Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-08-05
al met with favor. On a

bright, SUP day in May, we rolled
along TO ~ destination, under the
poisoning fruit trees. was quiet in
comparison With the other guests, for
was thinking that I should see the
place where my old friend had lived
and loved, and where she now had
found her last resting place. In the
bottom of the carriage lay a cross of
spring blossoms which intended to
lay On her grave.
1t was with a feeling Of excitement
that I saw the gray walls of the state
ly castle rise out of the light green of
the lindens and chestnuts; the large
village lay almost buried in its bios
soming trees, and the little church
tower rose straight above it into the
blue sky, like a shepherd watching
over his flock.
We drove into the village, got out at
the inn, and a neat little maid showed
us the way to the park, which the
present owner (probably one of the
youthful bowmen) had gallantly put
at our disposal. On the lawn were
placed tables and benches, and, amidst
gay talk and laughter, the usual coffee
with mountains of cake were con-
sumed. The regimental band played
their gayest tunes, to the great de-
light of the inhabitants of the village,
who had assembled in great numbers
on the further side of the little river,
which here formed the natural bound
airy of the park.
l alone was distracted; / could not
help thinking Of her who had once
lived here, and when I looked at the
splendid group of trees, it seemed to
me as if a slender, girlish figure in a
pale-blue dress, with dark braids
about her head, must appear before
me, or as if a couple of riders with
shining eyes, and an expression of JOY
on their rosy faces, must come gal
Looping down the avenue, with the slen-
der figures of Eberhardt and Bergen
There, on the little balcony that
clung so saucily to the tower, she had
stood, with the first uncomprenended
longings of love in her heart, and
looked up at the stars; here, at this
place, she had perhaps read her first
letter. and it was on that little
bridge where she had fallen down in
sensible on that wild, stormy night,
when her heart nearly broke over his
faithlessness.
Toward evening 1 crept quietly
away, out of the throng of dancers,
got the cross out of the carriage, and
looked about for little maid to ac-
company me to the church yard.
Gathering my light summer dress up
out of the dust, walked along behind
the little faxen-haired maid.
THAT is the parsonage" said the
child, after a while, pointing to
rather neat house, whose windows
were nearly overgrown with Virginia
creeper. The old linden was still
standing in the fruit garden, and
shaded a bench on which a girl of
about twelve sat, reading intentIy as
if she were learning something by
heart.
l stopped. When the child perceived
me, she got up quietly, made an en-
barrassed courtesy, and, flushing
deeply, ran up quietly with her book
into the open house-door. / turned
then to the opposite house, which
must have been her home; this, too,
lay deep in the shadow of two lindens,
which stood on either side of the old
sandstone steps: the windows were
wide open, and let in the mild spring
air. In one of these an old man, with
snow-white hair, was sitting in an
armchair, looking intently at me. He
got up and came to the door. went
across and stood before him, taking
his black cap off his head, he said
pleasantly:
Il am sure you must be the young
friend of Fraulein Siegismund. have
long been expecting you, and l will
gladly go with you to the churchyard."