Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-16
CHE 9astor's Daughter
u. Esimburs
u. Eeimburg

cross, and only Frau Won Bendeleben
behaved as if nothing had happened.
She sat lovingly by Hannah's bed for
while, and acted as if we had never
had any officers quartered upon US,
and as though there had been no Vio-
lent scenes.
after dinner I went to see Anne
Marie. found it hard to confide in her
and to beg her to be silent, but over
came my reluctance out Of love for
him and Anne Marie joyfully promised
to do anything I wished. From there
l went to Katharine, who received me
kindly gave me some coffee out Of
my blue cup. / needed all my self-con'
troll not to fall on her neck and pro,
claim my happiness, but l oVercame
the desire. Only once she said. 'Gretel
what is the matter with you? You look
as if you had been crying, and yet your
eyes look so happy. Are the officers
gomez she added quickly. A deep
flush overspread my face.
Yes, they went away this morn
ing, l said, as indifferently as could
"'Ah, thank heaven for that she
cried, ferVently.
"The weeks that followed were
quiet ones. Hannah was not well; it
could exactly be said that she was i'll
but she grew perceptibly thinner, the
little face had become almost trans
parently white, her hands were always
| hot, and there was a suffering express
sion at her mouth. In spite of this
she exerted herself to go about as
usual, and it was easy to see what an
effort she made to conceal her illness
! in the presence of her parents. I was
! so sorry for her, my poor sweet little
| Hannah. How happy I was in comparl
son! How I trembled with JOY Wnen
l received a dainty letter from Anne
Marie's rough hand.
There must be something nice in
| it. she smiled 'FraUlein Gretchen is
SO much pleased
81 only nodded and hurried away, tc
read, in a lonely place in the park
what the tenderest Of lovers had tC
say to me. [ hardly perceived that {
cold autumn wind was blowing Ny
cheeks glowed with joy and happiness
and it was with reluctance, and only
after I had learned the contents near
| ly by heart, that I went back to the
castle to hide my treasure.
'To answer these letters was {
! great difficulty; often, when l had jus
| begun to write. l would hear Hannah's
weak and weary step in the anteroom
and away would go pen and paper into
my desk; once, I was almost surprised
| by Frau Won Bendeleben herself. Oh
how frightened I was! Fortunately, i
was just before her birthday, and she
pretended not to notice thai l hat
hurried1y thrust something away.
But in spite of all interruptions
and obstacles, I managed to carry let
ters to Anne Marie with tolerable reg
ularity. Twice a week came Wilhelm'
man, the most faithful fellow IN the
| world, dressed as a peasant, with a let
ter for me.
MY father wrote quite enthusiast
icaIIy from sunny italy, about all The
beautiful things he had seen there
There was nothing said about his re
turn. The letters did not come often
| but they always gave me pleasure
and I carried them straight to Kath
arine. The good old soul made plans
for the happy time when the maste
was home again, and Gretchen SHOULD
sit here in the parlor at the window.
stood up and smiled; l felt almos
melancholy at times, but I would g
with him! Poor father! Your Gretchen
will not come back TO your house, O.
only for a short time, then to go ava!
forever.
But knew 1t would make him yer!
happy to know his child was so vel
taken care of. Oh, If time only haC
wings!
CHAPTER w.
October had come ana hat
turned the foliage in the park and thu
wood into most brilliant colors; thu
leaves of the woodbine, vivid Grim
son, hung over the ratings of the yer