Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-03-05

| a crumbling stone half hidden under
the ivy, and on it the words:
WILHELM Won EBERHARDT,
Lieut.. in the-Infantry Regiment,
Born July l, 1905.
Died November 20, 1884.
I took out the little book: ". E;
Wilhelm Won Eberhardt-hoW curious!
And today was the first of July, so it
was the dead mans birthday. What
relation was the lonely old maid to
him? He was just thirty years old,
according to the date on the stone,
and yet he was m0urned so bitterly
after all these years. She must have
loved him dearly. Was he a relation
of hers? But no, one does not suffer
so for the loss Of cousin after forty
years. Perhaps he was engaged to
her That was possible. Poor old
lonely woman, who knows what a sad
life you have behind you!
Lost in these thoughts I had arrived
at home. At my own door I cast
glance up at her windows; she was
sitting in the armchair, as usual, but
she was idle today. She was leaning
her head on her hand, in which she
had a white handkerchief, and her
eyes wela fixed absentIy on one
spot.
Then I remembered the little book;
should I take it up to her myself, or
should I wrap it up and send it across
by a servant?
No. this would be a good opportun-
ity to get acquainted with her; so l
turned quickly, went across the street,
and the next moment found myself in
the rather dark hall Of the -econd
story.
Does Fraulein Siegismund live
here?" I asked one of the fair-haired
children who was coming down the
stairs with a great piece of bread and
butter
yes was the reply. IF you knock
there, she will come right out"
Thank YOU, little one" said l. and
knocked firmly, though with a beating
heart, on the brown old door.
l heard a light step within, the
door was opened ana 'Ile o'u Iauy
started back in surprise; but then she
said:
pray come in, madam"
I was greatly confused, because it
occurred to me for the first time that
in order to explain the discovery Of
the book / must confess my curiosity.
She motioned me to a seat on the sofa
and then waited to hear the reason
for my visit; her great eyes rested on
mine with an expression Of surprise.
"PardOn me, dear FrauIein," I be
San at length, FOR disturbing YOU
was so fortunate as to find something
which I think belongs to YOU as we
two 1 think, were the only persons in
the churchyard today.
The old lady had suddenly put her
hand in her pocket. then she turned
pale, and put out both hands tor the
little book that I held out to her.
"Ob, a thousand thanks!" she said:
1T would have been an irreparabIe
loss for me-
Then she was silent as if She had
already said too much
4 am sure you know me, dear Frau
Iein" | began again; I'VE are such
near neighbors that l need scarcely
introduce myself"
ooh, certainly, MADAM: I know you,
and yOur husband, too. It is one of my
You are so CAV and happy; your hus-
bands hearty laugh often reaches me
here. Won are both still 50 yonnr Nav
God preserve vour bapDinessto
The tone in which she said these
words sounded so mnIancbo1v that I
uroed nv euddnr, innnIsa rrasned
her hands and said.
,sDaar FronIniD wa too taka the
graotost in+arost i, Won vo,, ara On
lonely ca alone. do como over 70 mo
son,otinos would lilo 70 cbaer von
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