Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-01-25
CHAPTER xxi.

| When the general went back to Frau
Becher's he was obliged to wait for
nearly an hour. with Aunt Melitta to
keep him company. The old lady was
In frightfully excited state; nothing
worse could happen to her than to be
shut out of secert, and, on this occa-
sion, she could find out absolutely
nothing.
| She only knew that something had
appened-something monstrous, un-
| heard OF; but all attempts to get any
detailed information were frustrated
| by her brothers silence. He walked
slowly up and down the violet salon,
with his hands behind his back, and
paid no attention whatever 70 his sis
ter's questions.
Good heavens, there is Rudolph!
II can't be Rudolph again." she sob
led out at length. "Oh, do tell me,
William; he wants money from the
Bechers again, doesn't he? Dear me,
even though they are rich, one ought
Indeed? They paid his debts, did
they?" asked the general, with appar-
ent indifference.
Yes, Wilhelm, otherwise he would
have been-but you didn't know about
that?"
And Aunt Melitta, delighted to feel
herself important, came ssose up to
him. Otherwise he would have les.
the service in disgrace, do you know"
she whispered, and as the general
stopped she poured out the whole
wretched story in his ear, twisting her
handkerchief about in her hands in
her eagerness.
Thank God" she concluded Leo
never knew of it; it was all settled by
Lora's engagement-yes by her en-
gagement,' she nodded till her curls
shook.
And the engagement was arranged
on account of this delightful AFFAIR."
he asked, with a growl like thunder.
and following her to the chair in
which she had seated herself, ne stop
darkening eyes.
His sister made no reply.
"Eh, Melitta, did the girl consent of
her own free will ?" he asked.
The good.natured little lady looked
at this moment as helpless as a child,
Why, William, how you do look at
me. She did say yes, at last. II is
no trifie for a Tollen to-I don't
know. William, what to call Rudolph's
misstep-.but to leave the service.
And you see Lora made a good match,
and"
Very good, understand. She did
say yes, at Nast!
| He did not say another word; every.
thing suddenly became clear to him.
AT length Frau Elfrieda appeared
Aunt Melitta was requested TO wait in
another room.
She went out in direful anger, and
she had TO put up with the fact that
the Polish carp in the Kitchen were
done to rags, and the Christmas ~
in the ballroom remained unlighted,
and the costly presents awaited their
recipients in vain. What was the use
of her making sofa-pillows and pin
cushions by the dozen? But the worst
was yet to come. After two hours OF
painful expectation her brother LEI
the house without asking for her;
Frau Becher sent word through the
servant that she was so tired she
could not see Fraulein Won ToIlen
again; Aunt Melitta put her cloak on
with a sigh, cast one more glance al
the dimly-lighted Christmas room with
all its gay presents, and went down.
stairs past Lora's fiippant maid, who
was standing whispering with the foot
man. The servants faces had a curl
Gus, insolent expression, and they
looked after her and laughed. And
this was Christmas Evel
As she walked through the park the
clock struck eight. From the window
of the gardeners cottage brilliant
Christmas tree shone out. Yes, there