loud
cry uttered by Dora-it sounded like
a cry of JOY. A moment later she
tripped into the room.
'Oh, / only wanted to say how glad
I am that you have recovered your
consciousness" she whispered.
Good gracious, it would have been
horrid if you had died now, Just now.
when everything is so green and life
is so pleasant. Herr Jussnitz. how
could you? Good Heavens, If you
could have seen your wife's misery,
your heart would have ached for her,
She did not weep or wall, to be sure
but she clasped her hands when she
came up to your bed and saw you
lying there looking so dreadful, and
she looked like the Virgin in the
| Oberrode church, before the cross
| exactly like that. and she has been
| on her feet day and night But you
| see, people can only do that sort OF
thing out of real, true love. Herr
Jussnitz,"
BE SILENT he cried harshly inter
! rupting the poor woman's chatter.
She started at him in startled
amaZement, remained standing for a
few moments. and then crept softly
| out of the room. He is very tar
from we'll yet" she thought to her
self, as she descended the stairs.
And the sick man was left alone.
/, The darkness came on gradually, and
the cool breeze from the forest
famed his burning forehead A
/ dogs bark occasionally broke the
stiffness, or the rafting of a chain
| which fastened the COW in the stall.
but otherwise the house seemed de-
serted.
! They were probably sitting III tue
parlor talking together or Ante had
walked a little way with Maiberg in
could see them in his minds eve.
: they were walking close together. the
| two figures, without specialization
3 what need had they for words?
There was nothing to say now-nor
would there be for long-for he still
J lived. And suddenly he was seized
+, with a fierce desire to see what his
wife was doing now. his wife VINO
: could suffer like our Lady of Sorrows.
and-yet carried herself as proudly
as a queen.
What did she want of him nowo
t Why did she not leave the wretch
> where he had fallen? He would not
have her compassion, he would not
endure her generosity; he hated her
at this moment as he had formerly
done, when he had called her his
chain.
Hark did not the stairs creak!
Some one came softly in at the door
1t was she. In one hand she carried
a night-lamp, carefully shading 1t
with the other so the light would not
!, shine in his eyes She went up to
TIE bureau, placed the lamp so that
he could not see the light; then she
crossed the room and bent down over
, him, believing him to be asleep. She
stood so for moment, then she shut
the window, all but one little pane
and finally seated herself by the dim
light on the bureau took out a note
book, and began to write.
He could observe her closely, and
he did so with longing he nad
never felt before, to discover some
thing in her manner at which he
could take offence, that would give
him the right to get rid of her. Now
and then she looked up and passed
her hand across her forehead, and
:, her eyes had an anxious, frightened
look, and then she went on with her
accounts. Once or twice she gave
deep sigh; at length she laid aside
her pencil and carefully and noise,
lessly drew out the straw mattress
from behind the little stove, spread it
out beside his bed, took some
blankets and pillows from a chair,
and prepared to hold her night-watch
After a while he drew himself up
and looked down at her; her weari-
ness had overpowered her, and she
was apparently sleeping soundly and
quietly. He could not sleep, but
| kept looking at her again and again
| till the gray dawn. At last he. too,
was overcome by WEAKNESS and
slept.
| When he awoke the sun was shin
ing into the room, and tho dancing
shadows Of budding branches were
! playing on the ceiling and the floor
Of the room, and also on the vacant
space where Antje had slept.
| He caught at the strong rope, WITH
hare's foot for handle, which
| served as a bellrope, and pulled 1t
violently.
To be Continued.