Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-04-08

day!" exclaimed the child, taking a
ball of worsted cotton from the
table and throwing it to the down
trodden creature upon the floor.
My child, you must said the bar
oness. Go with Miss Mertens;
that's a good girl
Bella sat down in a fauteuil and
drew her feet, as though the matter
concerned her as little as Ali, who
had taken refuge behind the sofa.
ne governess appeared to wish to
approach her, but wrathful glance
from the baroness sent her back to
the door. This disgustins scene
would probably have continued long
time if the baroness had not produced
auxiliary forces in the shape Of bon
bons. The small girl, having filled
mouth and pockets with sweetmeats,
left her place, and pushing away the
hand of the governess, who wished
to lead her, ran out of the room.
Elizabeth sat rigid with amaze
ment. Even Fraulein Won Walde's
gentle features expressed disapproval
but she said mott word. The baron
ess sank back among her pillows.
These governesses rob me OF
years of my life" she sighed.
Whether Miss Mertens will ever
learn to tr at Bella as such an excit-
able child with her sensitive nerves
requires, do not know! None Of
them take into consideration position
in life, temperament, and bodily con-
stitution. All children are measured
with one standard, whether shop
keepers or noblemen's children, high
strung beings or robust day-laborer
natures. Miss Mertens is a repuls-
i've teacher. Moreover, her English
is hideous. I cannot imagine from
what nook in England she can have
come"
"But l do not think so at all dear,
Amalie," said Fraulein Won Waldo.
He voice was exquisitely soothing as
she spoke these words.
obi yes, you say that with your
angelic kindness; but though I do
not understand English, l recognize
instantly when you speak it. Dear
heart, how much more elegant your
pronunciation is!
Elizabeth doubted inwardly the
competence of this judgment, and
Fraulein Won Waldo blushed and
made deprecating gesture; but the
baroness continued, undeterred:
Bella seems to feel this strongly;
she is persistently silent when her
governess speaks English to her.
do not blame her moment for 1t,
but am always indescribably indig-
nant when this person insists that it
is mere obstinacy and malice on the
child's part
The baroness's voice, at first SO
feeble and full of suffering, had grown
remarkably vigorous as she proceeded
to vent her displeasure This she
suddenly observed, and YEARLY clos
ed her eyes. ''Heavens!" she sighed,
my unfortunate nerves are maltreat-
| ing me again. i grow excited when
l should be patient These annoy
ances are actual poison for body and
soul"
Il would advise You to leave Bella
in care of Mohring and Miss Mertens
when You are feeling so wretched. l
am convinced that she is very well
cared for. Though 1 perfectly under
cfQn1 fn11n1hfYar onvfnfxy oh
the child, I must, nevertheless, say
that Miss Mertens is far too gentle
and refined to do anything which
could be harmful to the little girl.
You look quite exhausted" she add
well for me to leave you alone aow.
ed, synnpathetica1ly. ct will be
Fraulein Ferber will be so kind, l
am sure as to help me to
py ROOM
She arose, leaned over the baroness
and kissed her cheek. Then she
laid her hand on Elizabeth's arm, and
the latter being dismissed by a very
gracious-looking gesture of the bar
oness, they left the room.
On their long journey through d.
vers corridors Fraulein Won Waldo
said that it would be a great pleasure
to her brother, who was now so far
away, if she should resume her mu-
sic; that he had sat for hours in a
dark corner listening to her playing,
until an increased irritability COM
PEELED her to renounce her beloved
music for long time. Now Sc pro-
posed to practise faithfully to sur
prise her brother upon his return.
Elizabeth fastened up through the
forest as if upon wings. At the top,
in the open space before the small
portal, her parents were walking up
and down, and little Ernst bounded
toward her while she was still far be-
low. Everything seemed to her
wonderfully cosy. Her dear ones
greeted her as though they had miss
ed her painfully. On the window
sill of her room Hans was trilIing
and rejoicing, and beyond the doors
of the great dusky halls the garden
looked doubly sunny with it's linden
group in the background above the
cool fountain. near which stood the