HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News-Record, 1902-04-10, Page 3A.pri.110thl 1902 TIM 01.1111WOXTRZW18.1MORD
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IMy Heart's Darling
how ridiceffous it just IMPPene to be
one of Wilken's comrades. Now is it
not laugheble, grandpapa? X do not
underfitand why you—"
The old man reached out toward
leer henci, With 'vehicle she Was gesti-
culating eagerly. "Hortense, MY
poor, dear child," mid he, gently,
"do, for Heaven's sake, quiet your
BY W. HEINIBURG !Alf! Do not grieve, Ifortenee, lis-
ten to me; do not cry. One who
I would give you up so easily is not
worth your tears.
Atither of "A Penniless Orphan," "Gcrtrucle's Marriage," "I shall not weep,"
"'Iruly, my child, it would be bet-
1 mord; she eat her breitd butte "There he IS! there he ifil" Cried PTE1I IV
"HOW ha/ the father been lilting In hie aunt. "I Will go tit Once, to
Berlin?" Colitintied the Frau COUne Inin, so that be Shall not go Up -
solo. "Like a prince. There is net stairs first." And she ran along the
a dew In the whole Market to Wie0M Path es fast as her size allowed. But
he is not in debt. Ludo has been before she reached the gate ia the
telling me tleat one time the heel- wall she was stopped, and a middle-
ily lived in their **Ku sized, evell-built man stepped by her.
They reeve ahoUt OverYWhere, with a qUiet "Good evening! X
and stay until thee, are turned thought so," and. came with a meas.
out by their creditors. Then they erect step through the twilight of the
go to another -teWn, that is, as soon little arbor vvith the girl, pale from
as the elder brother heillit them. Off. excitement, was leaning against one
Several times he WO lost patience, of the posts, a, shy exPectaeoS in ren'
and the Herr Baron, had to etaY large eyes. .
where he Was against h* will On He seized. both her Mends eagerly
"Her Only Brother," Etc., Etc, ter for you if you could weep. Your to:count of his debts; *it that was and bent down with rether still
lamented mother, my Poor Agnes,
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••6+•••••••••••••• she could weep all•her „sorrows away. last the brother married the young neveleonee Lucie, to your new
Please, Hortense, do not laugh 00 1 thing, and they meant to send ihe, home," he said, with rePreesed
• ' cannot bear it, it is un.patural," he father off to America. But that did ing in his voice. "X wanted so much
Lucie did not care to ask "lo much 10 it? could You settle all hi'3. continued, anxiously, . as Borten** not succeed; the brother died, the to go to the station to Meet Soul
whom?" but nortense gave her the aelJ ts? Was it not too late? Ilea laughed again. You know X never young Wife inherited everything, and but a visit to a sick person, which
information she wanted. anything became known? It must could bear Wilhen, and you are still now he swindles her out of po one could • not be postponed, kept me.
••my future husband is named Von hare been verY Painful, Hortense- so young and handsome the right ohe knows how much, Now he • would We doctors are never masters of (Mr
Wilken, and is in the II— Dra-
goons.- She turned again to her
book, and appeared to be reading.
At last she laid the book aside, lean-
ed her head ag,aisnt the cushions,
and shut her eyes. Lucie, too, leen-
ed back and made het•self more com-
fortable. Her thoughts turned to
her new home, and she lost herself in
thinking of her future life.
As she thought of her unknown
mother-in-law, she began to feel
anxious. She took a little looking -
glass out of her pocket, and began to
look if the flowers on her het were,
straight, and if the little curls on
her forehead were in place. At last
she took out thread and needle, and
raencied a very minute hole in her
brown silk gloves. So the two trav-
eled on in silence. The regular mo-
tion of the car had such a soothing
effect on the young girl that she fell
asleep, only waking as Frau von
Lowen touched her on the shoulder.
"We are almost in Hohenberg."
Lucie's heart began to beat; and
with trembling hands she made her-
self ready to leave the train.
Hortense looked at her, half amus-
ed and half sympathetic.
"You seem to be a good deal dis-
turbed," said she.
"I feel nervous," said the girl.
"Why? He will be standing with
a bouquet on the platform. Is not
that so?" •
Lucie blushed deeply. "Ach, I do
not think so," she stammered; but
her beaming eyes contradicted the
weeds.
The train now stopped, and -Hor-
tense von Lowen bade- her compan-
ion adieu.
"I shall be very glad if you will
come with me, Lucie."
"I will come," said Lucie, hardly
knowing what she said, so nervous
did she feel; "and again,. many
thanks,"
no shame; that le aristocratic. At courtesy to kiss her.
CILePTER II,
Hortense left the car and walked
across the platforin, by which a
handsome carriage was standing.
She stepped up to the horse, patted
his shining neck and head, sprung
into the high coachman's seat, and
took the reins. She was waiting for
her little trunk as two ladies walk-
ed by her, and a pair of brown eyes ,
looked up at her. It was her little
traveling companion and her future
mother-in-law. So the lover had not
come. She looked after them. The
thin, sharp -featured old lady in the
faded old-fashioned • cashmere dress
had not deigned to look at her.
