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

evil influence cf Won Waldo and
more to her own son, who had been
behaving himself most extraordinar-
lily for several days past, since Hell
ene's was at bottom a thoroughly no
bic nature, capable Of enthusiasm for
the good and noble, and inspired by
the best intentions. But from ner
earliest childhood she had been &C
customed to regard herself as the
central point Of universal tender
care and consideration. In spite or
her physical defects she had never
known the bitterness OF being
sighted. To make her forget the weak
ness everyone had always taken
pains to show he redOubled atten-
ton. Knowing very well that she
could never fulfil her destiny as a
wife, she had, nevertheless, opened
her heart. 50 rich in tenderness, ex-
ultantly to her first love, and though
she might with bitter tears repToacn
nature for the negligence shown her
and the destruction Of her LIES hap.
piness, yet HolIfeld's unfailing atten-
ton, his constant presenBe at Lind
hof, single tender words dropped now
and then, had all been calculated to
strengthen her opinion. Now he had
become insuItingly distract ana neg
Jected her in an unheard-Of manner.
She suffered unspeakabIy. Her whole
nature rebelled; her wounded woman
ly dignity, a hitherto unknown violent
anger and her inexpensive love, were
struggling for the mastery. She was
far from reaching that stage Of resig-
nation and forgiveness which noble
and generous natures must sooner or
later reach. She grew bitter and pas
s1Onate, aud TIese emotions revealed
themselves less to him who hurt her
than they wreaked themselves, with
a certain satisfaction, upon her
whose tyranny the young girl had
borne INTERESTINGLY for the sake of
her love
Honfeld had been reading aloud to
the Lax les, when the old ladys maid
entered the room under pre-ext of
some unimpOrJant announcement, and
at once repeated the wonderful events
at Castle Gnadeck If Helene had
not been gazing absOrbedly at the
narrator she must have seen the
sudden transformation in her cOus-
ms face. He was listening breathless-
~, with an expression Of the intens-
had increased in the telling to. meal
culable wealth. and the coffin of the
beauty had been transmitted to pure
silver.
The baroness, too, had failed to
observe The conspicuous change in
her hitherto sulIen son, and ftNically
darted a resentful glance at him, in
consequence of Helene's bitter snub.
She was, however, greatly amazed to
see him move nearer Helene. He
Strengthened her pillow and pushed
the fiOweT-vaSe nearer so that she
could have more benefit of their frag-
rance.
Helene is quite right, mamma" ne
said giving the sick girl a friendly
look that was Immediately answered
by a happy smile. You certainly
must not question the nobility of the
family.
Dreadful as was the thought that
persons who had hitherto stood so for
beneath her would now rank with
her and even surDass her in the mat
ter of wealth, the baroness was cIev-
er enough to suppress the bitter re-
tort which rose to r. lips and satisfy
herself with the observation that the
story sounded fabulous and incred-
iible, and must not be taken too BIT
terly. She must hear from a more
competent eyewitness than the two
masOns before deciding to credit it,
The competent eyewitness passed
beneath the window at that moment
in the person of Reinhardt returning
from the mountain. He smiled when
hummOned instantly to Frau%n Won
Waldo for he saw from the servants
inquisitive questions that the discov-
cry at Castle Gnadeck was already
known in the castle, and that he was
called to the the ladies to report. He
was assailed with questions by Hell
enc the moment he entered. He told
her in mis- uiet way, and it amused
MN beyond measure to discern the
intense curiosity and evaporation
that animated the baroness ques-
Quesqtions, negligent and Indifferent
as they were meant to appear.
Can the Ferbers really resume
the old name on the strength of
that scrap of paper?" she asked.
drawing a dahIia out of the vase and
smelling it.
Il should like to know who could
contest their right?" replied Rein
hardt. 1T is only necessary to prove
that they are descendants of the
founding Hans Jost Won Gnadewitz.
and that they can do at any mo-
ment'
The lady rested her head upon the
high back Of her armchair and let
her eyeHds fall as if weary or bored.
And the discovered treasures of
Golconda, are they really as immeas-
urable as rumOr makes them?" she
inquired. HeS tone was meant to be
cOntemptuous, but R inhardts fine
ear detected with great satisfaction
an unqualified interest and something
very much like secret fear He srniIad