The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-07-07

There appeared at the craIR or the
door the wrinkled visage of the old
serving woman, Threlka. l knew that
she would be there in precisely this
way, because there was every reason
in the world why it should not nave
been. She paused. scanning me close
", then quickly opened the door and
allowed me to step inside, vanishing
as was her wont. l heard another
step in the half-hidden hallway be.
yond, but this. was not the step which
awaited; it was that of man, slow,
feeble, hesitating. | started forward
as a face appeared at the parted cur
tains. A glad cry welcomed me in
turn. A tall, bent form approached
me, and an arm was thrown about my
shoulder. 1t was my whilom friend,
our ancient scientist, Van Rittenhofen!
I did not pause to ask how he hap
pened to be there 1t was quite natur-
al, since it was wholly impossible. l
made no wonder at the Chinese dog
Chow. or the little Indian maid, who
both came, stared, and silently van
ished. Seeing these, l knew that their
strange protector must also have won
through safe.
Zach Gott! Gesegneter Gott! l see
you again, my friend!" Thus the old
doctor.
But tell me-" interrupted, where
is the mistress of this house, the
Baroness Won Rftz?"
He looked at me in his mild way.
"You mean my daughter Helena?"
Now at last | smiled His daughter!
This at least was too incredible. He
turned and reached behind him to a
little table He held up before my
eyes my little blanket clasp of she'll.
Then l knew that this last and most
impossible thing also was true, and
that in some way these two had found
each other! But why? What could
he now mean?
Listen now," he began, "and | shall
tell you / wass in the street one day
When l walk alone, do not much no
tice. But now, as l walk, before my
eyes on the street, see what? This
nothing but it. Then I look up. Be-
fore me iss woman, young and beau
tiful. Ach! what should l co. but take
her in my arms!"
1T was she; it was
my daughter! Yess, my daughter.
1t iss Helena! l haf not seen her for
many years, long, cruel years. l sup
pose her dead But now there we
were, standing, looking in each 9TH
er's eyes! We see there Ach, Gott!
what do we not see?. Yet in spite of
all, it wass Helena! But she shall
tell you" He tottered from the room.
l heard his footsteps pass down the
hall. Then softly, almost silently, HeL
ena Won Ritz again stood before me.
The light from a side window fell
upon her face Yes, it was she! Her
face was thinner now, browner even
than was it's wont. Her hair was still
family sunburned at it's extremities by
the western winds. Yet hers was still
tmperishable youth and beauty.
! held out my hands to her. "Ah, "
/ cried, you played me false! You
ran away! By what miracle did you
come through? | confess my defeat.
You beat me by almost half a year.
''But now you have come" said she
simply.
"Yes, to remind you that you have
friends. You have been here in secret
all the winter. Mr.. Calhoun did not
know you had come. Why did you
not go to him."
Il was waiting for you to come. Do
you not remember our bargain? Each
day l expected you. In some way, I
scarce knew how, the weeks wore on. I"
"And now l find you both here
you and your father-where 1 would
expect to find neither. Continually
you violate all law of likelihood. But
now, you have seen Elizabeth"
"Yes, 1 have seen her." she said,
still simply.
l could think of no word suited to
that moment l stood only looking at
her. She would have spoken, but on