Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-07
gke 9astcr's Daughter
ID. Feimburg

again like thlsE
"He spoke with warmth, and Der
gen added some sympathetic words.
He could see the handkerchief press,
cd to her eyes for one minute, then
she said, softly:
F." please don't speak Of it now,
cannot bear it, and dropped into the
nearest chair. After a pause she
turned to Eberhardt. yes, those were
happy days, Wilhelm, when We used
to spend our spare money together at
the pastry-cook's. DO you know that
the shop girl got to know Us It last,
and once she said to US, you will be
husband and wife when you grow
up
"She laughed clear, bell-like laugh,
and yet, a moment before, tears for
her dead husband had been in her
eyes.
"Eberhardt laughed irVoluntarily.
Yes, yes, l remember. Dear me, how
times do change!
"At this moment the servant
brought lamp. The light from the
tall bronze lamp fell full and clear on
Ruth, who was sitting opposite us.
She looked wonderfully lovely, her
dark curIs peeping out beneath the
black Grape Of her cap; the large,
lovely eyes glistened with moisture
beneath the long Iashes, the little red
mouth, on which a smile still fingered,
showed two rows of daZzlingly white
teeth, the long, deep-black dress
shrOuded a most charming figure, and
she leaned back in her chair as if she
had no suspicion of the charming pic
ture she made. AS for me, I was lost
in admiration OF her, until Eber-
hardt's sudden silence caused me to
look at him; he was gazing at his
cousin with uncOncealed admiration,
and Bergen, too, seemed quite struck
with her.
"As for Ruth, she had only bestow-
ed a passing glance on the two gentle
men, and was playing carelessly with
the end Of the long black-Crape veil,
which, somehow Enthusiastically arrang-
ed, fell from her widows cap; she
had acquired the most elegant man
ners in the salons in Vienna, and
would not have bestowed a curious
glance even on her cou5tn-and she
seemed as little to perceive the ad-
miration which was paid to her
beauty.
1T gave me a little pang when
perceived the impression which the
security of my secret enemy made on
Eberhardt; but it was natural enough,
of course, he would be surprised on
seeing her again after SO long a time.
Bergen, too, seemed dazzled and I
heard afteTward how he said to his
bride: Your sister is a beauty of the
first water, a perfect beauty, such as
I never saw BEFORE
Well done, my embryo Don Juan
cried Hannah, pIayfully.
But | like you much better, my
sweet; in your face, one sees the kind
ness of heart which gives the greatest
beauty on earth to the woman who
possesses it. he added, kissing his
brides forehead.
THAT comforted me, for Eberhardt
must also miss the kindness of heart
in Ruth, and he loved me; let him
look at her as much as he liked, his
heart was entirely given to me. This
feeling made me look on without envy
when they went to supper, and Ruth
said to Eberhardt, with her sweetest
smile: Your arm, COUSIN and they
walked in before me-
Il followed them, alone and unnotic-
ed; pressed my ring gently against
my heart, while Eberhardts tall form
walked beside the beautiful woman on
his arm with an air of naughty gal
lantry. At the door of the dining room
she looked around. ''Ah, Gretchen. all
alone? I must really take care that
there is a cavalier for you, too, to-
morrow. Mamma can invite Pastor
Renner; he is nice, they say AS she
spoke her beautiful eyes flashed at
me.
''Eberhardt, too, turned quickly, and
seemed to hear what reply l would
make. took no notice of the Cavalier
for tomorrow but said very quietly,
Your mother has great respect for
the Herr Pastor, Countess, which is
proof sufficient that he is nice
"I always called Ruth Countess, she
had given me clearly to understand
that she wished it So When Frau Won
Bendeleben spoke to me about Ruth
she always said: Countess Satewski
is not WE'LL or the Countess told me-
and so on.
THE countess turned away at my
sharp answer, with a twitch of her
little mouth, and remarked to Eher-
hardt: Ellie salt bein deguiser les
pensees.'
Yes. l know how to conceal my
thoughts, but they were different from
what she supposed. Why was this
young successor of my father always
held up before me? At table, the con-
versation was much more animated
than was usual in our little circle:
the young countess was not only beau
tiful, but she was also clever, and had
learned the art of conversation at the
tea-tables of the beau monde in Wen
ma. They discussed Hannah's wedding
first, and from that they went on to
weddings and marriages IN general.
There can be no chance of a happy
marriage, declared Ruth, turning to
Hannah, unless the wife knows
enough never to become tedious to her
husband, and is always ready to dis
play some novelty, even though it is
sometimes a little whim or caprice.
Then he will be happier than he would