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

back.
Good bye, Johann I said; then
I shall not come back again turned
away, slowly and went down the
broad staircase. Through the open
door Of tbs hall could see the travel
ling carriage in the courtyard. 1t was
being washed, and Liesel stood by
gossiping with the c0achman.
heard her say: But this time am
going, too and that VIII be funi
1.-THE tears streamed from my eyes
as | walked through the old park; |
felt almost as if had lost my father
a second time. It grieved me so much
that the people would not see me,
they whom I had loved so dearly.
was forced to leave the house which
had been my home for SO long, as if
l had committed a crime. How much
bitterness life seemed to have in
store for me! had built all my hopes
on the baron, but, to be sure, 1t was
his own daughter who accused me,
and no doubt it was a crime that |,
who was so much lower in position,
should have. dared to lift my eyes to
the nephew of an old noble house.
"And now what remained for me?
One poor, infirm old woman was all
the protection l had in the world.
seated myself on my parents grave
and hid my face In the green ivy
how could it be possible that any
more trouble should come to me!
Again I wrote to the baron, beg
ging for a short interview
" Tt is better he wrote in short
note, that we should not meet now,
till the first bitterness Of this affair
has died out I have much to bear
now, and my grief is scarcely greater
for my unhappy daughter than for
you, for whom l have always had an
especial affection. Now l will only
mention that my wife has gone. to
Switzerland with Ruth and that we
have parted from Eberhardt in bit
ter anger
Good heavens! is it possible that
parents can be so blinded" I STAN
mered, as | hastily read the few lines.
1 gave up the idea of defending my
self; no one would have believed me.
Katharine looked greatly dis
tressed.
DO you know. Gretchen she be-
gan that same evening, I should be
very glad if you would just listen to
me- quietly for once. You see, am so
old now; the day will soon come
when l shall be lying cod and stiff,
and you must bury me out of sight.
80 I beg Of, you, for my sake,
If the people opposite should offer
you a home, not to refuse it. You
are much too young to live alone, and
your father has left enough to keep
you from earning your living among
strangers. l don't mean that you
should marry the pastor, that will
settle itself; we will leave that to /
God. No, only go and live with Frau
Renner; promise me that, and l shall
feel easier
Don't fret, Katharine I en-
treated, kneeling down before her.
You will stay with me a long time |
yet. Don't think about dying, I Jeg Of
you, and l will promise you to do |
whatever you wish
and leaned back in her chair.
d" Then that is all right my dear |
child, and l can rest easy
"I sat down again by the window .
and looked out into the sunset Sky. /
Beside me stood a beautiful bunch of |
snOwdrOps. They reminded me of /
that evening when l waited for Eber- |
hardt with an anxious heart, and |
when Bergen had come instead and |
told me that he loved me no longer. |
How much l had lost since then! But !
what was this? There stood a tall |
figure in the open door I could not |
see who it was, but [ could feel it, |
my heart beat SO quickly, and I could .
not get up from my chair.
Margaret, he said in low
tone, may l come IN VIII you !
turn me from your threshold when I |
came to ask so great a favor?'
" Wilhelm I said gently, come
in.
We stood face to face =.
81 1t was dark in the room, and I
could not see his face. but 7 felt hot
tears on my hands as he pressed
them to his lips; and in low voice
he pleaded:
Forgive met
Everything. Wilhelm, every
thing, I wish l could have seen you
happier
" Gretchen, l will not relate to you
soday the whole story Of my guilt
4e said, still holding my hanl Is in
his. I have been more wretchei than
you can have any idea of. I will not
spare myself; will expiate my fault
at your feet by and by; now I cannot;
it is not yet time for that; only one
thing l have come to ask you now;
viii you take my child?'
" Your child.' I cried. oh, bring it
to ME, Wilhelm. I entreat you,'
1t is outside in the carriage he
said, and went out at once
With trembling hands I lighted the
lamp, and he came in; a charming
chi,ds face looked sleepily out of a
mass of shawls and cloaks, and all al
once the rosy lips smiled, and two
little arms were held out longinglv TO
me. With a cry of Joy took the child T,
in my arms; half laughing, half cry
ing, l kissed the dark eyes and the /
little fellow laughed and crowed and |
clutched at my hair with his tiny
hands
Then I shall know that it is /
well cared for said Eberhardt, his /
eyes shining with moisture. I must I