Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-04-08
Colo Elsie
49,
By e. MARLITT


one of these days, where you expect
ed gold"
ut dear uncle, | shall not be so
foolish as to abandon myself to pure
Illusions. Think how many
dark shadows fell across my child
hood, and all that did not pass over
me without my comprehending it.
But a little faith in ones lucky star
and ones self a human being must
nave, even if it be doomed, on its
first entrance into the wide world,
to fall straight into an abyss of
Egyptian darkness filed with fearful
monsters. See, dear uncle, the re-
ward of your zeal for my spirits
highest good; your cup looks as
though railroad were going to be
built across it, and your luckless
meerschaum is in the last stages.
The forester laughed reluctantly
Then he said to Elizabeth, who bus
lily filled his cup and offered him u
burning taper: You need not sup
pose have exhausted my ammunit-
ion when say. But go try it, as
far as 1 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 next afternoon, toward five
o'clock, Elizabeth walked down the
mountain side A well-kept road
led through the woods, which seemed
to melt away into garden. No
fence partitioned off the first SUI
perbly mown lawn with its waving
grasses from the forest, with is
gnarled roots and stunps.
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
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 en-
trance, and saw the first human face;
it was a servant at work, as noise
lessly 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 tan 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 profound
embarrassment 1t was not the
surrounding splendor that depressed
her, it Was the consciousness OF
standing alone in this unknown
sphere. The servant led her through
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 unspoileC
child of nature tue suspicion of theft
beng part of an exposition of some
kind.
The servant opened a foldingdooi
with silent care, and let the young
girl enter. Near the window, oppo-
site Elizabeth, a lady, apparently a
great sufferer lay mp0n a 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-
bonpoint. In her hand she held
flask
The lady raised herself partially,
so that Elizabeth could see her face.
It was full and pale, and seemed, at
first sight, not unpleasant. Close
observation, howeer, showed that
the large blue eyes, framed in by
blond lashes 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 saILened.
''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 l am, unfortu-
nately, to i'll to conduct you to her."
The reception was certainly pohte.
though a considerable dose of condo
scension was not to be mistaken in
the Iady's voice.
Elizabeth seated herself, and was