Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-10-27

CHAPTER 1.

olFdlBUI ITOIn the NOIIn sea, over lDe
broad Luneburg heath, 1t came rush
ing along, and beat against the gray
walls of the manor-house, shook the
great elms in the garden, tossed about
the bushes, and blew from the bare
branches the last yellow leaf ye,
spared them by the NoveSlber frost.
The great castle-like building, in
habited for centuries by the Won
Hegewitz family, looked dismal and
gloomy under the cloud-laden sky; in
almost spectral gloom it lay there,
with its sharply pointed gables, its
round tower. and heavy buttresses
supporting the walls.
II did not always look thus, this old
manor-house; in summer it was very
picturesque behind It's green trees,
the golden sunshine lying on its slate
roof the pointed gables sharply out
lined against the blue sky, and the
gray walls, framed by huge old oaks,
reflected in the brown water of the
pond. Beside il lay the farm-buldings
and the houses of the village, whose
shingled roofs emerged in their turn
from the foliage of the fruit-trees
Far out into the Mark country ex
tended the view, over fields of waving
corn, over green meadows and purple
heath, bounded on the horizon by the
dark line of a pine forest. narrow
strip of pine woods, besides, lay to
the north, extending nearly to the
garden, and on hot summer afternoons
an almost itoxicating fragrance was
waited from 1t toward the quiet
house.
Within II was still real, old
fashioned German house for there
were dim corridors and deep inches.
great vaulted rooms and large alcoves.
little staircases with steep steps worn
by many feet. and curious low vaultef
doors. A flight of steps would lead
quite unexpectedly from one room
into the next, and here and there a
door, instead of leading out of a room.
opened, to ones SURPRISE into a huge
closet. Then there were cemented
floors, aud great beams dividing the
ceiling, and the smallest of window
Danes, And yet where could more
real comfort be found than In such an
old house, especially when Novem-
Der storm is bowling without, and
here indoors great fire logs are
cracking in the gay-tiled stove?
And just now. down the stairs from
the upper story came an old lady,
looking as If comfort itself came with
the green silk knitting.bag on her
arm, her large lace cap, and the
brown silk shawl over her shoulders.
She might have been In the fifties.
this small. spare figure, and she
limped. Fraulein Rosamond Won
Hegewitz had limped all her life. and
yet more contented nature than hers
did not exist She now turned to the
left and walked along the narrow
corridor This was her regular even,
Ing walk, as she went to her nephew
and niece in the sitting-room-a dear
old walk, which she had taken for
years, since the time when the chill.
dren were little, and her brother ano
slster.in-iaw were still alive; when
twilight came she could no longer en-.
dure the solitude of her spinster's
> room.
Just as she was about to lay n.
hand on the bright brass door,handle,
she perceived by the dim light of the
hall-lamp a girl who was sobbins
gently, her coarse liner apron thrown
over her face.
What are you crying about,
Marieken?" asked the old lady kindly,
coming back a step or two. The
curly brown head was raised. and a
Young face, bathed in tears and now
red from embarrassment, looked up at
Fraulein Rosamond.
All. gracious Fraulein. | am to
leave she stammered, "and l."
why. what have you--?" The old
lady got no further for just then the
door was opened a little way and the
clear. full tones of youthfu
feminine voice came out into the
corridor.
THAT is my last word. Martensen:
l viii not suffer such things in my
house. She may thank God that
have noticed her folly in good season
only think of Louisa Keller."
God in heaven, Fraulein," the per
son accosted replied in defence. al
most weeping. The lass has don,
nothing bad. and he is certainly a re
spectacle man. 0 Fraulein. when on,
is young one knows too"
For shame. Martensen!" Thi
came vehemently. You know wha
have said Take your Marieken an,
so. will have no frivolous maids il
my house,"
The door was now opened wide
and an old woman came out, he
wrinkled face red with excitement.
Come, lass" she called 10 the gir'
who had just put her apron over he
eyes again: troubles don't last foi
ever! She'll feel ii herself some da,
yeti Driving away my girl as If sh
had been stealing" And wlthou
greeting the old lady. she seized he
daughter by the arm and drew he
away with her.
Rosmond Won Hegewitz turne'
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