Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-08-06

so still.
t'Ah, I wish for one thing more.
which cannot be granted. would like
to lie beside Eberhardt in the quiet
church-yard but it is impossible.
And now forgive me for dragging
out my story so endlessly, for going
SO thoroughly into detail. lost myself
again in old memories; l hope you
have not found them tedious.
Farewell. I hope that the mild air
of italy may give your mother health
and strength. Don't stay away too
long, and sometimes think Of your
lonely old friend.
May God bless you! Hoping we
may meet again, am, with warmest
love,
your friend,
Margaret SiegismInd."
CONCLUSION.
never saw her again, my old
friend whose touching story is con-
tanned in these pages. My sOjourn in
Italy lasted the whole winter. My
husband brought me greetings and a
>
the last that l ever received from her.
1 got no reply to my repeated letters,
and then in March there came a few
lines in a strange hand, which had
evidently trembled in the writing.
They announced to me that my good
old friend had exchanged this imper-
feet life for a better one; that she
thought of me affectionately, and had
charged the writer with these lines
to give me her last greetings and her
Lnanks for the many cheerful hours
which she had enjoyed through me in
the quiet evening of her life. She was
lying in the church-yard at Weltzen-
d0rf, he added, beside her parents and
Katharine The letter was signed
Frederick Renner, pastor of Welt
zendorf, March 26. 1875"
My tears fell on the trembling hand
writing, and my sorrow was deep and
sincere. l had been so fond of her
the lovely old lady who had had SO
much sorrow in her life. May Gods
peace be with her!
1t was spring when We returned to
our home, and what a spring! The
whole atmosphere was filed with the
fragrance of flowers, the shrubs and
trees were clothed in vivid green, and
the ramparts Of the fortress looked
quite blue with all the Iilacs that were
blooming there. Opposite US, in the
apartment where the dear old face
used to look at US, stood a young girl
with long golden braids, polishing up
the window panes, and, undisturbed
by the passers-by, sang out in the
warm air; open wide all your doors
let the sweet springttme in"
Other people were already living
there. No spot on earth remains va
cant, and when one goes out of this
life, his place is promptly filled up.
This sight hurts me, graceful as the
picture was, and I shed many tears
before I could get accustomed to no
longer seeing the friendly old face
there.
During these lovely spring days, in
the gay circle Of our friends, an eX-
cursion into the country was planned;
various pretty points in the neighbor-
hood were discussed, at last, some one
proposed Weltzendorf, and to my great
joy the proposal met with favor. On
bright, sunny day in May, We rolled
along to our destination, under the
blOssoming fruit trees. l 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 I intended to
lay On her grave.
It was with a feeling OF excitement
that I saw the gray walls of the state
Iy castle rise out Of the light green Of
the Iindens 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 gaIlantly 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 we're 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.
I alone was distracted; I could not
help thinking of her who had once
lived here, and when | looked at the
splendid group of trees, 1t seemed to
me as if a slender, g1rlish figure in 4
pale-blue dress, with dark braids
about her head, must appear before
me, or as # 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
chung so sauciIy to the tower, she had
stood, with the first uncomprenended
longings of 1--we 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 III
sensible on that wild, stormy night,
when her heart nearly broke over MS
faithlessness.