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

anywhere; but | am to go as often as
I like, and I am sure it will De very
interesting"
My husband laughed.
you little enthusiast, I am afraid
you will find it very dull over there.
What is there to make it Interestingly"
"She will gain confidence in me and
will tell me about her youth; I am
sure she will. She has"
"She has been young and she has
grown old and lonely and unsought,
that will be her story, like that of so
many old maids" interposed my hus-
band. What queer fancies women do
take into their heads! But now, if
you please, we will have our supper,
and then you can tell me how you
managed to scrape up an acquaintance
with your old lady"
And so, while he ate his supper
with the best appetite in the world,
told him about my walk to the church
yard, about finding the book, and
about the old grave which bore the
name Wilhelm Won Eberhardt
wilhelm Won Eberhardt?' asked
my husband. There was an Eber-
hardt in my corps; strange, his first
name was Wilhelm, too"
ooh, this man has been dead a long
time; almost forty years." l replied.
'You will see my old maid has had a
romance in her youth, and no doubt
Wilhelm Won Eberhardt was her
lover"
"Of course" said my husband teas
ingIy. For with you women there
must be love affair in everything;
it may have been a cousin of hers,
Or"
mo, no." 7 cried, zone does not
mourn so deeply for a cousin for so
many years. You will see yet that I
am right"
And I was right.
In avery few dapsI knocked again
at FrauIein Siegismund's door, was
warmly welcomed, and soon found
myself as comfortable as if I were al
home with my own grandmother-
and she knew how to make one conn
Portable The cOffee-urn was kissing
on the table, which was spread with
a snowy napkin, the oId-fashiOned
cups with the little feet stood beside
the antique sugar-bowI, a green light
came into the room through the ger
anium leaves, and I sat on the sofa
with my work beside my old maid,
while she herself did the honors in
her quaint old fashion with all the
etiquette Of an earlier age.
Il am quite out Of practice, my
title lady" she said, excusing herself.
1T is a long, long time since had
visitor, so you must make allow
ances,"
It gave me the greatest pleasure to
see the pretty old lady 50 busy with
her cups and saucers. I had never
seen such slender, delicate hands;
her figure still upright; her delicate,
oval face showed traces of former
great beauty; the great eyes had d
soft, dreamy express on, that kept me
gazing at themf her whole air and
manner gave me an impression of
gentleness and kindness of heart
that is seldom found united with such
a monotonoUs, jOyless existence.
Very soon l gained her entire conf
dence, and she took an. interest in all
my petty cares. never went to her
without getting some good advice, or
without having learned som .thing.
She helped me to knit stocking for
my husband, gave me old recipes for
my cookbook, and soon not a day
passed that I did not slip across to
her to carry her a bit OF some new
dish I had cooked myself, to lend her
a book, or, above all, to see her; and
l was always lovingly welcomed, and,
as my husband declared, utterly
spoiled.
So she had really become a friend
to me-she almost took the place of
my absent mother-and still had not
learned anything about her past. But
at length, I was with her once on
rainy November day in
her cosey room; the wind was howl
ing outside and dashing the rain
against the window, while in the room
it was so dark that I had to put down
my embroidery, for I could not see the
fine stitches. The old lady had been
quiet and silent; she
knitted industriousIy, and the click
of her needles was the only sound
that broke the stiffness Then she let
her hands fall on her lap, and sighed.
us anything the matter, dear Frau
Iein?'' I asked.
ooh, no." she replied, "but l feel
sad today. There are days on which
a chance word brings back to the
memory a long time past; I heard
such one this morning, and it made
me sad. And now it occurs to me,
you have given me your friendship
and your confidence without knowing
the smallest thing about me or my
life. That is rare and noble; and
now, if YOU care to listen. l will tell
you how it happens that I am 50 alone
in the world 1t is a long, long time
since I have spoken Of it; there IS
only one person living who knew me
in my youth; but you shall know,
since you make my old days so
bright"
She caught my hand and pressed it
-ioI+ GLOW old orp voTI nv dear