Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-21
Ske 9astor's Daughter
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usel What can't be cured must be en-
dured, and the Fraulein will have to
20 back to the castle if she can't wait
upon herself.
There was a reprOa2h in these
words which I felt bitterly. Don't dis.
turb yourself, Frau Renner,' I said,
rather CJldly; I shall not go back to
the castle, and l shall not only wait
upon myself, but | will also nurse
Katharine; and that you may see that
I am in earnest, I would beg Of YOU t.
let me have your maid for a moment
SO she can help me to move katna
rine's bed into my room"
Frau Renner's face wore an ex-
preston of dismay. Into that heauti-
full roomn she cried
g 'Never!' cried Katharine. My
old bed shall not be put there. will
stay upstairs in my attic room
q BE SILENT I said, very decidedly.
4 command here, I have two reasons
for bringing you downstairs; in the
first place, I can be with YOU lay and
night, which [ could not do in that
cold attic room; and in the second
place
" Yes. that is right, dear Fraulein
Gretchen, the old lady interrupted me,
greatly touched. She will not get well
in that draughty place up there, have
said all along But when the herr
Baron came here and made every
thing so pretty, and the cabineCmaKer
brought the new furniture, she would
take her bed and her spinning-Wheel
upstairs. She might just as well have
stayed down here in the kitchen cham
Der, with the spinning wheel by the
stove, and it would have done the
beautiful room no harm at all; but
she was Obstinate.
Yes, she is Ohstinate,' I thought,
but now there was no help for It; she
grumbIed all sorts of things to her
self. but l took no notice. Frau Rem
ner brought in her maid, a neat, act
i've person, and very soon the simple
bed was standing in the warmest
place in the room, and the spinning
wheel placed beside the stove in the
DarlOr.
Katharine, who was shivertng with
cold, with the help of Frau Renner
soon lay in bed and muttering and
"A deep sigh was the only reply, of
though the expression of her eyes was
already much pleasanter.
81 You see, Katharine ] said, cheer
fully, you must like this. Isn't it very
nice and comfortable here? | ought
to scOld you, but I am going to wait
for that until you are quite well again.
But I shall not pass it over you may be
sure of that added, with a smile, as
/ spread another blanket over the bed.
" All, child, I cannot rest in bed
let me get up. Who will bring the
wood and get supper? All, good
heavensi I cannot stay IN bed
." Don't fret, Katharine; l know
very well where the wood-pile IS, and
/ am acquainted with the pantry al
so-if there is only something in it
Sc Why shouldn't there be something
in it?' asked the old woman, greatly
offended. I knew you we're coming,
and [ bought sausages and bread and
eggs: but tea and chocolate and all
that fiddIe-faddIe that you have been
used to at the castle, I can't give
you
oh. but there couldn't be any
thing better than sausage and Uread
and butter. Katharine; just wait
minute and you will see what havoc I
shall make with it, There, now I have
got an apron, and you will soon find
out what a good housekeeper I can be.
"Thereupon I went to the wood-shed
and got an armful of wood, and soon
the fire was burning merrily in the
stove: the lamp was lighted. the
blinds were closed, the pantry inspect
ed, and then I sat down as happy as a
queen. in a corner OF the sofa, and ate
a large slice of bread and butter; no
thing had ever tasted better; nothing,
for it was eaten in my own home.
This feeling of being at home was
indescribabIy pleasant to me. When
Katharine was well again and my ia
Their had come back, thought it must
be wonderfully pleasant here in the
old house.
After supper, I walked about, chat
ting with Katharine, who had turned
over in bed in order to see me better;
put away my things, unpacked the
trunkful of dresses, and hung them
up in the great wardrobe.
What are you going to do with
all that heap of clothes, Gretel? ask
ed the old woman, shaking her head.
You cant dress 50 grandly here.
oh, we'll Katharine, I shall be
often at the castle, and you must not
forget that I am not going to stay
here with you very long Just wait,
you cross old thing; you do your best
10 forget that I am betrothed to Eber-
hardt, and shall soon be married
'Ah deep sigh was the only reply, of
which I took no notice, knowing her
strong prejudices, but calmly went on
with my work. In the course of an
hour all my little possessions were
neatly put away in the commodes and
wardrobes. Katharine's breathing had
grown easier, and she fell asleep.
sat down on a stool near the stove,
and united the ribbon / had wound
round Eberhardt's letters. The light
of the lamp fell family upon them,
| but I could READ them. nevertheless,
| for I knew them almost by heart. II
was delightful to sit there all alone
and undisputed. without fear Of any
one Unexpectedly discovering my sec
rot fnnJ- aanh Iot&cr I'M ono nv one