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


nothing left for me but to marry
If some power had suddenly seized
the young lady to hurl her into a bot
tomless abyss her face would not
have expressed more terrified sur
prise. more utter horror than at that
moment She opened her white lips,
but no sound issued from them, and,
incapable of mastering her agony,
she suddenly, buried her face in her
hands and sank back moaning,
among her pillows. Hollfeld sprang
to her side and took both her hands
in his.
Helene" he whispered tenderly,
and succeeded admirably in the at
tempt, shall I go on speaking, and
show you the sore spot in my heart?
You know only too well that l love
you, and that this passion will remain
1.-THE first and only one for my whole
life!"
His tongue did not cIeave to the
roof Of his mouth at this miserable
| lie; he even succeeded in assuming
such an insinuating tone as greatly
Increased HeIene's excitement. If
some good angel had whispered to the
poor girl to open her eyes just
once the agony Of disappointment
would have been inevitable, for the
glance which at those words g'ided
over her crippled figure was super
| Iatively contemptuOus. But in her in
dignation she might have found
strength to escape the tolls of the
odious egotist. Her eyes, however,
remained closed, as though she
would shut out the whole outer world
to luxuriate solely in the melody of
that voice, which was, for the first
time whispering words of love.
Would to God l might follow the
dictates of my heart and yield to my
own inclination, for though my deep
est wish remains unfulfilled, | am,
nevertheless, happy at your side, in
your presence, dear Helene. But you
know l am the last Of the HolIfeIds,
and for this alone am compelled to
marry. There is but one means of
lighting this heavy sacrifice. I must
marry a woman who knows you"
ooh! tell me quickly" cried Hell
enc, in an outburst of agony weeping
bitterly; you have made your choice
my presentiment has not been false
lit is Cornelia!"
The Quittelsdorf?" he cried, laugh,
ing. That FREELY? No, I would
rather intrust my possessions to the
most manageable of housekeepers
What would become of me with my
insignificant income if I had such a
vain frivolous wife? Besides | told
you, and l repeat it now expressly
that l have made no choice. Let me
go on, dear Helene, and do not weep
so bitterly; you rend my heart. |
must have a wife who knows you and
loves you-has enough simplicity and
reason for me to be able to say to
her: my heart belongs to another,
Whom l cannot marry; be her friend
and mine.
And do you believe anyone would
agree to that?"
certainly, IL Sne 1OVeQ me.
4 never, never could" She buried
her face in her pillows. sobbing con
vulsively.
Two ugly folds suddenly appeared
in Hollfeld's waxed brow. He com
pressed his lips. and for a moment
the color left his cheeks. He was evi-
IDENTIFY very angry. A look of hatred
glowed in his eye as it rested upon
the young lady who was, contrary to
MS expectation, rendering very diff
cult an undertaking that he had i'm
ag1ned mere play. He controlled him
SELF however, and with tender, caress-
ing expression raised her face from
her pillows. The poor creature started
and trembled under this hypocriticaI
touch, and let her head rest passiveIy
in his hands.
You would abandon me then, Hell
enc he asked, sadly, 'if l should be
forced to take this painful step? You
would turn from me and leave me
alone with an un,oved wife,"
She opened her eyes, red with cry
ing and a ray of unspeakable love
shot forth from them. He had played
! his part admirably, and knew from
that glance that he had gained
ground.
You are now going through the
same struggle which 1 have exper-
fenced during the past few days" he
continued, before | came to final
decision. The thought may be dread
ful to you, for the moment. that a
third person must enter into our
beautiful relation; but l give you my
word that it shall happen in no dis
turbing way. Think, Helene, how
much more | can do for you then than
now. You can come to Gutenberg to
me, and I shall support you every
step, cherish and guard you as the.
apple CT my eye"
Hollfeld was not gifted, but he was
sly in a high degree, and managed
to make more, perhaps, of that quality
than many another would have done
with profound thoughts. His wretched
victim entered his net with rent and
bleeding heart and utterly annihilated
will
! will try to reconcile myself to the,