Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-30

Gus duties of hostess; she had beg
ged me to do so, as, in her opinion,
Hannah would be of no use. And she
was right; Hannah did not leave Der
gems arm for a moment, and the task
of conducting the young ladies to the
next room, of telling them that there
would be dancing, and Of listening to
the polite speeches of the elder and
younger gentlemen, fell TO me.
cat supper, happily, my seat was
next to Eberhardts, though, to be sure
| Pastor Renner, who looked decidedly
out of place in this merry throng,
sat on the other side. No smile played
round his firm, yet delicate mouth,
even at the wittiest remark, and he
seemed far from comfortable III his
place, for which he had to thank
Frau Won Bendeleben.
The supper lasted a long time;
| the guests grew more and more ami
mated, and at last the fun grew fast
| and furious Toasts were proposed
and healths drunk! an old nobleman,
who loved youth and wit, knocked on
| his glass and gave: 'Vive la jOien
'Hoch! Vive Ia joie!' came from
every lip, and JOY cast her intoXicat-
! ing charms about old and young; she
! perched as a sunny memory on the
brows of the old, and shone out of the
eyes of the young; she whispered her
! MOI, r n,,f,,I yrCbIoT,C IN tho 0orC Of
pretty girls and stately men, she
! dubbed in the champagne, and with
a soft hand she brushed away all dark
! thoughts from the heart. 'Vive Ia
! joie!' and now for the dance.
who does not love to dance at
eighteen? The clergyman's grave
eyes were fixed on me as / expressed
my delight so eagerly. But what did
care; I would even dance with him.
I'VE were just going to the ball
room; the old Gotthards, who went
about from place to place, playing
! dance-music, were already tuning
! their harps, and lame Werner, their
| constant companion, was rubbing up
his bow. when it occurred to me that
| l had left my fan up in the turret-
room, and I must go and get it; so I
/ took up a light shawl, ran upstairs,
and found it in the dark, and, hum
ming tune, | ran down the brilliant
| ly lighted staircase. My cheeks were
! glowing with excitement and pleasure
! and l was hurrying through the hall,
when I heard thu first notes of the
music striking up-oh, what a beauti-
full thing was life! Just then l
thought I heard a carriage roll up to
the door and stop; I stood still in
amazement. Who could be coming al
this late hour?
Il thought l must have been mis-
! taken. I could see no servant any
where; they were all busy in the
rooms. I was just going in when the
/ heavy Oaken door flew open; the wind
/ blew in a wild gust, so that the hang,
! ing lamp in the hall swayed to and
fro in its chain, and woman's figure,
! in deep black entered the hall The
wind lifted the veil from her face, a
pair of large dark eyes looked at me.
/ l was seized with a nameless fear, and
with a cry of Ruth! I stood motion
! less, staring at her.
| II was sure this was an apparition
/ that had appeared before me, and was
incapable of single clear thought,
when the door banged to with a
creak and a groan. She staggered up
/ to me, her lips moved as if she would
/ speak, her eyes wandered aDoIt the
/ hall, and the lamp cast an uncertain
light on her pale face Then she
caught me by the arm.
My mother! where Is my mother?'
! II rushed away like one pursued /:
trembling and pale as death, | stood
suddenly in the ballroom; it seemed
to me that l had lost the power of
/ speech. I tried to utter something,
but no words would come. I could
only point to the hall with my hand,
and then I gasped out, to Frau Won
/ Bendeleben. who came up to me anx-
| iously: Ruth is out there in the hall,
II must have looked like an insane
| person, for the music stopped, and the
/ excited attention of the company was
/ concentrated upon me, while I trem-
bling in every limb, tried in vain to
/ control my agitation.
Suddenly the wide door opening in
to the corridor flew open, and Ruth ap-
| peared on the threshold. I can see her
before me now, looking strangely
beautiful as she sought her mother
with her wide, vacant eyes. A long
black mourning dress shrouded her
delicate figure, her dark hair was put
back under a widows cap, from which
hung a long, black-creDe veil. There
was not a sign of life in her wonder,
/ fully beautiful face.
'Mothert' she cried, in a faint
voice, MOTHER
For one moment every one stood
still; then her mother rotsed herseu
and took her daughter in her arms
with a cry Of
Ruth! Merciful heaven, what has
/ haDpened?'
d" He is dead, mother!' she said, in
a low tone, laying her head ON heI
mothers shoulder.
4 can hardly describe this scene
It all seems like a dream to me. The
guests withdrew into TIE next room,
the baron stood like one stunned, and
Hannah had seized her sisters hand.
Ruth, dearest Ruth, speak to me;
don't be so rigid; oh, put her on the
sofa; do help her, Henry, father! 0
Godi what can have happened?'