Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-07-11
Colo Elsie

By e MkRLHT

were DdnOltS, VIII III IuLSuLlOuS upon
your life, Or at least upon your prec-
ious possessions"
Without replying to these ejacuIa-
lions he turned to his cousin, and
asked, brusquely, Where is Helene? ''
she suddenly began to fear the
long, uneven road" replied Won Holl-
field, land preferred to ride"
Il think you will not leave old
out of the wagon. do not understand
Count Won WildenAs1 kaln Helene
how you a faithful knight could
leave the main roau. a lew quick
PAGES. will make good your omission.
| will not detain you" said Herr Won
Wade, in a cutting tone, T'hile a sar-
castice smile played about his lips.
He stepped aside with Elizabeth to
let the couple pass.
Why did you leave the main road
if I may ask" inquired Fraulein Won
Quittelsdorf, piqued and Impairment.
She was much more like pert cham
ber-maid than maid of honor.
Il will tell you. 1t was because
hoped here to escape the loquacity Of
certain ladies'" replied Herr Won
Waldo.
''Ha! how rude! Heaven defend US
in mercy, before such an iIl-tempered
birthday child" cried the lady-in-
waiting, shaking her head, and retreat
ing with a comical assumption OF
fright We all ought to have come IN
mourning, with lemons in our hands
and wry faces"
She took Won Hollfeld's arm again,
and, grumbling, pushed him forward.
But it looked as though he, perhaps
for the first time in his life, meant to
defy his cousin. Slowly, like a man
weary Of life, he strobe forward. He
looked deliberately right and left into
the underbrush, as though every
squirrel that darted past were some
concern of his. He began a converse
ton with his companion. Her replies
seemed to be of the greatest interest
to him, for he paused several times m
order not to lose word.
Herr Won Waldo muttered something
between his teeth. Elizabeth did not
hear what he said, but his hostile
glance after his cousin showed her
that he was enraged beyond measure
at Hollfelds behavior To Elizabeth
he said another word. Once he
turned his head slowly toward her,
and she felt that his eyes rested unin-
terruptedly upon her. But it was in
possible for her to raise her eyes to
his. Must he not have seen on the spot
that her whole being was in a state Of
turmoil over the extraordinary birth
to her He would have guessed at a
glance what was surging and beating
within her. and might-she could not
bear to think the thought out to the
bitter end-regret, at sight of her
emotion, an act which he had per
haps meant very simply. AS a natural
consequence of this the girls eyes
sank more deeply than before: anC
she was so absorbed hat she did moi
hear a slight sigh which passed hel
vanished from his face, and gave place
to a quiet melancholy A faint trumpet
tone, that soon died away, having
doubtless given expression to the i'm
patience of the musicians, who were
sitting upon the gallery, revealed the
vicinity of the place of festivities.
| There was soon a murmur and noise,
as though great gypsy camp were
at hand The road grew broader; be-
hind the next shrubbery a mOtely
| company assembled. and suddenly a
loud flourish of trumpets and bugles
sounded over their heads. Elizabeth
| availed herself of this opportunity to
slip her hand from her companions
arm and mingle among the company,
who formed a close circle about the
master of the castle, while a young
lady dressed as a dryad surrounded
by four forest nymphs greeted him in
limping hexameters.
We'll, Waldo has at least succeed
ed in shaking eff at the proper mo-
ment the Dulcinea forced upon him.
I dc not see the little thing" whisper
ed the first lady in waiting to Count
Wildenau, who was sitting with her
upon a bench beneath an oak. He
will never. never forgive Baroness
Lessen and our Anticipated Quittels-
dorf for being compelled by their in
ans arrangement to play the part of
knight toward that child for one mo-
ment. Ny dear" she said, turning to
Helene, who, seated at her right hand,
was looking sorrowfully among the
| company. We must take him into
our midst when they release him over
there. and do everything to make him
forget the unprOmising beginning Of
the festivities"
ueteue meCIIeslr ,e,hJ ,suv4 oea~llU
she had evidently but half under
stood what the old lady whispered to
her. Her small, crippled figure, en-
veIoped in heavy, pale-blue silk, was
leaning, helpless and weary upon the
back of the seat and her cheeks were
winter than the pond lily wreath up
on her brow.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, had found DR..
Fels and his wife among the crowd.
The latter took the young girl by the
hand at once, to keep them from being
separated farther.
stay until they begin to dance, -
, she said. in response to Elizabeth s