Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-07-29

asleep. The child's head, too, was rest
ing on my shoulder. / softly laid the
little sleeper down on the sofa, and
turned the lamp so his face was shaded
then l pressed my hands on my heart,
and tried to still the strong feeling
of dread that had come over me so
suddenly. l took Eberhardt's letter
which Friedel had brought me IN the
morning out of my pocket, and read
every word of it through again. Out
side, the wind howled and whistled,
and my restlessness grew greater
every minute.
Il am not superstitious, but at this
moment l had a presentiment that a
frightful misfortune was hanging over
me. l no longer recall all l did on
that evening to overcome my rest
lessness. Later, after tea, when Kath-
arine and the little boy were asleep,
l tried to read, in order to divert my
thoughts, but in vain; they wandered
constantly. 1t was as still as death in
the little room, and yet listened with
all my ears; but to something far
away. thought of him, and wondered
whether his thoughts were fixed on
me anxiously. Outside, the storm
ragged more furiously than ever. l lay
in my bed and listened to the howl
ing and sobbing of the wind, and to
the even breathing of the child beside
me, wide awake as l was, and tor
mented by anxiety.
AT last, toward morning l slept
for a short time All, how often since
have l wished that might never have
walked again! I was reused by loud
and violent knocking. started up in
bed and listened with a beating heart,
wondering if l were dreaming-but
no; there it was again; louder and
and more distinct fell the knocker of
the outer door on its brass plate at
the same time the cry, Marie!
Marie!' came to my ear. In an instant
was in my dressing gown; l hurried
out with lamp and opened the door.
A cold gust of wind rushed in and put
out the light saw only one figure
enter. Who it was, could not recog-
nize in the darkness. The question
died on my lips, for just then Marie
came down the stairs with her lamp,
and the Pickering and uncertain light
fell on FriedeIs distressed face. One
glance at him told me that something
dreadful had happened. He was with
out cap, his hair hung roughly about
his face, his eyes Wandered anxious
l. tn from
to me- He tried to speak and could
not, and l stared at him, my deadly
fear preventing me from uttering a
word.
Good heavens!' shrieked Marie.
'Friedel! What has happened"
" The Herr Lieutenant he gasped
out at length after a pause, during
which l could plainly hear the beating
of nv heart. The Herr Lieutenant
he cried again, and flung himself down
at my feet; he is dead! Last evening!
Oh. merciful God, forgive me my sins,
but l wish it might be me! Oh, Frau
lein, what misery! what misery! and
the man broke out into loud crying,
while l put my hand TO my forehead
and felt as if l was in dream-as if
! in dream I heard the girls Mortified
cry, the sobbing of the man at my
feet. In my ears it went on sounding,
Dead! Last EVENING" My heart all at
once stood still, as if it had ceased to
beat.
"Then 1 laughed aloud; it was so
absurd what they were saying. Will
helm dead! My Wilhelm! 1t was sim
ply impossible. How could he die, he
so full of life and health? how could
he lie there cold and stiff, of whom |
had thought that day, and night with
all the glow of love and longing? Are
you mad?' 1 cried angrily, thrusting
Friedel away, as he still clung to my
dress. Then l went into the bedroom,
felt for Katharine's bed, and cried:
Katharine! wake up and tell the
man that it is not true! tell him that
Wilhelm is not dead! No, it cannot
be, it is impossible!'
81 still remember these words dis
tinctIy, and the calmness and GER
tainty with which / uttered them.
was entirely in the possession OF my
senses. although they often told me
afterward that they had feared for
my mind at this moment.
mo, l was quite myself, but 1 did
not think such a cruel thing was
possible. l could not realize that L
had lost the dearest object on earth,
that l was hurled suddenly from the
very pinnacle of happiness into the
deepest misery.
Gas l learned afterward, the girl
had awakened Frau Ranner with the
cry: oh, do come; the Herr Leuten-
ant is dead, and the Frauiein has gone
mad!' l was still sitting by the bed,
where Katharine, who was dreadfully
shocked, was holding ray hands in her
own cold trembling ones-about me
the darkness of the frosty November
morning-when 1 perceived light
in the parlor and heard voices. The