Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-04-04
colo Elsie


d
built across it, and your luckiess
meerschaum is in the last stages.
The forester laughed reluctantly
Then he said to Elizabeth, who bus
lily filled his cup and offered him 4
burning taper: You need not sup
pose | have exhausted my ammunit-
ion when / say. But go try it, as
far as | am concerned. III have
the satisfaction, some fine day, of
seeing the heroic chick creep, alarm
ed and retreating, under the protect
ing wings at home"
"Ah! laughed Frau Ferber, you
may wait awhile for that. You do
not know our little Obstinate. But
let US come to some conclusion. I
think it suitable for Elizabeth to
present herself to the ladies to-mor-
row"
The mex afternoon, toward five
o'clock, Elizabeth walked down the
mountain side. A well-kept road
ed through the woods, which seemed
to melt away into a garden. No
fence partitioned off the first SUI
perbly mown lawn with it's waving
grasses from the forest, with is
gnarled roots and stumps.
Elizabeth had put on a fresh mus,
lin dress, and a brOad-brimmed
white Straw hat shaded her face. Her
father accompanied her to the first
meadow, whence she walked bravely
forward alone Not one human be-
ing had she met on the way through
the park, and even the birds seemed
cautious about singing too loudly.
She was startled by the crunching of
the gravel beneath her feet, and as
she approached the castle was sur
prised at herself for being so Cypress
ed by the surrounding stiffness.
At last she reached the main Ell
trance, and saw the first human face;
it was servant at work, as noise
Iessly as possible, in the imposing
vestibule At Elizabeth's request
to announce her to the baroness he
stole up the broad staircase opposite
the veStibule, at the foot of which
stood two tall statues, their white
limbs half hidden under the foliage
of several Orange-trees. Returning
promptly, he told her that she was
most welcome, and FASTENED in ad-
vance of her, his toes scarcely touch
ing the steps.
Elizabeth followed him in profoand
1, ,r,y,i tI,c
surrounding spIendor that depressed
her. it was the consciousness OF
standing alone in this unknown
sphere. The servant led her through
a long corridor, out of which several
rooms opened, all furnished with IN
usual elegance, and supplied with
those thousand and one trifles that
might we'll arouse in an unspOileG
child of nature the suspicion of theft
beng part Of an exposition of some
kind.
The servant opened a folding door
with silent care, and let the young
Girl enter. Near the window, OppO-
site Elizabeth, d lady, apparently d
great sufferer, lay upon couch. Her
head rested upOn a white cushion,
and she was almost covered with
warm quilts, which, however, reveal
ed the fact that the nearly concealed
figure was one of considerable en-
bonpofnt In her hand she held a
flask
The lady raised herself partially,
so that Elizabeth could see her face.
1t was full and pale, and seemed, at
first sight, not unpleasant. Close
observation, howeer, showed that
the large blue eyes, framed in by
blond Iashes set under equally fair,
high eyebrows, were cold as glacier
ice, an expression which a trace OF
arrogance about the lips and nostrils
and a hard, protruding chin in no
way saltened.
"Ah, it is very friendly of you to
come to us, Faulein." said the bar
oness, with a feeble yet hard, cold
voice wavin~ Elizabeth to a fauteuil
near her as Elizabeth politely courte-
sled 81 have sent to beg my cousin
to make her arrangement with you
here in my room, as 1 am, unfortu-
nately, to III to conduct you to her"
The reception was certainly police,
though a considerable dose of condo
scension was not to be mistaken in
the Iady's voice.
Elizabeth seated herself, and was
about to reply to the question how
she liked Thuringia, when the door
was opened violently. A little girl
about eight years old, with flying
reddish hair, bounded III, Ivldfng in
her arms a pretty little dog whining
and struggling.
All is SO naughty, mamma, he Will
not stay with met cried the chtIu,
breatllessly, as she threw the dog on
the floor.
You have probably been teasing
the little creature cruelty again, ny
child" said her mamma. But L
cannot have YOU here, Bella; you
make too much noise, and l nave
headache Go to your ROOM
Its so stupid there. Miss Mertens
forbade me TO play with Ali. ] have
to keep learning those old fables that
| cannot bear"
Then stay here, but be quiet
The child brushed by Elizabeth,