Hortense compressed her lips in a
scornful manner. as if she had heard
what they were saying about her.
"Do you know the lady, my
child?"
"Yes; I traveled on with her. Yes;
I used to know her long ago. We
used to be playfellows, and to -day
we met by chance."
"That is by no means an acquaint-
- ance that you ought to keep up. This
Frau von Lowen is a very fa.st,
queer person; she rides, drives and
smokes cigars."
At this moment the person of
whom they were speaking drove rap-
idly by.
Hortense saw a shocked, -hurt ex-
pression, and the scornful smile deep-
ened about her mouth.
"She looks very disagreeable,"
sighed Frau Counselor Adler. "If she
were my daughter—"
Lucie did not dare to contradict
her, although she longed to speak a
word for her quondam playmate.
And that twenty -mark piece in her
porte-monnaie, which she had bor-
rowed from this woman, who . was
disappearing on the chaussee in a
cloud of dust, burned in her pocket
like fire.
She had been such a good, sweet
child, and now—
In the meantime, the carriage roll-
ed quickly over the rough pave-
ments, turned at the and of a narrow
street into a gate, that closed at
once behind It, and stopped before an
old-fashioned house surrounded by
high elms. In the open door stood
an old gentleman with white hair
and in faultless attire, wailing -for
the arrival of the lady. He was sup-
porting himself with a cane, and
stretched out his trembling hand to
the young lady.
"VI elcotne back, Hortense; it is
good to have you at home again."
"How do you do, grandpapa.?" she
returned, and taking his arm entered
with him the spacious hall, and led
him to a room on the ground floor,
the handsome apartment. of a. caval-
ier of the olden time. Here were
costly inlaid pieces of furniture with
bronze ornaments. At the window
looking into the garden was an arm-
chair covered with faded brocade,
and e we it, on the little table,
Was n nistory of the Crusades and
a heavy golden box beside the Gotha,
Alinnnac. Thick curtains hung at the
doors and windows, and the wct s
were covered with pictures, many o
tImin scenes in the war for freedom;
a picture of Queen Louisa Surround-
ed by her children, and family por-
trnits without number, some pow-
dered and rouged, some of a later
date. with Titian -colored hair. On
one side was a stand for pipes, tome
with very handsome meerSehaunt
bowls. A stuffed setter clog was in
front of the mirror. Two eases 04
rare old weapons and a statue of the
ereperor on horseback, half covered
with a wreath of laurel, completed
the furniture of the room. The room
was suffocatingly warm, and a
strong smell of tobacco pervaded it.
"Will you have a cup .of choco-
late?" asked the old gentleman,
sinking down in a chair by the et°,
where stood a little table With -a
half -empty cup ornamented with a
coat of arms, and near it a ChesS.
board, all set out and ready to play.
"No, th art ic you, grandpapee " She
.remained standing quietly before
him.
"What kind of a time have you
had, Hort ense?"
"Oh, not sovery bad, gratidperpe.
The matter is settled; but it hed
cost a great deal. Papa is now on
his way to Svvitzerlatid. He *tends
to live in Geneva."
"Hortense, tell the trait, 'hen/
Was the landlord appeo‘S.? jw 11 come yet, like to kill off the old . grandfather time,"
"With money everything can be set- I She had stopped laughing, and to get possession of the money thet They sat side -by side on the bench,
tled, grandpapa," she said, indiffer- turned to go, holding her hands over daughter will inherit from her moth. and holcl each other'shands. - "How
ently. ' her ears, er's side; but there he has to stop, good it is that you aro here," she
"Be candid with me, Hew great "Stay by .me a little while," he 1 wish I knew why such drones, whispered, looking at his earnese
is the sacrifice you have bad, to called after her, such human vermin, are created!" face, which was framed in a light
make?"_ 1 She Bilotti{ her head and hastened "But, Clara—" interrupted Tante blonde beard. He bore • a strong re -
"So great that X have ordered pii- back into her remit without giving Dettchen. . semblance to his mother, with tire
lendorf to be sold," , heed to the old geetleman's anxious ',Be quiet, Dettcheni" cried her straight nose, high forenead and
le go e art urne P , entreaty. sister-ip-law. Did not the Monster light eyes; only there was no trace
and a shiver passed over him.
,
0,Telhaeck, ilLaX.tuetaftottronse9det.xaBbootu for
r fihveor
'visit. She had helped all the morn-
ing to get everything deem and in
order for Whitsuntide. As she was
doing so, the old lady's Voice kept
sounding like orders on a drill: "W,.
do that SO, my deer child."—"I colt.
eider it better to clean this brass
With chalk, oh account of the white
paint on the door."-- 'But,
where did you learn to rub the chairs
so against each other? 1Vfy furniture
has not a ;stogie scratch, and it as
been * Use thirty-eight years. Unw
Win your things last, if you go to
work in that way?"
Tante Dettehen had smiled, and
whispered to Lucie: "She does not
mean anything," and Lucie • had smil-
ed, tech for was she not his moteet?
Would it be hard to win her heart
when she saw that Lucie wee doing
everything to make her eon happy?
