Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-08-22
colo Elste


buried yesterday afternoon. You
would not know his afflicted v ife, Hell
enc; she has turned into an old wo
man overnight"
He told her of the fatal accident
more in detail; then he drew his hand
across his eyes as though to Danish
all the misery he had witnessed in the
past few days.
We'll, is everything as / left it
here?" he inquired, after brief ST
ience.
Not altogether" replied Helene,
hesitatingIy ''AEohs'i' L-G4 ~~ater-
day."
has skllfully avoided last converse
ton with me. / have one more enemy
out in the wide world, but that could
not well be otherwise, since he be
longs to that uncanny race Of night
birds which I abhor."
And on the mountain, at the Fer
bers,' goOd-fortune has taken up it's
abode" continued Helene, with a con-
strained voice and turning her face
away.
The fauteuil in which she sat re-
ceived a sudden jerk at the side upon
which her brothers arm had been
resting. She did not look up, and
therefore did not observe that his face
had grown deadly pale for a moment,
and his trembling lips had twice
tried in vain to bring out the single
word, "WelI?"
Helene related the episode in the
ruin, while her brother listened with
great relief. A stone seemed to roll
away from his heart with every word.
He had no inkling that every one of
these words was a twO-edged sword
cleaving the heart of a narrator; and
that this tale was the beginning of a
fearful sacrifice which she was to
make.
That is, indeed. a miraculous sOIu-
ton of ancient problems" he said,
when Helene ended But I doubt
whether the family will be especially
glad to belong to the Gnadewftz race. -
All! You mean because the youne
girl once found a great object to in
connection with the name?" interrupt
ed Helene, quickly 81 cannot help it:
on such occasions [ always think of
the grapes which the fox thought
sour" She spoke the last words with
biting sharpness. So far did her pas
Slonate excitement and bitterness go
that she repudiated her better insight
and insinuated the disingenousnes of
being who had never injured or
affronted her, and whom in impartial
moments she had proclaimed one of
the purest.
An expression of utter amazement
appeared upon Won WaIde's face. He
leaned forward and looked searching
Iy into his sisters bowed face as
though to convince himself that it
was really her lips which had pro-
nounced these hard words.
At that moment Hollfeld's hunting
dog sprang up the steps, made some
tentative bounds through the room.
and disappeared in response to a
shrill whistle which resounded across
the lawn. His master passed by at a
distance. He seemed not to know that
Herr Won Wade had returned. or he
would certainly have come to greet
MIN. He STROBE rapidly forward and
turned into the path which led to
Gnadeck. Helene's eyes followed him
until he had disappeared. Then she
sank back into her chair cIasping her
hands conVulsively. It looked as
though for the moment, her strength
gave way.
Herr Won Wade poured out a little
red wine and held it to her lips. She
looked up gratefully and tried to
smile.
1 have not come to the end of nv
report yet" she continued. rising out
OF her reclining posture. 4 am doing
as the novelists do-reserving the
main effect for the close"
There vase no mistakfng the fact
that during this prelude. which was
meant to sound testing, she was
struggling for strength and steadiness
10 say calmly what she had to saw.
Her eyes rested upon a shrub grow
ing near the door. as she continued:
There is a happy event in store for
our house: Emil is about to become
betrothed"
She had expected her listener to
express his great surprise at once.
and after moments pause she turn
ed to him in amazement He was
pressing his hand upon his brow and
eyes, and the uncovered portion of his
face was ashy pale. At HeIene's mo-
ton, however, he removed his hand.
rose quickly and strobe to the open
window in search of air.
You are i'll, Rudolph" she excIafn-
ed, anxiously.
passing dizziness. nothing more. =
he replied. His face was disorted. He
paced up and downsthe room several
times and then returned to his seat.
I told you that Emil is about to be
betrothed, Rudolph" began Helene
again, emphasizing every word.
So you said" he repeated me-
chanically
DO you approve the step?"
1t does not concern me: HolIfeId
IS his own master; he can do as ne