Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-30

chair with trembling hands, with her
/ pale lips uttered a shocked exclama-
ton: 'Merciful Godr
Here is the little child I said; I
must give it up 10 you now, for 1t no
longer has a father,'
1 came a step nearer, and was
+ about to put the child in her arms !;
but 1t chung round my neck with both
arms, and looked defiantly at the pale
woman who stood there, unfeignedly
shocked.
Gretchen she said huskily, what
are you saying? Who no longer has a
father?'
Wilhelm Won Eberhardt is dead,
replied; but had to support myself
with my hand on the table, and l
could hardly hold the child.
Frau Won Bendeleben sank back in
her chair. A long pause ensued; then
l set the child on her lap, and said:
BE good with the lady, she loves you.
Then passed my hand again over
the dark curly head and turned to 60
but l staggered as | went. What l eX.
perienced at that moment was the
/ hardest of all; no one can judge of it
| but me.
! When l shut the door behind me,
I heard cry: 'Gretchen!' and imme'
, diately after, the violent crying Of the
| child.
at seemed to drag me back with a
powerful force. I struggled hard for a
] moment with my inclinations, and
then tore myself away and went 10
the baron's room. He hao a letter in
! his hand, and his face was hidden in a
i handkerchief. When he saw me he
| came up to me, and casting a glance
at my distressed face, he said gently:
| I know it already, my child. Have
you anything to ask of me?'
Only to see him once more, l en-
= treated; only once more
He was very near to you at the
| last, Margaret?' he asked.
E" He was my betrothed,' l replied
! in low tone.
THE baron started, and then he
said:
You can go win me; l have al,
ready ordered the carriage. Wait one
moment; only want to tell my wife
the sad news
She knows it already remarked.
Knows it already? Through
whom?'
Through me. I brought her the
child
The last words sounded like a cry
of anguish, and I pressed my hand to
, my heart. The baron drew his hand
caressingIy over my hair, and tear
, ran slowly down his cheek as ne muir.
, INJURED:
Poor, poor child!'
"a short time AFTER we were rolling
! rapidly along the road to G.. They
had put a cloak and fur robes in the
! carriage for me: but was not cold
| in spite of the icy Army grief made
me quite insensible to everything. We
drove up to the stately house in which
| Wilhelm had lived with Ruth, and
where he had remained afterward
| Friedel opened the door for US; his
! eyes were red and swollen, and when
| he looked at me the tears began to
! flow again. He accompanied Us up
stairs and took us into Wilhelm's
room. The baron asked where the
body was; Friedel pointed to door
and whispered. in there
Stay here, Gretchen said the
baron, I will go in first He went
accompanied by the servant.
81 looked about the room; every
thing lay just as he had left it yester,
day, strong and well-to be brought
home dead. The great clock was tick
ing under the glass; On the table hay
gloves, books, and newspapers; the
chair before the writing-table was
pushed aside, as if he had just risen
from it to give Friedel a letter for me.
took the pen from the inkstand
which his hand had touched only yes.
terday. All, could it really be? Had he
gone from me forever? A sensation
of Intolerable pain sprang up in my
tortured heart. What had l done that
God should punish me so fearfully?
Why must I live in such torture? Why
was l not lying in there beside him,
cold and stiff?
To be continued.