I she dressed herself in her beet
dress, a tight -fitting gray bMge,
which 'tutted her slight egure to ptr-
fection. and Sittne into the sitting -
room where the smell of the soap
and water mingled with that of the
lilac which •Alled every vase, and
said adieu to her Mother and aunt,
who were sitting knitting opposite •
to each other at the whitlow
"An odd tame for a VIEW.," said the
mo
"But it is the correct time," seed
Lucie, as she buttooed her gloves ,
"ln the country, perhaps. or among
very intimate Weeds; otherwise one
visite here exactly on tha stroke of •
l vo iee.
'
uwaited a minute In hopes of
kind word; but as Tante Dettehen
Oniy gave her a• friendly nod, end
Frau Adler knitted on without mov-
ing a 'feature, asif her daily bread
'depended upon it, she stied once more
adieu and left. he had not far to
go along the high well which bor-
dered- the house whieh nee mother-in-
law rented." At Lhe large gate in:
the middle of this wail, she pulled
thc bell, upon the poorelain handle
of which was engraved Alexander
Non •Meerfeldt. An old Servant open-
ed a little side gate and ltt her en-
ter. Cool shadows euteounded her,
and deep stillness—even their seeps
were deadened by the grass which
grew luxuriantly between the stones
of the court -yard. Befoichher steed
a two-story houses With irregular
windows and a tower whose pointed.
tile. roof was decOratee with a gay
weathercock, At the right hanthwaa
' a building ,that • appeared to be
stables and servants' quarters, and
.at the left, shut Off wily by a rails
Ing, was the green Wildernese of a
garden, that had apparently • been
long free from the pruning knife of
a gardener.: ' Lucie was delighted to
see the overgrown arbors and Sane
glee of bushes; it reminded her of
the wood at home; She followed
the seryant, and gave him her card,
, and stood waiting in the broael
while he knocked safely it se door,
and. thett • went in. • , '
After a moment aestout little lady
appeared on tee threshold hi a brown
• woolen dress, • the. style of which tee.
minded one e Capuchin cloak;.'
'sheevore a• black lace .cap with An.
enormous red bow on her grey hitir,
which, in accordance with. the fash-
ion, hung over' her brow. She.
stretched Mit both hands to the
girl. • .•
• "Lucie, . mon.' anger 'what a sues
.prisel" she creed, in an excited tone.
"How is • it possible? :You here?,
. EntrezeHole pretty you have gement
And yeti* • still remember us? How:
did You come' here? You Must' tell
me everything." The next moment
Lucie found .herself in Mlle. /*Ain's
morn -and in her antis. . • •
"You went to go .to Hortense?"
sobbed the excitable little woman.
"Oh, Lucie, perhaps it is a. ray from
heaven! • Shewillmet see a,hy one:
she hati driven me &Way- 011,,I can-
not tell You; she Is in troutilee--
great trouble; but she is as unappro-
achreble as ever. Test now he has
. made the premise not ter disturb her
'fot.the next three hours ; and T am'
worried to death." •
During these lanientations
had seated herself • on e chair and
mademoiselle had •mixed eel' a glees.
- of orange water, and brought. her •a
biseuit: • "Child,: you leek at me
with surprise! I have grown ." old,
:yeel• Achl I know it-.,-.
so much trouble! Such anxieter as I •
'have' here with Hortensel." She
Pressed her•handkerehief to her eyes,
;and threw herself down in a deep
arm-cliair covered with bright chintz'
and sobbed piteously. " •
"Whet is the :matter with Frau
: vine Lowen?" asked the ,young girl,
in an alarmed tone: •
. "Ah, del!, if I only daired • tO say,"'
larnented the old lady; "but I can
net. • Perhaps she will tell you her -
sell. Do -me the favor tit go, to her;
perhaps Ippseibly you, who as a child
. had a good infiteence over her-,-. Olh
I know, Mademoiselle Lucie, that.
she likes you; ithe ead a tendre for
you, and will. be goed If you .go, Do
go Up, I beg You." •
- "But if Frau von Lowen wisherf to
be alone," said Lucie, painfully
touched, .
• "Oh, she bee dreadful caprices; she
worries me half to -death sometimes;
she will not see me, and she will
not •see the baleen; but yeti -- who
' He wiped his face nervously with eel els wife? Every child knows, of" the bitterness which 'was apper- ;
You ought not to have done 'his ha.ndkerchief, and in rising knock- that. He drove her to tho grave et in every feature of the Wither as I
that he said, with a horrified lookell over the cup with the coat of evith, his extravagances, his bad his eyes looked so trustfuily . down !
"What could I do, grandpepa? arms, out of which he.had drunk for treatment. But such things are nev-, at his young fiancee, .
