Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-06-11
gke Pastors Daughter
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rather go to bed, because you seem to
be ILL.," replied Henry, signing to me
to go away.
" Father, who came forward just
then, laid his hand authoritatively on
Eberhardt's .rm and begged him also
10 20 to bed. Have you heard any
had news, or are you not well?' he
said.
Neither the one nor the other
hut I seem to be in the way here" he
shouted. and had better ride home"
" He threw MS blizzard cue On the
floor, flung open the door, and called
% Johann in loud voice, then he out
m his cap and started off.
g" you shall not ride home tonight,
Eberhardr.' said my father, as calmly
hardt was crying out, in voice
as possible; cant you bear a little
joker"
g THE devil. Have gone mad, Il
has all been a joke; let me go, Der
gen, 1 shall ride home if all Of you put
together oppose it. My horse, stupid
he shouted to Johann, who was wait
ing for orders, and looked on the scene
wonderingly.
" And, in fact, he rode off without
saying goodnight. When he had been
gone five minutes, Bergen had his
horse saddIed and rode after him
4" & "He is capable of anything to-
day" he said to me, and I must look
after him. Try to find out, ny wise
little wife, what can have happened to
him"
" Beyond this I know nothing. All,
GreteI, what do you think of it? l
feel so anxious!
" Good heavens.' she began after
q pause, as I made no reply, I have
such a suspicion. I went to Ruth's
room. She was still in bed, and when
l told her what had happened she
only smiled and pushed her embroid-
cred cushion more comfortably under
her head, and said: Stupid fellow.
But all men are like that; he VIII soon
get over it." Crete, do you really think
Wilhelm is in love with my sister, and
she has refused him on account Of her
widowhood? Something Of that sort
must have happened; I never saw any
one so excited; his whole manner
makes me think so. Every time he has
been with Ruth, whether she was in
the city or he came here, he has al
ways been in a state of fever Crete,
say, do you think that is possible?
should be very sorry; for Ruth-weu,
you know what l think Of her
60 1T may be So said in a low tone.
Good heavens, what al affair! And
you, Crete, too look as if you had lost
your last friend. Has anything hap
pened between you and the pastor?
almost thought so last evening.
Have you all entered into a con.
spiracy to make me mad?' I shrieked.
What have I, what has he, ever done
to put such a mad idea into your
heads? Gracious heaven! and you, too,
Hannah, are as-as cruel, as mali
cious as all the others
" Why, Crete cried the little
blonde, springing up. has every one
gone mad today? You call it an insult
to speak Of a matter that We mad all
thought Of as arranged
" 'Yes-arranged without ever con-
sulting me! No one ever thought that
was necessary; the poor Crete ought
to be OverjOyed that such an excellent
match was found for her. Every one
threw in his kernel of wisdom; they
talked and they teased, and publicly
bestowed upon me a lover who was
utterly Indifferent to me, and who
knew nothing about It himself. That is
very good fun for other people. What
l suffered from it, what endless sor-
row was prepared for me by it, one
of you never thought fer a moment
" Gretchen, your reproaches hurt
me- said Hannah gently. All the
more so as we have uearu 80 many
things lately that seemed to prove the
truth Of this report. am the last per-
son to force you to do anything
against our will
What have you heard? Hannah. l
beg you to tell me- But no, it is Of no
use; it is all in vain; it is too late
too Iate!'
The maid coming in announced the
arrival Of Anne Marie with her boy.
She may go away again; it is no
longer necessary l said to the girl. i
do not need her services any more
Gretchen began Hannah again,
YOU have q secret will not urge yuo
TO conffde in me, and I hope my sus-
piciOns are wrong. But I should like
to help you in any case. I will do any
thing you ask, SO please call upon me
if you need any assistance. 7 shall
stay here a few days longer; come to
me when you like, and as often as you
like; have always been fond of YOU
Il was glad when she went at last
and l sat silent again in my window.
The day passed like any other: twi-
light came, and l gaZed with my burn
ing eyes out at the old linden and the
pastors house; it would be like this
now every day and every evening;
should sit here lonely through all the
coming days and weeks and years,
This consciousness rested on me like
a nightmare. How could I bear this
life? Can nothing be done then? Is
all lost-irrevocably lost? Then
sprang up and lighted a lamp: I would
write to him; and I wrote and wrote
hat the night through; I told him
everything-au my despair, my horri-
bic torture, and urged him to prove
my truth before he thrust NE from
him forever.
= ..Rut who would carry The Letter for