Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-14
gke Pastors Daughter
u. FeimbHrs
ID. FeimbHrs

I the emblematic DTldaEWTeaLn On the
/ luxuriant hair. When she rose, and
the veil foated down over the heavy,
| folds Of the long white dress, we fold
ed each other for moment in I close
embrace, and whispered tender:
/ FAREWELL FAREWELL d.
"She look so wonderfully lovely, this
/ childish bride In her pale face were
to be read evidences Of deep emotion
/ and happiness; her hands trembled
as she took the magnificent bridal bou-
quet: and a sense Of the deep impor-
lance Of the step she was taking al
most overpowered her; she was stand
/ ing hesitatingly in the middle Of the
room, when We heard a spurrel foot
/ step in the corridor.
" He is waiting, already I said,
gently; come, Hannah I was right;
2 knock was heard at the door, and
/ Bergen stood outside; radiant with
. happiness, with his eyes fixed On his
lovely bride, he offered her his arm. I
walked behind them down the stairs;
! the servants were in the hall, and
! looked admiringIy after the young
/ couple. Old Johann opened the wide
foIding-doors, the young pair walked
up to the altar, adorned with orange
flowers, about which the relatives and
! the few invited guests had assembled
! in q half circle; bright sunshine
streamed in through the tall windows,
making the light Of the numberless
! candles look pale and wan, and from
! the altar sounded the voice of the
/ preacher: Be faithful unto death, and
/ I will give you crown of life; that
is the text that I would give YOU for
your motto through life, my dear
young friends
"A beautiful text, and they were
! beautiful words that the young pas
! tor spoke Tears ran down the brides
! cheeks, and Frau Won Bendeleben's
| lips quivered with both joy and sor-
row Ruth looked pale as marble, look
ing lovelier than ever in her deep
black lace dress. I stood beside her,
and when the young pair knelt down
to receive the blessing, her little hand
closed convulsiveIy over the airy
folds of the black dress, and u deep
! sigh escaped her lips.
WAS she thinking of her own we'd
ding? Of how so short a time before
| she had spoken the same VOW, which
death had now released her from?
! Who knows? When the ceremony was
over, and the young couple had been
congratulated, her emotion had dis
appeared she kissed the young Frau
Won Bergen cOldly on the forehead
and at the wedding breakfast she was
the gayest of them all; it seemed as if
she were talking so fast in order to
drive away uncomfortable thoughts,
which had risen in her mind at sight
Of the bridal couple.
"She sat beside Wilhelm Won Eber-
hardt, while l was opposite beside the
young pastor. It was not a lively neal
"a wedding by good right ought to
have been gayeT. Conversation drag
ged the hostess said but little; the
baron found it hard to part with his
darling. The old Nordheim toasted the
bride and bridegroom in a fine speech,
but this did not make the company
any IiTelier. The servants, with old
Johann at their head, came in with
! full glasses. We wish to offer TO the
/ gracious young Frau Won Bergen our
/ best wishes for her happiness, said
the honest old man with the true, faith
! full eyes. May she have nothing but
| prosperity, and when she thinks of her
home may she not forget US, as we
will never forget the kind young mis-
/ tTess who has grown up under our
! eyes. Great tears streamed from the
7 eyes of the young wife as she gave
her hand to the old servant in token
of thanks. No, Johann she ren1ied, 4
shall never forget any of you; how
could 70
1T was dusk when Bergen withdrew
with his young wife; I followed them,
and helped to put the fur-trimmed
cloak about her shoulders. We en-
braced again, and then her husband
put her into the carriage, the four
horses started and the coachman, in
gala livery, with his whip decked with
ribbons, drove through the castle
court with a dash. Once more the lit
tie hand waved a farewell from the
carriage, and I was left standing alone
in the cold wind.
The servants, the old porter's wife
and Liesel all cried as if some one
were dead.
g. She had heart of gold said old
Johann; her husband is lucky
Il, too, felt the tears come to my
eyes. had lost so much with Hannah. |
In the great hall they had already |
left the table; the guests took leave |
soon. and Frau Won BendeIeben re |
tired to her room. Tea was served to !
US in the salon. The baron looked |
round the room as if Hsnnah's .Ionde |
head must appear in the door at any
moment to make some pretty laughing !
speech. Ruth leaned back in her chair;
her snowy neck cleaned through the |
black lace of her dress, the wide !
sleeves were thrown back, showing |
the Ioveliest arms in the world.
Eberhardt was standing by the pi-
ano, looking down at her, his fore
head drawn into a frown, his lips
pressed tightly together.
4 Ionged for one kind gIancs from !
him. I thought he might have given
me a little comfort for the loss of
Hannah. But waited in vain; his eyes
were fixed on the beautiful woman in
the armchair, and seated myself sad
ly IL the deep embrasure Of the win