Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-03
CHAPTER, n.
BY w. HEIMBURG


standing just ON the lower staircase
landing, in the great stone-paved
entrance-hall, basket of red-checked
apples on her arm, and Brockelmann
stood near her with a candle in her
hand The unsteady light of the
Pickering candle fell on the immediate
surroundings, and, like an old picture
of Rembrandt's, the far head of the
girl stood out from the darkness Of
the wide hall Round about her there
was great hue and cry; all the
children of the village seemed to be
collected there, and sang with a sort
of scream, to a monotonous air, the
old Martinmas ditty:
Martins, martins, pretty things,
With your little golden wings,
To the Rhine now flying away,
Tomorrow Is st. Martins Day.
Marieken, Marieken, open the door,
Two poor rogues are standing before!
Little summer, little summer, rose S
leaf, City fair,
Give us something, o maiden fair"
They we're just beginning a new
song when the heavy entrance-door.
opened, and Baron Sturmer came in.
Anna Maria did not see him at once,
for, according to an old custom of st.
Martins Eve, she was throwing a
handful of apples right among the
little band, who bounced upon them
with cries and shouts. Only when a
mans head rose up straight before
her, by the heavily carved banister,
she glanced up, and looked into a
pale face framed by dark hair and
beard, and into a pair of shining
brown eyes.
For an instant Anna Maria was
startled. and blush of embarrass-
ment spread over her face; then she
held out her hand to him and bade
welcome. Far from youthful was her
manner of speaking and acting.
Be still" she called, in her ring
Ing voice, to the noisy children; and
as silence Immediately ensued, she
added, turning to Sturmer: "They
are meeting me on important bust
ness. Herr Won Sturmer. but I shall be
ready TO leave at once; will you go up
TO Klaus for awhile?"
He kept on looking at her. still
holding her right hand: he had not
heard what she said at all. With
quick impotence. at length she with
drew her hand.
"Brockelmann. bring the candle
here. and take the gentleman to my
brother" she ordered: but then. as
If changing her mind. she threw the
whole basketful of apples at once
among the children, who scrambled
for them, screaming wildly. The
baron made his way with difficulty
through the cropping throng To the
stairs. where Anna Maria was now
standing motionless, and with earnest
gaze regarding the man who In her
childhood had so often held her in his
arms. and had SO many a kind word
for her
Yes. II was he again: the slender
figure of medium height, the dark
face with the flashing eyes-and We,
how different!
Anna Maria had to admit to herself
that 1t was handsome man who was
coming up the steps just then; and
old? She had To smile "One see
quite differently with chlld's eyes,
she said To herself, Was II not as 1,
years were blotted out, and he was
coming up as in the old times, to hold
her fast by her braids and say. Don't
run So Anna Maria?"
Silently up the stairs they went to
gether, to the top, their steps re
echoing from the walls.
IL really seemed now 70 Anna Maria
as IL her childhood had returned. the
sweet, remote childhood, with q
thousand bright. innocent hours. In
voluntarily she held out TO him her
slender hand. and he seized 1t quckl,
and forced the maiden to stand still
The sound of the childrens shoutirs
came indistinctly TO them up here
there was no one beside them in tn,
dim corridor
Words of pleasure at seeing tn,
friend of her childhood again
trem0ied on Anna Marias lips, but
when she tried to speak the mans
eyes met hers. and her mouth re
NAMED closed, Slowly, and still look
ing at her. he drew the slender hand
to his lips: she allowed II as IL in 8
dream, then hastily caught her hant
away.
What is that" she asked. half In
jest. half in anger; 81 gave you m,
hand because | was glad to greet the
uncle of my childhood. and an
uncle"
MAY not kiss ones hand" ne sun
piled, smile hitting over his face
Anna Maria did not see II. havins
stepped forward into the sitting-room
"A visitor. Klaus!" she called int
the room. which was still dark.
All" at once replied man,
voice. 'Sturmer. is IL you? Wei
come, welcome! You find us quite IL
the dark. We were just talking o.
you, and of old times; were we not
Aunt Rosamond?"
a merry greeting followed. an in
vitation TO supper was given and &C
cepted, and Klaus Won Hegewita
called for lights.
ssnh lAA