The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-02-13

The Prettiest Cat i'm Wien.
By Ellis Meredith


ter, Hilda, to his brother Heinrich
Dornheim of Vienna. Hilda was West
ern-born, and the strange uncle who
came all the way to the Rockies after
her regarded her with mingled emo
tions. She was so strong and self
reliant, yet so affectionate; so inde-
pendent, yet So eager to please; so
childlike in spite of her seventeen
years, yet so womanly in her black
garments.
'Tf, now, she. were going to johann
mes or Anna" he reasoned, ut would be
different. She could not be lonely with
oil those young folks around her; but
with only Jaroslav and me, in my dull
old house, with prim old Katia, ach,
the Heimweh will come in spite of
u.s."
He tried to prepare her for the
change as the steamer neared Hamburg
but she slipped her hand in his and
looked up with that "old' look that
made him feel she was a woman.
Don't worry" she said gently,
don't worry, Uncle Heinrich. Ever
since die Mutter died have been used
to being alone with Just my father and
! would rather be with you and Cousin
Jaroslav than with a lot of young
folks who were gay and happy; for
though do not mean to be sad, can
not help it sometimes, and I should not
like to spoil their good times. Be-
sides, | shall see them often, nicht
wahr?" Then with little laugh, "If
l do get homesick, Uncle Heinrich,
please will you get me kitten? Every
time l think of my big gray Tomasso
that left with Mrs. Schmidt at
Montrose there comes lump in my
throat.
But after a whole year in Vienna
Hilda had never once shown a sign Of
the dreaded inconsistencies. She had
fitted into her uncle's silent household
almost like a daughter of the house,
and although old Katia was disposed
10 look askance at her Americanerin
ways, Hilda soon won her over by her
praise for the great and wonderful city
new and interesting every day. Fortu-
pately Hilda had spoken German all
her life so she found little difficulty
in getting about by herself
The girl wandered all over Mariahilf,
where one may yet see the oldfashion-
ed houses that remain from the mid
die ages; Ale saw the Hoher-Markt on
christmas eve, when 1t loked like
scene from a pantomime; she spent
weeks in the galleries, days in the
museums, and many long entranced
hour in the gardens. She had the usu-
el disappointment when she learned
that the real Beautiful Blue Danube"
does not flow directly through Vienna,
but she forgot 1t when she heard
Strauss himself lead his own orchestra.
One day, as her cousin went to his
office, he noticed as he turned down
Josephine Strasse flaring posters that
told OF the European tour of famous
American band. He had a German
contempt for American music, but as
he read the name he remembered that
Hilda had spoken of the leader, and
would be almost certain to wish to
hear him, if only because he came
from America. He bought the tickets
and telephoned to Hilda to call for
her seat at the box-office and he would
Join her later at the concert, or at
least be there in time to take her
home. It was very late when he came
down to the rotunda in the Kaiserliche
Prater, so late that he did not take his
seat, but stood at the back of the vast
hall.
Finally he deserted Hilda. She was
sitting a little apart, and her face
was very white, as if she had put tre-
mendous strain upon herself. The last
number was medley Of national airs,
and as the band crashed into "The Star
Epangled Banner" she rose and re-
manned standing, to the astonishment
of her neighbors. She had forgotten
them, the place, herself, everything.
She was an American, listening to the
buglecall of her own country, and as
the notes gave way to those of the
fAuoti iah nutieudl ouC HVi
face in her hands, conscious for the
first time that she was a stranger in
@ strange land.
Her cousin, watching her, knew that
at last the dreaded Heimweh had come.
She was merry that night, so gay and
full of fancies that her uncle laughed
again and again at her jests; and II
was not until she had gone to her room
that the younger man told of the lit
tie scene in the concert hall. "She
has been fighting tears all the even
Ing" he said, in conclusion. 'iShe is
20 homesick that she would give all
Wien for one hour among her noun
tains. What shall we do, father?"
S"Shall we send for her Aunt Anna,
Or her Cousin Elschen?" ventured his
(ther, helplessly.
THAT would be no use They could
not help her We must find her some
thing else TO interest her; bat she is