Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-03-19

Who began it? out with it, he
cried, apparently in high good-hunor.
In the meantime we had spr ing off
our horses, and our ewes rested Curl
ously on the elegant yo11g man. The
baron looked at us for a WGjle, and
hen he said.
Go, dear Hannah, and give your
hand to your blother-in-law. Count
Satewsh is engaged to your sister
Hannah turned pale as death, and
remained motionless. The count, still
holding his hat in his hand, looked
now at me and then at Hannah, till
the baron, motioning 70 me, is the
hand and led her up to him; she shyly
put her hand into his.
And this madcap here explained
the baron, motioning to me- is the
friend of my daughter, and very dear
member of our household, Fraulein
Margaret Siegismund."
Il stood like one struck dumb, but
then I fell on Hannah's neck in a tu-
multi of rejoicing. Hannah | cried,
you know why l am glad. Remember
what we were just talking about; now
everything will come right And then
left them all standing there in amaze
ment, and, taking my long riding-habit
over my arm, / ran through the park
to my fathers house. l sprang up
the old, WORKOUT steps before the
door, almost ran over Katharine, who
was just coming out Of the kitchen,
and, without stopping to excuse myself
ran on upstairs and threw open the
door of my fathers study.
1.-THE familiar thick blue tobacco
smoke met me as l entered; but today
it did not trouble me. I threw my
riding-whip on the nearest chair, and
put both arms round my fathers neck.
" L must tell you something, dear
est papa Only fancy-who do you
think?-Ruth-'
Il was chattering on, when figure
arose from the sofa. l looked up in
amazement; a caller was so unusual
that l almost thought it was a ghost.
A slender young man in a. clergyman's
dress stood before me.
This is my daughter, my dear
colleague said my father, without
looking at me.
"The young man looked at me in as
constituent, and l think hardly came
up to his idea of what clergyman's
daughter should be. There was some
thing ironical in the look with which
he measured my person, the dark
green riding-dress, the felt hat, with
the green veil, rather awry from my
hasty ride, the chamios-leather gloves,
might well seem better fitted 20
daughter of the castle than to the
prim maiden of the parsonage. | felt
rather ashamed beneath his eyes, and
occupied myself in trying to put up
the braids that had come loose from
my mad ride.
" Don't be frightened, Fraulein,' he
said, simply. You will see me often,
since 1 have accepted the position OF
pastor of Weltzendorf.'
" of pastor?' l stammered, looking
at my father, much startled.
" Yes, Gretel,' replied the latter, I
have decided to retire. 1t would be
hard for me to see to the parish any
longer. l can devote myself entirely
to my studies now, and l want to
travel which l have never been able
to do. Besides, everything will remain
the same; the real parsonage over
there is unoccupied, and as this house
is my own property, there will be no
change. But what were you going
to tell me? You came in state Of de-
light
q was so surprised, that quite
abashed I said: oh, it is nothing very
important. Ruth is engaged, her lover
is here; and so I only thought that,
as Hannah will be alone, could still
stay at the castle and was going
to say: and that is why was so glad
but I stopped as I again met the won
dering glance of the young clergyman.
1t suddenly occurred to me that my
joy was not very fiattering, and l
swallowed the rest.
MY father nodded. Yes, to be sure;
yes, to be sure he said, in his absent
way. Will you tell Katharine to
bring in a bottle of wine?'
q went, but not without feeling
that I must look very strange in the
eyes of the young pastor. hid away
my dainty riding-whip in the folds Of
my dress as we'll as l could. When l
closed the door I once more saw the
wondering eyes of the young man
fixed on me: then I went down stairs
and delivered my message to Kathar-
inc.
"The old woman was evidently in
bad humor.
" How you do look!' she began,
when she had looked at me for some
time, like a play-actOr, but not like
sensible pastors daughter. What will
the young pastor think of you? Your
hair hanging down as if it had not
been, combed for a week, and you have
a whip in your hand like man; you
have been on horseback again.
should like to know what you are
coming to. 1t is sin and shame
for the people at the castle to bring
you up like a princess, and your father
too, will have a good deal to answer
for for leaving you there. Pay heed
to what old Katharine says, they are
very proud at the castle, and when,
some fine day, they do not need you
there any longer as a companion to
the gracious Fraulein because she is
gone away with some nobleman, then
YOU will come back to our house, and
+bo~ r,n+b;nsr will ha cn0d enough for