Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-12-15

the Sturmers sat on that side and the
HegewitZeS on this, and listened to
the simple discourse of the clergyman
and bowed the head in devout hui
mility. Those were the good old
times. when the nobility led the way
before the people, with the motto:
Fear God and honor the king!'
All at once thrill went through
Anna Marias body, but her face look,
ed coldly over to the Sturmer gallery;
she bent her head slightly and re-
turned a greeting. There he was
standing bodily, my old favorite, and
| almost nodded my head off at him
and made secret signs with my hand
kerchief. His dark eyes sent happy
greeting across to me-Edwin Stur-
mer was really there.
1.-THE clear voice with which Anna
Maria Joined in the singing drew my
looks to her again. She sang quietly
with the congregation, but a crimson
flush of deep agitation lay on her
face; it was evidently excessively
painful TO her to see him again.
What the sermon Was about Oh
that day l cannot tell, for before the
clergyman assembled the pulpit some
thing occurred which nearly put an
end to the devotions of all the small
congregation and obliged me to leave
the church.
Il had fixed my eyes steadily on
Sturmer, as if | could not look my
fill at the mans handsome curly
head; and the good God surely for,
gave me, for l was as fond of Edwin
as if he were my own child All at
once, during the singing, l saw him
start and look intently across to me;
and, following the direction of his
gaze, | observed-Susanna. She had
on a white muslin dress, her NECK
and arms lightly covered by the
misty material; she held her hat in
her hand, her black hair clustered in
rich curls about her small head; a
white rose was placed carelessly in
her hair, and bunch of the same
flowers rose and fell on her bosom,
and as white as they was her swee,
face as she raised it again after
short prayer.
Most beautiful was this young
creature, but, may God forgive me:
| was bitterly angry with her for
coming to church dressed up as if for
ball. 1ncorrigible comedian blood,
| scolded to myself. | thanked God
that Klaus could not see her from his
seat, and gave Sturmer an unfr.endly
look because he kept looking over at
our pew. All at once, as the clergy
man Was singing the liturgy, Susanna
put her hand to her forehead, as if to
grasp something there, and then
into her seat.
Il cannot tell now the exact order
in which all this happened; l only re-
member that a chair was overturned
with loud noise, that the clergyman
was silent for an instant, and that
there was movement among the
congregation; at the same time Klaus
left our pew, Carrying out the white
figure in his arms, like a feather 1
rose at once to follow him. Anna
Maria's head was bent low over her
hymn-book; was she going to take no
notice of the affair? But now sac
slowly rose, and went behind me
down the narrow, creaking flight OF
steps which led up outside the church
to our pew; it was provided with a
wooden roof as a protection against
wind and storms, and the ivy which
grew over the whole church adorned
it like a bridal arch with green fes.
ICONS.
KLAUS was just disappearing into
one of the nearest cottages, whose
shining window-panes looked out like
| clear eyes beneath the gray shingle
! roof, not at all sad at the constant
view of the little churchyaro
Marieken Martens and her husband
lived here; she had been in Anna
Marla's service, a quick, industrious
girl, but once was sent away in the
utmost haste because she-but thai
has nothing to do with the case
Anna Maria had her brought back
ried from the manor-house, and since
then Anna Maria and had each held
curly brown head over the font.
When there was anything going on at
out house-that is, when there was
extra Marieken came and
helped.
she was at the threshold coming
to meet us already, wiping her hands
on her clean apron, and pushing back
her eldest child. She is lying on the
sofa inside she whispered. oh. the
master looks pale as death from
fright Anna Maria stepped by me
into the little room; she made a s gn
for me TO stay outside, so | sat down
on the wooden stool that Mar ekeD
placed in the entry for me, and listen.
ed intently for every sound from with
in.
For a little while all was still
Marieken ran in with fresh water. and
then heard Anna Maria say: How
are you now, Susanna?
Go back to church quite easy,
came the reply; 1t was a momentary
weakness. / am very sorry to have
q