There was only the choice of shame forty years, and it broke in pieces; er treated as tnurderi And what harp "It must bave, been hard to bid.
or to part with Dillenciorf."then he pulled the bell -rope eo hard ee nmee of his daughter? e perfectly them farewell," said ae, gently,
"The rascal!" muttered • the �14 that the tassel remained in .his handuselessi petson, insane with pride. Tf . ''But it had to be, Lucie; we know .
man, and wiped his brow with a "Tell Bertin to comb," he cried to any one greets her on the street, each other se little still, and I do.
silk handkerchief. A long pause en-
sued. the servant, Upon this a stout little they never know whether she will not want you to feel you. were step_
woman appeared, her face pale with acknowledge it, she has such a con- ping up to the altar with a perket
She leaned, as. if weak, against . fright, and so Out ef breath that temo
she did not see themptuous way of passing people as StnreSp
r: IS net that eo, my little-
the chimif ney, with compressed lips, she could not speak, ..:
"Is there any letter here from "Bertin," he stammere'd, seizing here oBee,
1, ."
sister-in-law, 'why do ycru "Oh! was that the reason?" She -
Wilken?" she asked, tremblingly.
sleeve with his trembling hands bow to her, then?" was silent.
" 011, yes i oh yes 1 Upstairs in "Ilertin, hurry! qiiielel quiekl Mad- "1—bow to her? I:should like to "1. promised your sister, and the
your room," retUrned Herr von Meer- arne is beside herself with grief, she • see myself The Frau Counselor was right."
feldthad had bad news; you know— Wachsmann was telling me elegize it. They sat silently by melt other;
It seemed as if she breathed • more about my son-in-law?" ,
freely. "I have not ' had Any news The old French woman cast down She went to her once to speak about Lucie had tears mher eyesHe was
..
right; they did know each other, very
m
frohim for a weeke'esaid she, "al- that Woman'e Union and the instle
though I' sent him my Berlin ad- her eyes and sighed 'deeply. `‘ 1 can m
. tution for taking care of small chit- little yet; they had only eeen eaele
understand that, Herr Baron," . she
dress. I *ill go up and change My . said, and went out. Her room Wasthen. She was ready enough to give other a •few moments at a time by
dress. And Please., gra.ndpapa, (10money, she Said, but must be ex- her sister's Sick bed; and even the
not say any more' about Dillendorf; it separated by the :whole width of cused from geeing any Personal eft- day that he obtained her censeet Ile
is painful for me to think about it that. story from that of the old gen- sistance. There. are plenty other. could not stay to tea, as a very eie,k
thettan. She could only go upstairs
For two hundred years it has be- with great difficulty , and went very persons in our Sewing society to ex, Patient -was waiting for him.
longed to the Lowell:se' sighed the amine the children,. and see if they And thie seine ,patient kept hen
seldom to the apartments of her for -
old gentleman.. "How you late hes- • are. well washed and combed besides • some distance from the forester's
band loved it! and to think it, mer pupil. She led a very life, Frau Von Lowen; foi example, there for seveeal days; and wlem tit lase
should be lest throtegli this dishon- having nothing but recollections of is the Fritu :Counselor of Atheinistra- he did coMe, one Sundey poen, SO
orable man!" . the• past and her Angora cat to od- ton; and, What is •most ridiculous •• astenished them with the news that
eupy her time, • grumbled when she .of all, is that her old governess is he thought of settling as physician
Hortense blushed deeply. This die -
honorable men wee. tier Janice., wee out of humor at the same * sameness of just..as• disdainful as she is :. in his native town, and woeprob- .
her existence, wrote her mernoirs,
"Yes," she said, • "it Was as if a making use in them of ail her old The old woman stopped, quite oet ably moYe , there at . once, in order,
of breath, cleared her throat, . tookaff he said; to be getting a comfort -
piece were torn from my own heart when 1 gee* the- agent orders- to son books of instruction, and every after- • a piece of sugar in her, mouth, and able home ready for hip little wife.
It But now let us be silent . noon she played chess with M. le drank - her tem In' eh*. The forester thought this a -Very
about
Baron which was :always ,a. most way she sweetened a large geed plert. It was e thickly 'settlee
it; it cah not be helped."
"You could mortgage it : j agreeable pastime.- She had Out one: :„
OUP of tea with a very. small region, and the peasants were good
,
She Shook her head. You do not •grievance, and that was the fiegratie . -lump of sugai. Tante Dettchee hay- par . the doctors in that • neighbor -
Wild with which Hortense, to whom ing nothing tosay in answer to these . hood aiwityfi beefier* rich. ''My
already. It is not the first time that she ' : a decend motlaer, .- ing nothing to say • in answer to mother suggested. the Soled. , ' said hoe,
know how heavily it was mertgaged had been as
I have gone to papa's assistance en. treated here: I:Torte:nee was ..iu every . these accusetions, folded her nierikin - "She is • a yeree.precticel woman
such matters •:. • ' • • • respect very ,self-relient. She never theUghtfully, mid Peeking kindly at ' After" dinner. they •both eventi to ethe
*
"
, : confided her griefs or annoyances to : Lee, geld: •"Shall .1 show you the wood. togethei, The first green : of
And you? Hortense, eehat if Wel-
any one, .never asked ler 'advice; p; I
ken had tome *reveled- with his . garden, child, eo the. time Will not spring Wee covering the trees like a
money?" of course , she did many foolish seem so long. till your lover conies?" ' Veil, and aeemones and primroses
"• - '.
