El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-09

tess lrma, who is fiatrered but away
down in her heart she Is offended, and
she writes her friend that she feels
herself altogether alone in the world.
Soon after this the king goes on a
hunting trip and he asks the queen
70 have the countess write to him
about the baby prince, The queen
begins TO be suspicious OF her hus-
band and the scandal concerning the
relations Of the king and Irma n
creases-
In the midst OF the turmoil. the
countess is called home 70 her father,
but he and she did not understand
each other, and When-after a while
letter signed by the king and the
ladies' OF the court requests thar she
return 10 them, Irma after some hest
tarion complies, and one day near a
( tess was the model. the king clasps
her IN his arms and imprints the
KISS OF eternity upon her lips. Later
az BAH he tells her that she is
( beautiful and that he loves her, and
she consoles herself with the thought
{ that the priest gave him to the
queen but nature gave him 20 her"
At an opportune moment her
brother Bruno tells Irma that her
actions are the talk OF the town and
the best way out OF the matter is for
her 10 get married. Colonel Won
Bronnen, a noble courtier, proposes
TO her but IS rejected. and the coun-
tess begins to realize thai: 1T is hell
to be conscious OF guilt, and yet re-
ture"
In the meantime, Walpurga com
pletes her term OF service, and before
leaving for home calls upon Irma,
VINO gives her bag OF gold won
at the gaming table the night before.
In the little village IN the High
lands, every one al first patronized
Walpurga and Hansai but receiving
no fGTors at their hands. the people
show that human nature Is the same
there IS at court, for they circulate
All sorts OF scandalous tales concern
ing them but when the happy couple
purchase an extensive 'freehold' the
good wishes Of all their old friends
90 with them to their new abode. At
this 5uncture, some one at court
writes to Irma's father, informing
him that she IS "the kings mistress"
and at the news he Is fatally stricken,
but before he passes away he presses
his hand to his daughters brow and
she interprets the act as setting there
the mark OF Cain and wears a band
age over It forever after.
Irma IS now IN a terrible state OF
mind and when the. king writes to
ler- alone can kiss away the
shadows that cloud your brow" Il only
increases her desperation and she re-
solves upon suicide.
She writes thus to the queen: y
eEpiate my crime IN death" And to
the king; We are treading the wrong
path You belong not to yourself
alone. but TO your people. Death is
my e1piation for sin Life must be
yours God knows we did not mean
to do wrong"
On the way 70 end her life, the
countess meets a pitiable woman who
had been ruined by her brother Bruno.
Lhis woman browns herself In the
lake and Irma stumbles on, bruised
and beWildereds and IS found by Wal
purga and Hansai on their journey
70 their newly purchased freehold.
Concealing her Identity from all but
Walpurga, she accompanies the party
TO their mountain home.
Report Of the countess death soon
spreads abroad and search Is made
for her body, but no trace Of L Is
found, yet tablet is erected by the
lake bearing this Inscription. Here :
persisted Irma, countess OF WiIdenort, I
IN the twenty-first year Of her life.
traveller, pray for and honor her I
Back at court. the king upon re-
ceiving Irma's letter is deeply re- ]
pentant and saddened by the rsflec- Q
tlon that there is no greatness with I
out morality" He goes TO the queens I
rOom 70 ask her forgiveness. but she I
Is 1ul OF bitterness and feigns 70 be /
asleep and later she vents her spite /
ana Vituperation upon him.
The king thinks that DR.. Gunther IS I
responsible for this, and the physi- 4
clan Is discharged and goes back 70 4
live In his old home in the Highlands. /
For three years Irma lives with /
Walpurgas supposedly dead, but really 4
eIpiating her sins and so growing I
IN sweetness and purity. that all who /
enter her presence look upon her as .
an angel and are lifted and inspired.
At length on day when the king 4
and queen and the court are at a 4
nearby village. Irma fatally III, sends /
for Dr. Gunther, who hastens to her
side and placing his hand upon her 1
Lorenead pronounces this benediction. I
In your fathers name I bless you .
and with this kiss I kiss away your
burdens You are free
Walpurga hastens to the queen who !
IS now stricken with self-condemna- !
tion FOR her hateful spirit and her
unjust pride in her own virtue She .
realizes that Irma's penauce is one I
through which she herself ought 10 7
pass and when she reaches the shep- T
herds hut there IS mutual forgive
ness
Te king has been hunting in the
vicinity. Since receiving Irma's letter /
he has lived 2 manly life. and IN /
penitence has sought to promote the 1
welfare Of all his people. Word is !
conveyed TO him OF what IS taking +
place, and he rides with all haste. 3
but arrives on the scene only 70 find I
that the countess has passed away I
but his heart leaps with joy when the .
queen turns 70 him with the cry: /
Forgive me. Kurt. You have ex-i
plated 1ou-alone. She-aloue" Her
majesty takes out an amulet which I
she has worn next 10 her heart. It /
IS the betrothal ring the king had /
given her and he puts It again upon
her finger and clasps her in HIS arms +
The countess was laid at rest at .
early dawn Down in the valley the .
King and queen were reading her .
journal They gazed at the rosy 4
dawn and lifted their eyes 70 the !