Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-04-11
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CHAPTER VII.
By e. MARLITT

Baroness Lessen had uASu IH0 AA"ui
in polite note, and offered very
respectable payment for Ellzapeth
exertions. These hours soon became
a source of the highest enjoyment 20
the young girl. Helene Won Wade
had naturally lost much III the mat
ter of mechanical skill ~ years OF
want Of practice, and could not rival
Elizabeth. But she played with
keen appreciation, possessed thorough
lv cultivated taste, and no trace OF
the ugly dilettanti propensity to des-
p!se everything beyond her own horl-
present during the music, and
zon. Baroness Lesson was never
present during the music, and for that
reason the hours gradually developed
an exquisite charm for Elizabeth. A
servant brought some slight refresh
ments; Helene recIined in her faututi
Elizabeth seated herself upon
footstooI at HeIenes feet, listening
with delight to the exquisite fute-like
melanchold voice in whic the fair,
.nis-Snapen girl told her past. Then
the picture of the absent brother
came unfailingIy into the fore
ground She could not sufficiently
praise his care and forethOught for
her, the trouble which he, who was
much older and serious, took to graft
fly her little preferences and show
consideration for her peculiarities.
She related, further, that he had pur-
chased Lindhof solely because his
sister had discovered, during a long
visit at tie court of Il, that the
Thuringian air was especially bene-
fetal to her 1t was evident that he
must love Helene verv tenderly
One afternoon, when the music had
lasted unusually long, a servant enter
ed and announced a visitor. Stay
to tea with me this evening" said
IraUlein Won Waldo to Elizabeth.
My physician has come from L
and some ladies' from the neighbor-
hood. | sha.. send some one up 10
tell your mother, 50 that she may
not be disturbed at your absence. My
conference with my physician will not
last long, and | shall be with you
again Dresen-y.'
She went away, and after about ten
minutes reappeared, leaning Oh the
arm of a gentleman. He was d stately
figure with a thoughtful face, whose
owner turned to Elizabeth with active
interest when her name was men
toned, and told her, in an enter tain
ing way, how there had been no end
to the horror and amazement of the
worthy inhabitants of Lon learning
that the old castle Gnadeck was oC-
cupied once more, and that by inhab-
itants of actual flesh and blood.
Suddenly there were sounds in the
adjoining room and presently two
ladies, an elder and younger one
of somewhat extraordinary appear
ance, presented themselves at the
DOOr The resemblance Of their fea-
lures showed at once that they were
mother and daughter Both wore
dark dresses, which, contrary to the
prevailing fashion, fell to the floor,
narrowed and straight with large
mantillas of black wooden stuff, and
broad brown straw hats, fastened I'M
der the chin Of the mother
with a black ribbon, and under that
of the daughter with a lilac one.
Helene Won Waldo greeted the
ladies as Frau and Fraulein Won Lehr,
and Elizabeth learned later that. Iiv-
ing in L, they usually spent the
summer in Lindhoi village where
they rented peasants house.
Immediately after the guests came
Baroness Lessen leaning upon her
sons arm and accompanied by a gen
tleman who was addressed by those
present as Chaplain Mohring.
Ihe baroness was dressed in dark
coIors, but with the utmost elegance
and looked imposing. She paused
moment upon the threshold and seem
ed disagreeabIy surprised at Eliza
Oeths presence. She measured the
young girl with an arrogantIy inuuir
ing glance, and responded to her bow
with a scarcely preceptible nod
Helene caught the glance and an
preached the baroness. WHISPERING
soothingly: I have kept my little
tayorite today because, through NV
fault, it had grown altogether too
late
The excuse did not, however. es-
cape Elizabeth's quick ear. She was
indignant and would have liked best
to fly out at a window near which
She was standing, if her pride had
not required ner to stay and brave
the baroness violence. The latter
seemed however, appeased bv the
explanation of the offence committed
IN her absence She took Helene IN
her arms, kissed her tenderlv, and
Whispered a thousand flatterfng
things. Then she invited the com
pany to follow her into an adioining
room, where supper was served. She
did the honors of the tea-table. and
developed an undeniable gift for the
keeping conversation going. More
over, she managed, with admirable
skill, to make Helere the central
point of ner attentions without in
any way wounding the others thereby,
Elizabeth sat silent between the
doctor and Fraulein Won Lehr The
conversation afforded Ter in general
very little interest, as it turned upon
persons whom she did not know.
Eran Won nhr nI1-na . r.rana IL