1 • - things. Xf she would end her .way .. The ' young girl gave a sigh of re- . Were flowering at their feet. • They
Iwould never have accepted itl
. . .
! oftener •to mademoiselle's room, yes lief; and saying to her future' moth- . went hand in hand down the shady
Could Xhave gone. to him end said
--then—,. But to she had gone
my father.has been. dishonorable? I erein-law, as was the custom, '7 path, and he talked . to her . ol , his
will merely write to him, and that • Upstaire without even wishing her hope you have supped well," peeper- mother And of his 'deaci. fether, and
immediately, that .1 hese met with good -day It Is 80 hard •to be treat. , ed to folio* the aunt. A shrill 'voice told her how glad he Would be to
fid as's;nonentity. • Mademoiselle
. called out after' her: ' ' practice in the old town tvhere.' he
great pecuniary *sees."' slo'
Was - wly, meunting the stairs, "Did •she say Wheneshe was. to be had • sPent - ,his childhood. His' Whole
't b ' h f If him?"
said tho old gentleman, iropica y.
"Ile is not one who cares much for then stopping in the hall to recover Lucie turind round. ."In. four word sunk into her heart, end in the
luxuries." her breath, She then walked quickly •weeks, if you mean Frau von Lowen, evening, after he had .at last said
into Fran ;von Loveen's room; but at na th " farewell, • "till we meet in Holten.-
rjfl e very c eer u or helping herself up by the balusters,. married?' ' was laid before her eyes, every
11
• "Yes, yes, I know. He is the kind
that eats bread and cheese for his:. the same moment the door of the'. "Oli, I.congratulate him! There hers," she kept the hazel -nut branch
. pl te ways. supper, and thinks oysters detestable. opposite'rocen went to with. a slam, ' tire a1 i s m e ns to
be caught, which he had picked for her as they
food. and the key was turned very audibly. it happens to the best of them. ' . walked, and fell aswith it in: her
But still you have Your moth-
er's property; but what is that to On ' the floor, lay the large photo-. ..,como, child," remonstrated Tante hand. It hurt her now that he spoke
Dillendorf and the sump' graph of Wortense's father, the frame Dettchezi, and Lucie followed her of their "learning to knew each oth-
you hoe*
hrokers the glass shattered, and on
had to throw away? , : • ! guide down the steep little wooden • er," though she hardly know why
the picture spot Of blood . '
“I must give you a greeting. hone- . . e seeps, across the tiny yard int* the - "And when we do. learn le ,know
the Baroness Sauten," said the . "Mon Dieu! mon Dieu!" •Meanect.
young lady, interrupMng. him :quick-, e
the horrified old lady, "what has garden; •• '
It wan an odd kind .of M garden in I . find ourselves disappoitit,td in our
. each other, Alfred, and either you or
ly, as she took her parasol to *eve happened? • Peeve° enfant! Hot-. : „Tele_
ia Lireffeend Tante Dettchen, wan- expectatfons, What theh?. Shall we
tenset he cried going to et.hAbed-
se s , deled tip' and (levee. • A single -pear- part?" , ' . ' • :
the room. . . - ., room door, "it isi I; let me in; tell
"Hortense, Herteesef" called • the inc ytree stood in the middle of the "God • forbid!" he said, With a
our trouble. We have before, •
old man after her, "tell me where . square; the only path' was along the shocked look, and pressed her hend.
was she? 1 -Terre• did she look?" • :this• borne Much together . • - wall, and ended in the arbor, over It Will .not be • ' . -
"•
But. - all remained still• as death , Which wild grapes grew in rank lux- ' The garden gate onened, and elf -
I vrill be beck soon only half an,
hour to rest " • . within..
e " taiance.' :Besides this, with the ex- red's mother' came towards them
. • —.'"- . . eeption Of .two running- roses on pil- . With measured seeps, Tante Dettchen
She shut the door, and went
i through the ppedioue petrel:lee hall, ' ' ' ' ethAlici ra T .. * lam all was devoted to vegetables . tripping behind her. - Bothladies
' and up the road'wooden titairs, tie .
. ' e e --'--. -3,1!*, ".. '--pease, beans, onioits, and. salad— 'had work in their hahrls. The Frau
.. B
the upper story. .An elderly..chaine'
ber-maid opened a door in the , long
corridor, and she enteredeher. • oevn
boudoir. It Wes a lofty, bandeome
room, with the ceiling highly ornh-
inented. and the richly gilded leather
wall -hangings of a period long pass-
edmade the comfortably upholstered
chairs and sofas of a later date, and
also the rich Smyrna rug which cov-
ered the floor, 'lookalmost out of
place, The windows were. shut, end
through the leaves of the ehrid an
odd green light shone into the room,
toned down by the heavy •Turkish
i• curtains, On the °nett writing -table
! which stood across one corner of the
room lay a. letter.. Hortense crossed
the room, arid looked at the address
without touching it, laid aside her
hat and parasol, and stood. with
folded aims before a life-size portrrilt
of a man 'which .was placed on ith
easel near the •writing -table. There
was an expression of deep sorrow in
her eyes. ,
"Dishoriorable!" she muttered. "It
hurts mo so deeply; and I know, too,
as no one else does, how true it is!"
