Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-28

dread Of this lovely, coquettisA Wo-
man that I buried my head deep In
the pillows, so I could neither see nor
hear anything. All night long l tor
tured myself with horrible visions, IN
til the gray light Of the dawn brought
a comforting CLEAN to my troubled
spirit. Liesel had gone to sleep in her
chair. Katharine, too, was asleep, and
I prayed for courage and strength.
When in the course Of the after
noon, Frau Renner sat watching by
the sick bed, dressed myself for
walk to the castle-the first had IN
dertaken since I left it. looked into
the gIass-a face pale from close air
and wakeful thoughts looked out at
me. I shrugged my shoulders and
scolded myself a little. why are you
so stupid, Gretel, to have such gloomy
thoughts? You faint-hearted creature,
where there is no confidence there can
be no love-
81 walked through the park under
the budding trees; it was warm,
mild spring day, and the soft air took
away my last doubt. stopped at Anne
Maries and asked for letters.
g" There is nothing, Fraulein Gret-
chen she said, with a compassionate
air, and told me about the scene in
front Of the greenhouse.
Probably the Herr Lieutenant
wanted to give me a letter, but the
gracious countess would not let him
come in
" Very well, Anne Marie; if one
comes, bring it to me as you did the
last one, but bring it immediately
Anne Marie nodded, and her kind
blue eyes rested compassiOnately on
me
FrauIein Gretchen, you may de-
pend upon me. l will run down at once
and carry it to you. Of course, I shall
always have a chance when I go to IN,
quire for Katharine.'
After a friendly greeting, I walked
on and entered the familiar old ave-
nue.. The gray walls of the castle
looked out through the bare branches
of the trees; soon I was standing on
the terrace before the tall door, over
which the arms of the Bendeleben's
we're carved in the sandstone. On
either side was an inscription: Fear
GOd-honOr the king
81 had read it a hundred times be-
fore, and yet today it all seemed so
strange, so new to me; the hall seem
ed so lofty to me in comparison with
the low rooms in which I had been
living, that I asked myself wondering
ly: Was this always s0?'
"OId Johann came to meet me: he
smiled when he saw me.
" All, it is exactly like sunshine 70
see your pleasant face again. You have
had a hard time, Fraulein Margaret;
we have all been sorry for you. Thank
God that you are all right again! The
Herr Baron and the gracious Frau
have gone out to dine.
I was turning away.
9 But the Countess Satewski is at
home, he said Frau Won Bergen has
not been here yet, and that is all
right, for it is an old belief, that
ought to be respected, that says
young wife should not come to her
parents home for six weeks after her
marriage, or else she will be home
sick. Shall I announce you?
81 thanked him, walked up the
stairs by myself and went to the west
wing, where the countess's apartment
was situated. I knocked at the door
of the salon, but no one appeared. She
is sure to be lying on the sofa in the
bOudoiT I thought; and I went IN,
walked through the salon, and looked
into the luxurious little boudoir. AS
I did not find her there, either, I was
going away, when saw a CLEAN Of
light coming out of the bedroom.
Light in the daytime? How extraor-
binary The door was not closed, and
looked through the crack. What a
sight met my astOnished eyes! There
stood the young widow before the
glass; but where we're her cap and
veil
"A satin dress of pomegranate col
or fell in heavy folds to her feet, the
long train swept the ground, and over
it fOated, like a breath, a costly
black lace veil; neck and arms gleam-
ed snowy white from out of the Grim
son robe, on the slender neck bIazed
splendid diamonds, a small black lace
veil was fastened in the hair with
the same costly stones, and behind
the ear was a pomegranate blossom.
The delicate face with the charming
profile was gazing critically into the
glass; the arms, with their glittering
were half raised, and in
one hand she held a little fan Of black
lace: she stood there as if she were
about to d2at away in the dance
81 gazed al the charming figure like
one under a spell; how lovely she
was, this young creature. in her half
Spanish costume! and she thought so
herself, for a light in her black eyes.
q triumphant smile about the deli
cate mouth. which I could see IN the
glass, betrayed it to me
Slowly she turned and thrust away
with her foot some object lying on the
floor, so that it flew as far as the
door; it was the little black Grape
cap with the veil.
How sick I am of the everlasting
farce I heard her say, half aloud,
while she walked here and there
about the room. which was made aTti-
fCially dark with blinds and curtains
so she could admire her beauty by
candlelight. Her satin train rustled,