Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-09
CHAPTER X.

My lie now was very happy
one. thought of no one except the
child; the child was my only care. 1t
did not occur to me that I could not
hope to keep it with me always;
carried it about the garden when the
sun shone. l guided it's first totter-
ing steps, and was bIissful when
could distinguish the first Papa"
from amidst the indistinct babblings,
as a reward for my repeated instruc-
tons; it was to be the child's greet
ing to Eberhardt, when he came to
see his baby.
80 passed days and weeks. l
heard nothing from the castle except
that the ladies were still lingering in
Switzerland Eberhardt had not
been here; only Friedel had come oC-
casionaIIy to ask about the child, and
to bring greeting.
'At last, on a sultry summer day,
as l was sitting with the child in the
shady arbor in our garden, arranging
bright pebbles on the table before
him, which he was untiringly throw
ing down with his little hands, Frau
Renner, who was keeping me com
pany with her knitting told me that
the two ladies had come back the
evening before, and that this morning
Frau Won Eberhardt had driven to
the city; probably she had a hearing
before the court on account Of the
divorce.
A naughty, frivolous woman, with
no idea of her duty she added, in a
tone Of Indignation, pointing to the
happy child. 1t is sin and a shame
i wish she might be punished for it.
I feel curious she continued. after
child, he or She?
"She?' | repeated. -~0od heavens!
is there any doubt? The child that
she has never taken the slightest in
terest in!'
Il pressed it anxiously to me, as if
they wanted to tear it from me now.
" Yes; it will be arranged accord
ing to circumstances said the little
Frau. IF he is the guilty one, she will
get it, and if it is the other, he will
have it; or no, I think, if they are
both to blame, the mother keeps it
till it has completed its fifth year,
and after that the father can claim it.
" My God!' I cried, seeing all man.
ner of horrible possibilities before me.
Then all at once I heard a light
step on the gravel, the rustic of
dress, and Frau Won Bendeleben
stood before the arbor, gazing with
astonished eyes at the child in my
lap.
Z rose in great anxiety and con-
fusion.
Sit still, Gretchen she said
calmly. seating herself in the chair
which Frau Renner had just vacated,
and whom I saw disappearing toward
the house.
For one moment there was silence
between US: a peculiar expression
rested on her lips and on the deli
cate pale face; she looked down at
the beautiful little boy in his white
dress, with the pale pink bows at his
shoulders, as, undiseurbed by the
visitor he continued TO play with
his pebbles, uttering all the while
those little incoherent sounds which
a mother understands, as well as if
the little creature had expressed it
self in the clearest speech.
" I heard last evening, when I ar
rived, she began at last, that you
had the kindness to take charge or
our grandchiId. We owe you many
thanks for your care but we viii not
burden you any longer. I will take
him home with me, with our best
thanks for your goodness
The child is no burden TO me-
said. though hardly able TO speak for
agitation. 1 am fond OF It. and
I can believe that, and, as I said,
it was very kind OF YOU reiterated