Her voice became gradually louder,
she pressed her hands to her temples.
The last words sounded like a cry.
She sat dowu on the chair in front
of the writing -table arid looked at
the letter. Once she stretched out
her hand to take it, but drew it
back again, and set for a long time
• without moving. At last she took
the letter, broke the seal, and read
it. At the first lines she straightened
hereelf ere and as elle continued read-
ing it she held herself still More
erect, and the color deepened in her
cheeks. She read the sheeti through,
and laughed aloud, "Oh, of course!"
she said, and her eyes sparkled, "It
is amusing, it is too latighable!"
`She sprung up and rushed, the letter
In her hand, through the corridor,
down the stairs, and into the old.
gentleman's room.
"Another piece of news, gravid -
papa," she cried, in a loud, unnatur-
al voice.
The, aid gentleman started out of
the light nap he evas taking in hie
arm -chair, and looked Vaguely at her
as She stood before hint.
"A .piece of good hoe*? 1 hope a
good one, Ilertenee."." „
"Oh, yes, grahdpapa. Me oegage-
ramie With IVilkon l brokert." She
laughed age*, and her shoulders
hen:teed:with exeitement as if she had
I fever.
I "13ut, Hortense, you hare been tee
quick; that is a mistaken feeling of
, duty on your part, What are your
father's misdeedq to him? 1 bog of
you, Hortense, do not send your let-
ter; think tlxe matter over."
"X?" sho cried, loudly, "Mx takes
the matter in hand himeelf. Hero it
Is in black and White — there, Papa
has had something to do with him
some time or other. Ile expresses it.
SO delicately, is .so desirous of spar.
Ing my feelings. 1 suppose papa, has,
as often before, tried to improve his
fortunes by gambling, Apparently
some ono has caught him s.t it; atia
•
• " • ' Were in the neatest; of beds; but Ceuriseiore kuittede evert while we.*
-1tt the neertittime Imeie Welter .was it was pare irony to call it a garden 1111, ing She seated herself opposite the
sitting': at the neatly-arrangedtea- Beyond and behind the high mite- ; :lovers, Without for a moment stop.
'feeble in the: Peinfuneneat room of sive wall the. west • wind :whispered ping her :weekGood eveile
her Mother-inelaw, the; Frau Coun- in the .tiee-tops, and the eyenthg log. Alfred,"'. she said
'selor • Adler, at tea: ,...„ehe• sat .there, glow teeter]: on the grand old linfleite eeturnihg his greeting. "Etas
feeling strange and alone,,and 'scarce- and elms. "It belongs to 'the Iltleet‘ Lucie told you of her traveling corn.;
ly dared to look itt, under the search- feldt estate; the..grandfather of Hor- pane* yet?" • fihe ,• asked, after a
•
Inc' glance & those gray eyes which tem* Von Lowen you ,know;" ex- pause.
seemed to be so incessantly watch- plained Tante Deachen. "X came op with Frau von Losw-
ing her every look. She could ha.ve Lucie was silent. 'Ph* meet* en," said the girl, quietly. " he
cried, it was all so different from with Hortense again she now felit evas se good as to help me out of a.
what she had pictured to herselfwas very painful. She sat silehtly great difficulty, . X lost 'my purse and
She had expected a comfortable, lov- in the arbor - by her aunt, and my ticket in 11-7, and she -e"
her cordially. She could still: feel cried the old ladyexcited-
ace the• cozy bet " ,
able mother-in-law, who would take thought how alone and strange she
"Lost?
her, an orphen, in her arms and kiss felt in this new home, which was to iy, And you only mention it now?
replrightness o,f bn ought to have written to the
that cold tou.
ch uport her forehead,. eister's house. Listiectively she fel:t. railroad•oefielal at °nee! NO, Alfred::
. and from this spot a chill seemed to an aversion for this -woman 'who was hate else is it Possible?"' .
spread 'through her whole body, and the mother of her Mere husband, ,,
made it impossible for her to appear If he only would come! Her e knew in end. see helped you to get anoeh-
I,
ie' ticket?" he asked, 'Without paying
I3efore her on the table' stood b!a
a viliat. a bright, sweny household she'
d grown up;e he knew her Meter, any attention to his utother. •
, stiff botiqUet of forget-meenote ;And who: in Els of her ill health., was.
1 wall -flowers', a , welcome from her Se. gentle and so kind; he k
new the"Yes; and I want to .ask you
which Would be the best way , to, re-
liever, who, unfortunately, was pre-., blunt, kindly nature ' of her brother- turn her loan continued Lucie,
hem', as he had suddenly been called every line: of his face, and the ehil- •
in-law,, whoa() good nature spoke in 'Vet need to play together as chit,
dren," she added. . . .
vented. from being there to receive
frean the nosegay that it had been genies; he knoW the lindens before self," he said, qUietly.
