Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-10-10
misunderstood


Permit me to retire!' she en-
treated almost GROSSLY. What do |
care about Paris and the fashions?'
and with low bow to the prince, she
withdrew.
81 cast a glance of triumph at him
and repeated:
"She is not like others, Christel'
Il can still see his face before me,
as it was at that moment; he gazed
at the door behind which her slender
form had disappeared, and a crimson
flush sufused mis- handsome face.
laughed aloud and handed him the
goblet, but when he pledged me, he
was as white as the linen cloth upon
the table.
Then be went on to tell of his
travels, and praised Paris with its
beautiful women, telling me of many
a bold adventure. Foreign customs,
dissolute manners,-it almost made
me sorry for the mouth which told Of
it all; but when l locked into his
eyes, | still saw there goodly share
of old German honesty, and I though
he may indeed have plunged into
these whirling, surging waves, but
he will never be swallowed up by
them. l thought of his mother; the
ideal of a noble woman and princess.
and that her pure mind had secured
him against any ignoble action.
when late at night, he would have
ridden home, and stepped with noise
less tread through the hall, called
aloud to the servant to bring light;
but he turned quickly, saying:
do you think your wife is asleep?'
II was surprised. / saw in mo-
ment what an inconsiderate fellow
was; then 1 laughingly observed:
One sees that you have learned
court manners in Paris
when he swung himself into the
saddle, his eyes glanced over the
darkened window above.
May / come again, Heinz? he
asked aloud.
AS often as you will, Christel
it is JOY and honor to my house, and
if I am not at home, you will find
Friederika; only you must not speak
to her of Paris I added laughing;
you know what she thinks of it
Il found Friederika still awake, in
her room; she was reading in her
prayer book and the light shone
around her blonde head like that of a
saint.
'Friederika,' said I, why did you
leave rs. Does not Prince Christel
please your"
No. she said sAortly, hut he is
your friend
g L wish you would be more friend
Iy with him in the future" l pleaded,
and took a seat on the sofa by her.
She nodded her head, but her lips
remained silent, and her eyes cast
down.
" Do you like the white heron?' I
began, and gave her the bird, which
pleased her, foI I longed to see her
smile, now that l knew she could do
So
"She raised her eyes in quick sur
prise. I had one like it at home she
said softly and rose hastily, adding in
a louder tone: 1t is past midnight,
and you go early into the forest
My heart was in my mouth; l
would sc have loved to seize her
small hand and said Why are you so
cold, and why does a smile never
play upon your lips, when you are
with me? l know how gayly your lips
can smile and your eyes beam, how
rosily you can blush! Tell me, what
is the matter! l will do everything,
everything! only be good to me just
onceY But I remained silent; I did
not know how to speak. Oh, that |
had not held my peace! Perhaps all
would then have been well! In my
waking and dreaming hours her
laugh haunted me, and l seemed to
hear the siIvery little tones, and the
soft works: Pick away little bird,
pick away you spiteful old fellow
u have never since that day, been
able to endure that bird.
johann, the pen almost refuses to
W4AIS OO"A "AShL 10 INV " SSLhVy 81
| will bring it quickly to a close.
prince Christel came daily to the
red house,-do you wonder? Former
ly no day had passed without seeing
each other. Sometimes l found them
together coming to meet me in the
glow of the setting sun or when rain
clouds lowered over the forest, he
would be sitting opposite to her in
the house looking on while she spun,
but I never heard her laugh again,
as she did that evening. She grew
pale again, almost paler than be-
fore, and Quieter, but spirit of IN
rest seemed to have taken possession
of her, and for a second perhaps a
quick blush would at times mantle
her cheek Once when l came home
late, because a clear moonlight night
had tempted me to hnger, l stole
| softly into my room, so as not to dis.
turb her slumbers, but she came up
to me, more quickly than usual, and
as babe her 'good-evening. I no
ticed that she had been weeping and
| was trying to hide it.
! Il therefore said nothing about it,
, but asked if Prince Christian had
been here. Then her countenance
| changed, and she blushed deeply. He
| has ridden hn