Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-21

nv sweet, my beloved Gretchen; can
it really be true that you are mine in
all your loneliness? l can hardly
realize ft-that evening in the wood,
in the. clear moonlight, seems to me
like a wonderful dream. And yet, it is
reality. | have read it in your eyes,
your lips have whispered it to me, that
you love me, and will be my dear,
adored, little wife!
How different life seems to me
now. l have forgotten all the disagree
able things it used to bring in its
train l am sure my subordinates must
wonder at finding SO gracious super
ior in me- Even the everlasting lieu
tenants position does not seem so
dreadful to me; no longer think
about my promotion; I only think of
you, see only your two sweet blue
eyes before me-nOthing else troubles
me in the least.
" How I thank you and bless you
for your love. I have no parents, and
I lay at your feet, my darling, my
bride. all that my heart contains of
love-the whole rich treasure l have
gathered up. Do not allow yourself to
be troubled about the secrecy of the
engagement; there are circumstances
which force me to be silent; and isn't
it delightful, too, that no living soul
dreams of our sweet secret?
All, Gretchen, life IS sweet when a
man has such a precious treasure as
| possess. How I rejoice as the thought
of our next meeting! I think that in
three or four weeks I can come quite
safely to Bendeleben without running
any risk Of rousing my aunt's sus-
piciOns of the real reasons for my
visit. How long the time will seem to
! the moment when my tired horse will
! stop at the foot of the great steps Of
] your castle! I am already picturing to
myself how very demure you will look,
, an expression that will lend new
charm to your Diquant face. oh, if the
! time had only come!
Pray write soon. Friedel is a
faithful fellow, and your letters are
! sure to reach me safely. How is Han
nah? Poor Bergen! l wish he was as
/ happy as I am. He is ever visible
now, and when | went to his rooms he
would not receive me. How envious
: he would he if he knew how much hap
pier l am.
! Goodbye, my sweet, my darling,
my only one. Write soon, beg of you;
! am diving of imDatience. A thousand
! kisses.
8 Your Wilhelm
81 read, and read, and could not get
enough Then came the second, the
third, and so on, and at last held the
! last one in my hand which I had re
ceived yesterday, and could only read
hastily:
Ny Dear GreteI:-Many thanks
for your last letter You must not be
hurt because I have not answered it
before; it is not for want of will
only for want of time This borrid
service in this wretched weather, and
the stupid Polish recruits-yOu can't
imagine how hard it is to preserve
ones patience. I am heartily sick of
the whole thing, I went to see the Der
gems last evening, and, to tell you the
truth, I found it very dull. Hannah,
if is true, makes a nice little hostess,
but she has no eyes for any one but
her husband, and he sits there like
a pacha Of three tails, and speaks
golden words of wisdom. Gretel-I
tell you this beforehand-you will not
find in me a husband like that.
could not stand it very long; I should
have been stif1ed if I had been forced
to stay much longer in those low
rooms, and I hurried out in spite Of
snow and rain. I gave my fellow
a couple of sound boxes on the ear
because he had not made a fire. I was
sorry for it afterwards but what is
done cant be undOne-
8 In this dreadful weather I cannot
say when I shall get the Castle Bende-
leben again. Tomorrow you will be go
ing back to your fathers house; how
shall you like it there? Probably not
any too we'll. And how shall ] manage
about seeing you? cannot come to you
on account of that old dragon, Katha-
rine Forgive me, my dear, good
Gretchen, I do not want to offend you:
you must have patience with me;
will try to be different. I ought not to
have written today, bus had already
delayed so long. How is the Countess
Satewski? Here in G. half the garri-
son is in love with the young widow.
She is really wonderfully lovely; it is
not surprising that all of the officers
are in a state of excitement when she
appears here in the city. l was quite
an object of envy the other day, be-
cause I was permitted TO act as cicer-
one while she did her shopping; but
well, now goodbye, my dear girl;
write soon, entreat you; write me a
good, dear letter, straight from your
own true heart.
! Your Wilhelm
p. S.-Ruth tells me that my aunt 5
, sanctimonious favorite is your COM
panion every day at supper. That
seems very extraordinary to me, but
perhaps it is better that I should keep
my thoughts to myself
There was a feeling of irritation
I in these few lines. What a difference
between the first and the last letter!
1t was all the more apparent to me.
now that I compared the two. What
had vexed him, and what could have
happened to make him so unhappy?
was sure this secrecy was as unpleas-