"You had better take it over your -
out into the country ee One could See, dreit with their shouting arid merry
bought from some vegetable woman the door, in whichthe forester ari-
Thank you, Alfred.
at market. The 'slices 01 sausage prentices had built an airy seat, and
The Frau Counselor knitted Mora
, '.
l wore Sp verYthin, the tea, so remark- the deep wood, and the talmentainsenergetically thah ever, .
• thin and undorgrown and the Dettchan beet, •mpther?" said her son, timing
"
ably light colored, the little Waitress "Are you cryitig?" • asked Tette Do you not think that will be the
I cordial herself,
SO
-r Maratha so stiff and punctilious,
• Don t be angry, aUnt, I . was to her. "As am to, be the Meer-
the 'bitter-sweet lines about her thinkieg about Parting from them feldt's physician, my colleagUe
mouth. all "
Tante Dettehen, the sister of Alfe "Yes; Itis hard to leaVe twine,"
red's father, Whose pia.* was on the and the good-natured little Saco nod-
• other side of the young girl, was the etig; ..,eteweeee 31.2m oome to knew
' only friendly thing, ae she sat there
Alfrea?" she asked, with the *ten -
so fat and comfortable, with such a.
tion of 'drawing the girl's thoughts
good-natured face. After Alfred had
into a -new chamiel; and she succeed -
been praised up to the skies and leu -
ed very well.
cie had been told over and over "Oh, he was at otir house every
again that no ono in the world de- day for six weeks," replied Lucie,
serered a good wife More than he,
and her melancholy expression quiek-
the Frau Counselor took a fresh cup
ly Changed to a, beaming one. .'ely
. of tea, and straightening herself up,
Sister was very ill; has he hot told
began, turning to her sister -hi -law:
you? Orice he came toward oven -
"And only think how uhpleaseht,
ing; I was standing at the window
my dear Dettchert, Lucie happened of my room. 1 did itiet go down to
to travel Oh in the same coupe With Mathildoesehe Was really quite Well
Frau Von Lowen I "
then--becautte I was so etty when
Deteceen did net semi% to flnd so 'With him; he looked so curiously at
nxtich to shock her in that. She me that it Made my heart beat," She
spread a piece of bread with butter stopped ,and - twisted her hendker-
-that is, she took the Smallest im- Chief into a knot in her hand. "Then,
agina.ble piece of butter, and serateh- as X Wes Still standing there—it Was
ed with her knife energetidally over eucb a beautiful evening; a few milty
the slice. Lucie could not discover, clouds were in the sky, which Was
although she tried bard, on which
side the butter was.
"Ohl kohl" she said, shaking her
head; "and they spoke to each oth-
er," continued the old lady.
"And why not, my dear Clara"
"X ShOUld think people knew en-
ough about that tangly. Thmttchon,
do not ask such odd, questions."
"Hut the daughter can, not help
"Children must bear the sins of
their fathers," Said the old lady,
leilY. "/ lamer positively that Alf-
red Will not like it at, all Whole he
hears of this meeting. The father is
diesipated, bad Moe arid the
dhlighter ie a fast, unwomanly,
stuck-up thing." .
liettchen did riot contradiet any
_L""111115e.=
in a rose-colored glow—I Will never
forget, it, X felt as if something were
going to happen to me; then all at
once the children came and carried
no off down to the sitting-rootn,
and there—"
Sho stopped; a deep blush mantled
her sweet little face.
"Irad you eared for him a long
title, child'?"
She shook her head. "I don't
knovv; it seems as if 1 had always
loved him; but 1 had never thought
of his marrying me. It is great luck
fot me, they all day," she added,
"They ate tight. Ile is a jewel of
4 Matt, 'Plat like his father—his good
father.'t
Wm:lent, Lute etarted; she
h ha, cag
not be tibia to restive° his practice/'
"Greet honor!" muttered his moth-
er- •
"A physician mese go Where he is
called, mother,"
"Well, as far as um concerned, he
pays at least, and you must see to
those things if you Will marry, for
you will have nothing from home to
rely ort," He understood prefectly
the slur upon this dowerleee bride he
had chosen.
"13u1 beyond that you must alloW
that it Would be very unsuitable for
your Wife to renew -such an intim.
aeY, and you -could bot Wish to have
it kept up."
"No, Of cotters) not; for an intimacy
with a woman of the fashiOneble
world WOuld not be of any advan-
tage to my Lucie—Would, in fact,
be a great disadvantaqe. But to re-
turn a civility does not involVe 8.
violent friendship, MOther."'
"You ought to have seen Lticie;
how enthusiastically she spoke of
this meetfrig
"If, reminded hie of My. .father's
house and of my childhood," said
the young girl, as if' to excuse her -
11 sounded at; if she spoke
through tears.
"Are you hot tired?" said Alt -
red, quickly. "'I expect the journey
and this warnt weather has fatigued,
you. Let tat go in. \vita to shoW
you our guest chatnber. Come a.nd
try hoW you can sleep in it."
"Oh, Yee," she said, with a fell
heart.
When, soon after, she found herself
alone. in the little room, she covered
her eyes with her hands and Wept
At this
silently from homesickness—at leat,
110 Oa4 te rit ble O
t f rriae
so she thought.
a
This is Your Oppoptoody
We are oftering to shrewd
buyers the .greatest
• opportunity.'pey
. ever had in
C
to purchaseliriletra
iable goods
at prices which, defy
,
competition. See
the special
we 'now have on view
our window.
