Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-16
Continued.

Bendeleben, pleadingly, let me take
the child with me; believe me, Will
helm, It shall be my most sacred
duty to bring it up well. l will make
I'D to It for all that the mother has
failed in Give me the child
"A peculiar, almost scornful, ex'
preston came into Eberhardt's face,
on which l gazed as II my life de-
pended on the answer that must fol-
low
Z thank you, dear Aunt Bendel-
Sben,' he said, calmly and firmly
but 1 must keep to my decision. Be-
sides, you could only keep the child
short time in any case. You can IN
derstand that | wish to keep my son
with me, or at least in my netghbor-
hood as l hope that I may be ex-
changed into another regiment; and
as | am determined to take the child
with me; it would be a pity to make
80 unnecessary a change in all his
surroundings as it is not good for 50
young child
And who is to take care Of the
child and bring it up in your future
garrison, since you cannot do it
alone, as you have already remarked?
INQUIRED Frau Won Bendeleben, look
ing at him coldly.
oh, aunt he replied, his eyes
lighted up with joy, while a sudden
thrill of happiness penetrated my
heart, oh, aunt, that is my secret.
But believe me, the best and most
loving hand will care for my child,
and the nobIest heart will love it, If
my hopes are fulfilled
A quick, expressive glance rest
ed on me- felt myself blush deeply.
4 think l understand said the
baroness, struggling her shoulders.
Had Ruth any idea Of what is
clear to me now, she would
never have given up the child
to you, at any price. myself would
have begged her on my knees not TO
let It go. Oh, that l should have con-
scented to take that Journey. If We
had stayed here, this disgrace would
never have come upon our family
Heaven knows. aunt burst out
Eberhardt, striking his foot impa-
tientIy against the baby's carriage,
which rolled far across the grass
plot and struck into a great peOny-
bed; you make it very hard for me to
part with you in peace, or, at least,
in Calmness. | have always tried to
preserve my regard FOR you and my
uncle but such language as this Is
enough to try the patience Of a
saint | am not accountable to you
in any way for my future actions, and
heucefOrth you may consider your
family and mine as entirely unCOn-
nected, so YOU can CritiCise the dis
grace" as you are pleased to term it,
from the standpoint Of an entirely
impartial observer. 1 shall do what
ever | think best, if all the Bendel-
ebens in the world choose to consider
my actions a disgrace" Would to
God l had been guided by right feel
ing earlier and had not suffered my
self to be dragged into the mire by a
tempting will-o -the-wisp.'
He had spoken in a loud angry
voice. Frau Won Bendeleben stood
there and did not move an eyelash.
Have you finished your dis
course, or have you anything more
to say to me?' she asked Jelly. IF so,
please say it quickly for I have but
little time; and l can hardly expect
that after this scene you will have
any desire to come to the castle with
me-.
Certainly, I am going to the
castle, he replied with irritation. My
un-the Baron Won Bendeleben is ex-
pecting me, and I do not know why I
should avoid the interview like a
coward
Then I beg YOU Will allow me to
withdraw she said, as Jelly as be-
fore. A scene like this IS too much
for my nerves.
She walked away down the path
between the currant and gooseberry
bushes without looking at me or at
the child, outwardly calm, but her agi-
tation must have been frightful, for
when the lace on her dress caught on
a brier, she tore it away so hastily
that whole piece of the magnificent
trimming was left hanging there.
"Eberhardt bent down quickly to
the child and pressed a kiss on its
forehead; then he looked at me and
said:
Farewell, Margaret; you will hear
from me. Thank YOU for all your
L. A., /,
What q whirl of emotions must
have been seething and raging n the
breast Of that proud woman, Her
motherIy heart would not believe in
the frivolous character Of the daugh-
ter although the truth was forced up
On her with overwhelming power. She
had begun to see, however, that all
could not be as it had been related to
her. She as naturally just, and the
knowledge that she had condemned
unjustly was a dreadful thought 70
Ser. l knew this, but I also know
very we'll that she had quite under
stood Eberhardts alIusiOn to me, and
that this great mistake. as she was
accustomed to call the love a noble
man for one Of lower rank, was like
" to destroy the last faint remnants
of her liking for me. I was sorry for
her: I knew it was a hard struggle
for her; who could spare her this
struggle?
CHAPTER XI.
Several days after this, Eriedel
appeared and brought me a long let
ter from Eberhardt. 1t gave ME a
strange and vet a delightful sensation