Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-23

entered her mothers room
 The old lady smiled when she beheld her child.
 11ss 1aid her head for moment silents l 1y in her mothers lap. Then:
 Mother dear, I--I must make a con- fessiot." And while the soft old hands moved gently over the blond hair, Ilse told of that spring evening when she. in her pride, had so deeply wounded her young friend--toltl Of her experience that day, and Of the request of his land- l lady that she return on the Day of Atonement toto earn money.
 The widow sat silent awhile. Then she bent down and kissed her daughters | brow
 II will tell you something, child!" She said. ITO us all comes some time great hour of atonement and self-humiliatiun. You have a burden on your soul in the wrong which, in our days of prosperity, l you did a good man.
 Throw it off, child; do penance! Go tomorrow early where your duty calls you.
 "Go simply and modestly as always, as to a stranger. Show him your pie lures and take his order.
 When you return we will go to ! church, and we shall both feel that the wrong is atoned for
 Ilse wept. She seemed quite broken 1 down.
 Il cannot, mother Only think, if he should recognize me- and in this way!" "He will not know you. Grief has changed you, my dear. It is five years. I And then ypui~ veil"
 1lse stood lip. Then she said, quickly:
 "I will go, mother
 And she went The landlady showed an astonished face when she found her at the door
 well, this is fine! Thought you were offended at me" she cried. Herr Val- entin, the Fraulein, with the pictures is here!" she added knocking at the door. Ilse stepped into the room and re- mained standing at the entrance. She trembled 50 that she was obliged to hold the portfolio with both hands.
 The young man looked moment at 1 the girl in mourning. Then, as she remained so shy and l quiet, he placed, chair
 ''If you will, be seated,' he said
 Then she looked up. Hans-her dear old playmate! The same eyes, the same dark curly hair! Only his face-it had grown strangely serious and narrow. He looked older, more manly. 1 Mechanically she opened her case, all l though her thoughts were far from the business at hand. He examined the specimens carefully, then nodded.
 ''very pretty; yes, very pretty. It really isn't simple photograph that wish to have enlarged, Fraulein, only a head from a group. Can that be done Will 1t be just as good as this one?"
 She nodded. Her throat was as if paralyzed.
 Astonished, he looked at her closely yelled face Why did she not speak !? He hunted about on his desk.
 At least 1t was very kind of you to trouble to come here on holiday. am very grateful to you.
 "The fact is I should like to have the l picture soon. Here it is now. I 1T hope it will be done well. am very particular about it--" he hesitated. became red, and held a piece of card- board on which was photograph of a I picnic party. When can I have 1t, | Fraulein?"
 Ilse trembled. Now she must speak.
 'In eight days" she replied, softly.
 The man looked up surprised This voice reminded him of something. some thing dear Excitedly he passed his fingers through his hair and busiedh him. self about his desk. Ilse bowed her head and grew pale as 1 death The people here in the picture -merciful heaven; these young, smil- ing faces in the midst of trees and gay banners-where had she seen this be- I fore? Her lips trembled, everything be- gan to dance before her gaze, and she l could see nothing more.
 Hans valentin pointed to a face, a pure, smiling, girlish face, above white dress-Ilse in the Maytime of her lifel Look, Fraulein-this is thei one want enlar--" he began. He did not complete the sentence. With hoarse cry the young girl had fallen against the desk. Mortified, he held her firmly and re- moved the veil from the apparently life- less face. Now he gave cry.
 'Ilse!"
 She opened her eyes at his compas. sionate call.
 "No,' she moaned, "no, no, mol"
 He looked at the careworn face, saw the eyes tired with weeping, and under stood misunderstood her fathers death, her struggle for daily bread and her humility.
 And just as the bells began their sum- moning to the celebration of Atone nfent, the. man knelt down before the girl.
 "Now you will weep no longer your mother and you" he whispered. Now I need the picture no longer, if you arc willing"
 In shy tenderness he took one of the cold white hands.
 "Yes, will your" Ilse could neither nod nor shake her head. She sat quite a .r,E Ia