Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-09

but
Good heavensi gracious Frau,
cried, where should the child stay?
You went away with Frau Won Eber-
hardt, the nurse went off-how could
man without any servants, and who
had his duties to attend to, take care
of a little child?'
Indeed The nurse went away?
inquired Frau Won Bendeleben
| Stranger She was such d sensible
| person. Well, in any case. it would
have been much better If he had
| brought the child to the castle where
| it would have been splenhdly cared
for by Rissmann, instead of increas
| ing the scandal ny bringing it here. Il
| is casting a s1ur on Ruth, which, yoU
must acknowledge, is quite unwar
rantable. And now give me the child
the carriage is waiting
Gracious Frau, ask what you
will of me, only not the child I en-
treated, getting up from my chair
The little one threw both arms
around my neck and bent its head
back shyIy. 4 know how much I owe
you, and I will do anything to prove
my unbounded gratitude to you and
the Herr Baron, but I cannot give VI
the child that he intrusted to me
only to him or at his command
For one moment she looked at me
in CONSERVATION; then she said still
quietly, although her voice trembled
If you are really grateful, you would
not speak like that. Only think for q
moment in what a position you are
placing yourself and US, if you refuse
to give up the child
I am sorry, but L
Besides, it is absurd that should
even have to ask she interrupted
You have not the slightest right tc
refuse; it is my daughters child, and
you have nothing to do with it. 1t is
not only my right, it is also my duty
to give back the child to its mother.
It's mother who never troubled
| herself about the child at ALL! I in
terrupted, with some irritation. The
only thing that makes her demand ii
is fear of what the world may say
if it should be known that she went
away without taking the slightest
measures for the care of the child
She left that to the father, and now
she ought to be satisfied with what
he saw fit to do in this matter. l re
peat, gracious Frau, that I am sorry
but I can only give the child back to
the hands that intrusted it to me-
FGretchen!' she exclaimed in in
dignation and dismay-she looked as
pale as death-'do you forget en-
tirely to whom you are speaking
Will you take from my unhappy
daughter, not only her husband, but
her child aIso?'
Her husband!' I cried. And you
gracious Frau, can you believe that
still? You, whom I have so honored
whom | have so loved. It is true
cannot defend myself without accus-
ing your daughter frightfully. The
mothers heart would not believe me ;
but ask Hannah or Bergen, and then,
perhaps, you will judge me differ,
emily when they have told you the
whole truth
" Enough interrupted Frau Won
Bendeleben, whose paIIor had given
place to a deep flush-possibIy she
had her suspicious that she had not
heard the whole trurn. Her eyes were
flashing angriIy. Enough! We will
put an end Ito this unpleasant scene.
I will not leave my daughters child
in the hands Of the mistr-'
She did not complete her SEN
tence; a sharp cry from my lips
compelled her to stop. DO not insult
me, Frau Won Bendeleben!' I said,
raising my voice and coming closer
to her, while the frightened child
laid its head on my shoulder. Herr
Won Eberhardt has already told the
Herr Baron that I was engaged to
him; how it happened that the en-
gagement was broken could tell you
also. But it is a hateful story, and
will spare you-it is possible, too,
that you may hear it elsewhere some
day. 7 am quite alone, quite unpro-
tected, and at present l possess no
thing but my honor and my good
name; it is an easy thing for you to
rob me of it, but, thank God there
are still few people who can prove
that I have never done anything wrong
that
Spare me; I cannot listen to
your defensive arguments. I have
NJ h. u,
a hurry She made a motion towards
the little one, who now, terrified by
the somewhat loud discussion, broke
into a loud cry.
Il turned away and tried to soothe
him.
q am in a hurry, as I remarked
once BEFORE said Frau Won Bendel-
eben, impatiently. Let him cry, he
VIII soon get over it; and now. for
the last time give me the child!
The child will stay here, dear
aunt, suddenly said calm voice be-
hind me. l turned, and, to my un-
speakable satisfaction, I saw Eber-
hardt, who, with his fingers in his
cap, made Frau Won Bendeleben a
low bow
4 might have known, he contin-
ued. that your kind heart would
bring you here to take your grand
child under your motherly care, and
thank you for It with all my heart;
but, unfortunately, 1 must deny your
wish. for the child stays here. I can
not alter my decision in this res
pect: but once more, dear aunt, ac-
cent my Warmest thanks for Ynur