Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-08-08
GoIo Elsie


Reinhardt, who was standing close
TO her. She has a scarlet ribbon on
her hat and her mantle is more old
fashioned than Frau Won Lehr's. |
certainly shall not go out with her,
mamma, you may depend upon that
The baroness covered her ears with
her hands.
Child, for Heavens sake, l beg
of you not so loud" she gro2ned;
your voice cuts into my very mar
row; and what a silly speech" she
added, sternly. You will have to go
out with Mademoiselle Janin when
desire it."
The reproof, spoken with consider
able vigor in consequence of which
Bella was somewhat disconnected, let
her under lip hang own sulkily, an
secretly tore a piece Of fringe from
the sofa, was caused by the period Of
so-called martyrdom which had fol
lowed Miss AIerten's, departure. The
baroness had been compelled to take
charge Of Bella for the interval, and
that was, as she aSseVerated q NOR
: tai assault upon her nerves. To Frau
lein Won Waldo she maintained, of
course, that she had to suffer for
Miss Mertens' educational sins, but
in her heart of hearts she found that
her small daughter reproduced with
striking resent lance all the charac-
teristics of the deceased Lessen
among which an unconquerabIe OBJ
Stinacy and determined prOclivity to
an uninterrupted dolce far nienU
were conspicuous. She was, however
far from thinking that any injustice
| had been done Miss Mertens That
person had always accepted her sal
| airy as educator 1t followed of course
, that she was to remove all faults Of
| her pupil, naturally without opposing
any wish or theory of the mother, or
Furnishing the child upon her own res
possibility. The maternal insight into
Bella's character produced absolutely
no benefits for the new governess
whose coming was painfully Ionged
! for-the unfortunate F'renchwOman
with the color Of joy upon her bonnet
and surely no presentiment in her
heart Of the joyless days that await
| ed her. For moment, however, her
! coming lifted a load from the bar
Oness's heart, and mat lady desired
I nothing less than an Immediate con-
hIct between teacher and pupil;
hence the reproof for BeIla's pert
ness.
The lady rose and proceeded to her
rooms, accompanied 10y her angry
| daughter, to look at the newcomer,
Reinhardt was instantly dismissed
| by Fraulein Won Waldo
Shall l go on reading, HeIene?'
asked Hollfe+d in an obliging tone,
| taking up the paper again when the
trio had left the room
Later" a-e replied, heSitatingIy,
fixing her eyes upon him searchingly,
but with anxious embarrassment. L
wished to ask you, now that we are
alone, to tell me what has made you
so distraint for several days past,
You know, Emil, that it wounds me
unspeakably when you refuse to let
me share what pains you or gives you
pleasure You IlnCv too, it is not Idle
curiosity that makes me wish to pry
into your affairs, but true, warm in
tereSt of your welfare You see that
l suffer keenly under your cold re-
serve. Tell me frankly, what have |
unwittingly done nat you should
no longer find me worthy of your con
fidence?"
She stretched out her hands as
though beseecning him. A stone
might have taken pity at the mex
pressively gentle, melancholy ring in
her voice.
Hollfeld twisted the rustling news
paper between his fingers. He bowed
his head and persistently avoided
meeting the clear, frank gaze of the
young girl. An experienced student
of human nature would nave seen in
his attitude and in the eyes that
glanced hither and yon under their
halfclosed lids a mean schemer de-
Iiberately weighing which of two
actions might prove most profitable
But for an innocent loving girls
heart the tall figure leaning a trife
forward, with its handsome face be-
meath the blond wavy hair, was far
more like meditating Apollo
You have my confidence, Helene
he said, after a minutes pause: I
confide in you alone" Helene's eyes
shone at the words; the poor girl was.
proud of the distinction. But there
are rude necessities which we do not
like to confess to ourselves, to say
nothing OF summoning courage to
speak of them"
The girl raised herself into an up
right Position, hurt and mspeakabIy
anxious. L am obliged" continued
Hollfeld, haltingly, Ito make 3 de-
cision which is terribly painful and
has been weighing upon. me for sew
eral days"
He raised his eyes at this juncure
to see what impression his words had
produced. Helene had evidently no
presentiment of what ne wished TO
say to her, for she did not change
her position, and seemed to wish TO
read her words as they formed upon
his lips. He was obliged TO proceed
without assistance.