The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-30
THE JOY OF HIS LIFE.


''And now you are really my own,
the sun of my day. the joy of my life.
and I will carry you on my hands
until 1 draw my last breath"
This is what he wrote in his diary
on Easter day, just after his engage
ment to Lii Guntram, his cousin
Lii ana Renate were orphans ana
had been brought up by Frau Bar
bara. the mother Of Rupert, as if they
had been her own children.
They had now grown up to girl
hood. two beautiful girls of Z and Is,
loved and admired by all
In character, however, they were
absolute contrasts; Renate, the older,
was like Martha in the Scriptures,
ever ready to forget herself in Sacri-
fees for others, while Lii, on the
other side, was merely a spoiled child,
petted and admired, taking it for
granted that everybody should be
pleased to do anything for her
She was an exceedingly beautiful
girl, with light golden hair hanging in
heavy braids far below her waist, eyes
with mischief from the very n1inuIe
she opened them in the morning until
they closed at night.
While Renate was always busy, al
ways taken up with managing the
house or with charity, Lii, like
beautiful butterfly, was always fiutter-
ing around, Frightening her surround
ings like ray of sunlight through
rious thought or aim in life.
And now Lii had consented to be-
come his wife, and he was SO happy
that it was impossible for him to keep
1t to himself, he must Immediately tell
it to Renate.
Renate was his best friend-life without
Renate was something that he could not
possibly imagine his JOY had always
been her joy as his sorrow had always
But when he told Renate of his great
happiness she trembled and turned pale.
and clenched her hands until the finger
nails Dug deep into her fesh-she had
member.
But only for a moment: no one should
ever suspect her sorrow and despair. Ru-
pert was happy and what better could She
wish for the mas she loved
So Renate had the house fixed up. Re
nate looked out for the wedding dress ar
ranged all the details of the veddinr and
with her own hands put the wreath OF
orange blossoms on her sisters head.
she remained with the young couple
and IS If nothing had been changed she
looked after the servants, kept all the
accounts and even insisted on busting OF
ever been allowed to touch.
He depended on her IN everything. be-
lieved IN her as in Providence itself bat
he never noticed the deep lines which scr
row had drawn in her kind face or the
slightest shadow on Lifts brow made
MIN unhappy, and he kept everything
that was uisagreeable away from her
When he was troubled or worried ne came
to Reno te for advice and sympathy, which
ne was always sure TO ma.
Even nature did rot want the young
wife to suffer pain and denied her chill
dren-
Rupert only wished for a child. but
when he thought of the suffering which it
would mean to Lii, he felt satisfied as
il was.
Then one spring he was taken sick and
she came to his bed 4 ray OF sun
Light, and when she put her cool little
hand on his feverish forehead his whole
soul went out to her. But Renate nursed
him night and day, she never left him,
lived only for him.
But he grew steadily worse and when
the physician told him that his sickness
was contagious an expression of pain
came into his face. He was silent mo-
ment and then said.
Ill must no longer come near ne
The physician told her. she cried a lit
4 husband, even when it became evident
4 that there was no hope any longer
Renate was almost heartbroken. and
/ still if only for few hours he belonged
1 to her. to her alone
No other hand must touch him and in
his helplessness he was like a child He
I was no longer able to speak, but she read
/ his gratitude IN his eyes.
/ The end came. The young wife stood
| crying in the garden-that he should die
\ without having kissed her good bye. but
/ her love was not strong enough to make
| her rush to his death chamber, Drawing
1 all danger.
And the shadows fell over him. deeper
and deeper, but suddenly IL was light