Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1921-11-11
ladies OF the court requests that she
return to ffenf. frfna 4fterr some hesi1
tation eenpiiesH ana ~s4ssS day~uear a.

tess was The model, the king clasps
her in his arms and imprints the
kiss Of eternity" upon her lips. Later
at ball he tells her that she Is
beautiful and that. he loves her, and
she consoles herself with the, thought
that 1.-THE priest gave him, to the
queen but nature gave him to her."
At an opportune moment her broth
er Bruno tells Irma that her actions
are the talk of the town and the best
way sout Of the matter Is for her to
get married. Colonel Won Bronnen, a
noble courtier, proposes to her but IS
rejected, and the countess begins to
realize that: at Is 'he1f to be con-
scious of guilt and yet remain beside,
a pure and happy creature. ~ 49,. ss,.
In the meantime. Walpurga. com,
pletes her term of service and before
leaving for home calls upon Irina. who
gives her bag of gold won at the
gaming table the night before. ~ q
In the. little. village In the High
lands, every one. at first ,patronized.
Walpurga and Hansai, but receiving
no fayors at their hands, the people
show that human nature Is the same
there as 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
60 with them to their new abode. At
this juncture, some oneNa 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 inter-
prets the act as setting there the mark
OF Cain and wears a bandage over 1t
forever after.
Irma is now In terrible state of
mind and when the king writes to her:
81 alone can kiss away the, shadows
that, cloud your brow. its.0nly i'm
creases her desperation and she re-
solves upon suicide.
She writes thus to the queen: II
expiate my crime In death" And to
the king: 1--WE are treading the wrong
path. You belong not tor yourself alone,
but to your, people. Death is my ex-
piation for sin. Life must be yours.
God knows we did not mean to do
wrong"
On the way to end her life, the
countess meets a pitiable woman who
had been ruined by her brother, Bru-
no. This woman browns herself in
the lake and Irma stumbles on. bruised
and bewildered. and is found by Wal
purga and Hansai on their journey to
their newly purchased freehold. Con-
cealing her identity from all but Wal
purga, 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 1t Is
found, yet a tablet is erected by the
lake bearing this inscription: "Here
persisted Irma. Countess Of Wildenort,
IN the twenty-first year of her life.
Traveller, pray for and homer her men,
ory."
Back at court, the king upon re-
ceiving Irrna's letter is deeply repent
ant and saddened by the reflection
that there is no greatness without.
morality" He goes to. the. queens.
room to ask her forgiveness, but she
is full Of bitterness and feigns to be
asleep and later she vents her spite
and vituperation upon him.
, The king thinks that DR.. Gunther Is
responsible fer this, and the physician
is discharged and goes back to live In
his old home in the Highlands.
;. For three years Irma lives with Wal
purga, supposedly dead, but really ex-
plating her sins and so growing In
sweetness and purity, that all who en-
ter her presence look upon her as an
angel and are lifted and inspired.
At length on day when the king
and queen and the court are alta near
by village. Irma fatally ILL., sends for
Or. Gunther, who hastens to her side
and placing his hand upon her fore
head pronounces this benediction: I'm
yonr fathers name bless you and
with this kiss away your burdens.
You are free" E. aaS ?
Walpurga hastens to the queen who
Is now stricken with self-condemnation
for her hateful spirit and her unjust
pride in her own virtue. She realizes
that Irma's penance is one through
which she. herself ought to pass and
when she reaches the shepherds hut
there is mutual forgiveness.
The king has been hunting In the
vicinity. Since receiving Irma's let
ter, he has lived a manly life, and in
penitence, has sought to promote the
welfare of all his people. Word is
conveyed to. him of what is taking
place. and he rides with all haste, but
arrives on the scene only to find that
the countess has passed away; but
his heart leaps with Joy when the
queen turns to him with the cry: ''For-
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