Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-17
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By w. HEIMBURG

III 1IOHt VI luS WlHuOW. anu MS tdii
figure INSTRUCTED the sunlight so that
the room grew dark all at once. f
have seen more of life. know it.
What should you Think Anna Maria,
if you" He paused and drew a
letter from his pocket. Il had better
read the letter to you. | was just
looking for you, to talk with you about
it. Professor Mattoni is dead!'
Anna Maria looked over to him
alphabetically. Klaus had turned
around and was looking out of the
window; the paper in his hand shook
slightly. She knew how deeply the
news of his death touched him. Pro-
lessor Mattoni had been his tutor, had
lived in Butte for years, and the
plasantest memories of his boyhood
were connected with this man. AS a
youth he had had in him a truly
fatherly friend and adviser, and had
since visited him every year, in Der
lin, where he held a position as pro
! fessor in the E. Institute.
Anna Maria took her brothers hand
and pressed it silently. Yet one true
friend less" she then said; 1--WE shall
soon be quite alone, Klaus"
He was more than a friend to me.
Anna Maria,' he replied gently, 'he
was a father to me-"
She nodded; she knew it well.
And the letter?' she asked.
"a last request, almost i,legible; he
wishes that 1 should take charge of
his little daughter, till she-so he
writes-till she is Independent enough
to take up the battle of life
His little daughter?'' asked Anna
Maria. Had he still so young a
child?"
Il am sorry to say" said Klaus.
that | know nothing at all of his
family affairs. He married late in
life, and probably had every reason
for not presenting his better half
some said he picked her up some
where in Hungary; others, that she
had been a chorus singer in one OF
the inferior theaters in Berlin. l
never spoke to him about it, and when
/ went to his house l saw in his study
no indications that any female being
presided there. | have never noticed
anything on my frequent visits to
show that such person lived with
Mattoni, and remember just once that
while we were having a pleasant
hours chat, a childs cry came from
the next room, whereupon he got up
and knocked emphatically on the door
/ The screaming child was probably
carried to back room, for it grew
still next door, and we talked on.
! Then l once heard that his wife was
dead; | have never seen any outward
tokens of affiiction on him, but the
child seems to be alive"
And now. Klaus?'
The tall man had turned. and was
looking absently at the little wooden
cradle.
"And now, Anna Maria? owe
him so much'-he spoke almost i'm
ploringly--"may | impose such bur
den upon your"
Klaus, what a question. OF
course! Please take the necessary
steps at once, and have the child
come
"The child, Anna Maria? Why, /
think she must have reached the
limits of childhood now,"
That doesn't matter, Klaus. Then
will instruct her in housekeeping,
and all sorts of things which she may
| find useful in her life.''
Il thank you sincerely, Anna
Maria lie replied; Il hope you will
take pleasure in the GIRL He SAID
this with sigh of relief, which did
not escape Anna Maria's ear.
You act exactly as if you had been
afraid of me, Klaus" she remarked
with a passing smile; las if | should
not always wish anything that seemed
desirable to YOU
Just because | know that. Anna
Maria" he said, grasping her hands
affectionately, Il wish too, that you
might do it gladly that it might be
no sacrifice to you
Il am really and truly glad the chilo
is coming she said honestly. And
so they stood opposite each other in
the forsaken lumber-room il was now
flooded with sunshine, and the two
strong figures stood out from a golden
/ background. The shadows of the
young leaves about the window played
lightly over them, and the call of the
thrush echoed from the woods far
away without.
"a sacrificed" he had said. and yet
they had each already made the
greatest sacrifice of which a human
heart is capable, and each thought il
unknown to the other. And at their
feet rocked the heavy cradle. moved
by Anna Maria's dress, and ii rocked
on, long after the two had left the
room.
CHAPTER VI.