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

foolish,-words failed me to describe
this scene. Only to wear black robes
Of necessity, before ot1er people;
when she was alone, then they were
flung aside, and as no one was here
to admire her beauty, she decked her
self for herself alone, and intoxicated
herself with her own charms.
Vain creature!' I murmured to
myself. And shall l fear her? NO;
he has too deep a nature to ever love
this doll, this coquette.' At that time
I did not know that nothing attracts
a man so much as coquetry, and that a
beautiful, frivolous woman is the most
dangerous antagonist possible for d
simple, inexperienced girl.
81 fed away from the castle like
one pursued, and FASTENED toward my
home Katharine's deep-sunken eyes
looked at me with a touching express
sion of affection; the old bony hand
feebly grasped mine. Good child she
whispered and then closed her eyes
again Little Frau Renner rose from
her seat and beckoned me to follow
her into the sitting room. The doctor
has been here she said, gently. MY
dear, I am sorry to have to say this
to you, but cannot help it. He says
Katharine will never be strong again;
that by and by she can sit up in
comfortable chair, but her working
days are over. So you will have to get
a maid who is young and active; and
you would do me a favor if you would
take my Marie, who can work very
well, while I get Younger one. It
will be hard for you to teach a girl,
with all ne nursing the old woman
still requires, and I like nothing bet
ter than to instruct a new maid.
I can send her to you very soon, for
you must have the house in order
when your father comes; things are
in an awful state upstairs in the
study
You dear, kind Frau Renner,' l
said, greatly touched. Z cannot con
sent to that; indeed, I cannot; the
girl suits you
You wilI'be doing me a favor,
child; she hasn't naIf work enough
for her energies in my house; don't
say another word; she will come to
you the day after tomorrow. There,
there, my child; you mustn't kiss my
old hands
''LieseIs entrance put an end to this
scene. Little Frau Renner ripped
across the street, and I took my place
by the sick bed, leaned my head on
my hand, and sat lost in thought,
while LieseI silently cleared up the
room.
My thoughts went round and round
in a perfect circle about Ruth and
Eberhardt. If I closed my eyes, the
scarlet silk Of her dress appeared be-
fore me, I saw her lovely face bend
before the glass, and heard the words:
oh, this everlasting farrell If ! could
only speak to Eberhardt for once, and
ask him what made him so gloomy;
could only warn him against this
lovely, false woman!
But l hoped in vain; days passed,
and still Anne Marie brought me no
letter. My Impotence and my fears in
creased hourly. Liesel, TOO, came no
more; I had Frau Renner's maid now,
so I heard nothing from her. The
baron had stopped at the window a
few times to inquire how matters
stood, and he had urgently invited me
to visit them; he was longing for my
COmpaniOnship. I excused myself by
saying I could not leave Katharine
alone; and so far l had found it i'm
possible to get up to the castle.
" Work I said at length; work is
the only thing that will help me-
had my fathers study cleared out and
scrubbed I busted off the numberless
old books and set myself to work one
day to put them back in their places.
It was a difficult task to get them
sorted out. The German books were
all very Wieland and kIop
stock 'ArchenhoIz's Annals and the
Seven Years War; then the archaeo-
logical works were soon arranged;
but the Greek and Latin books? I was
standing there uncertain, holding one
of these incOmprehensible books,
bound in pig-skin, III my hand. when
the door opened and Pastor Renner
walked in.
q came to offer my assistance he
said, looking at me kindly. My mother
heard that you were arranging the
bO01-r orl Govt mn o-vo- Ola 49,, ~
men like order in such things above
everything, and, as I see, you are
there without knowing what
to do He took the book out of my
hand That is Ovid's Metamorpho-
ses.' the fine edition of EIzevir-that
was here, I think Please give me all
the books in that binding-that is
right
q mechanically gave him one after
another 'Ovid-here. Virgil-here;
we shall soon have it done. He quickly
arranged the books I gave him. I soon
recovered from the embarrassment OF
his presence, his manner was so calm
and kind. An hour passed without q
word being spoken, except what was
necessary to our work. Now, however,
it was finished, and 7 thanked him
with friendly words
HE looked at me with a smile.
can hardly believe that you are the
same young lady whom I once saw
come in here with a hat and rL3h-z
whip and frowsy hair I looked down
quite disconnected. I had on a large.