Watch Repairing is a Specialty
With Us.
,
A. 3. R6
Scientific jetsVelher awe
0.ptGiciais17
CLINTON, -01M.
•
• .......rost144.3,2141WOCUmmilmWomftiONI
congratulations on her engagement
were mixed with complaints' slid
tears. "Oh., mademoiselle, what a
life 1 lead—I, who was born in
Parisi Look at this view over the
solitary park—the view froin my
room, over the deserted garden is
still there depressing. Here, at
least, the grooms or the postman
stometinies pass; but there I live be-
hind walls as ifin re cloister. I do
not like to go on the street, it 15 50
horribly dirty; and 'as for acquaint,-
tutees., I have none. The people. are
so very ordinary—have so little chic. -
My tine comfort was -Mingle= le • .
Doctour; now he is ill, hopelessly so; .
and as ,for .the young man, your
in-
tended, I have. never • been able to •
make tip my mind to have hint,: It"
is disagreeable when a physician is
50. young — it is genant. But a thou..'
'sand pardons;. the baron is waiting
`for me," She glanced at, the little
clock before the mirror and sprung
up. "One game of Owes, me, petite.
I would beg You to leave tee, he is'
wmaaiutviict*ise,, -henteur. if I keep hint
•
Diming this conversation • ehe had
. been' carefully examining the noels '
on her • well -kept hands. She now-
. gave the right hand to the • young
. gee... "Go to her, Lucie. You will.
do a. good deed, je votes ore prio. ,
Please go • elle these ;stairs," She .
whispered as-ther were in elle hall;
"then along he. corridor to the left, -.
• lase door:bet one. •Go right ine she .
will noteanewer if you knock,"
Lucie Went hesitatingly up the
broad stairs, 'while mademoiselle ,
hurried to theoice heron's. -room.
•She :did' not feel it All „tet her ease; '7
it was dietastefuleto her shy, modest' •
. nature to force herself 'epott any 'one. ,
But something seemed tourge-`
on, She herself could not tell:Why,. •
•
Was it the desire to thank her •for -
nen` playfellow, or was it„ -a .feeling
.of anxiety: in conseqUenceof what,
the, queer French. woman had . told .
her? or was it Oh -position •to ,her fu-
ture mother-in-law .find the double ,. •
• . interest Which she felt for the ratich- •
.censured,companieta Of former days? •
. She stood before the door to which
-she had . been.' directed, and 'UMW
" the handle.. A burned smell UR of
I •scorched paper, mingled with a lite.
tle .smoke, filled' the. large,' con:dere- ..
• able room. • Hortense .was not there....
era** sew for the first time the •
boudoir of a' fashionable ' woraan. •
- .
and for, the fleet element she wafi we- ,
tranced with thethousand tasteful •
things—the 'dainty pieces of furni-
ture, the -heavy curtains,. .the•soft
Smyrna rugs, which covered. the. en- .
tire.' floor, upon which arm -heirs of. •
every. shape Were enatedrecl, • 'the.
costly Persian tapestry :that was• •
thrown careIeesly .over the chairies, •,
longue., ,the eeried palm branches. in -•
..the vases, the delicate Attie. ligueeef
. of terra-cotta and 'old Dreeden, end , •
over the • ..writing -table aelifesiiied •
• portrait of a fair-haired young Woe.
man. •On the main wall, . over • a ,.•
• Preete arrangement of so*. able,
and arm -chairs, hung tvio 'large oil-
-. paintings, sea studies—one . of the .
see in restore:le:the other a quiet sea :
• •• • •
cl:tLattucniesestioOd for a few Moments mo e , _ •
: tioziless, andgazed at ail- this, .and .
then -she turned to me. •• Might .she •
come again, she Wondered, and took
.•otit of the little, card -ease she held
in her heard 'her visiting -card, wrote
' with 'co pencil:. "Best thanks," leid
• it on the table, and slipped a 1 wen- ..
tysnark piece un.cier it.. ' Then she •.'
' changed her •mindand took . It ever: •
to the yvriting table. She ' was now
close to the „ bedroom door, which ,
Was ajar; and there • she i•eatd a tem -
,*us noise,. as if some one weie
-groaning and. suffocating • .
• . ."11ortensel". she cried, wifely, at
•111.N60"aPnrs'eVet, but the gaAping Was'
'still more audible. She pushed the •
. door open and stepped into the dark- •
' ened room,
A Strong; sweet smell seemed to
daze her, and she put her hand .to
her forehead. .She reccignized it flout
her Sister's illness. '
"Chloforml" she miclitimed, hale
aloud, and pushed aside the silken
curta ns at ,the bed.
uncoriscious on the pillow. The Nick-.
knows? Just think," continued Tille.
Berlin, "she hair shut herself up
since yestercitty evening. This noon,
after 1 had been up there every' half
hot*, I met her at .last in the Walter
room. • Shelooked liee cierttlee-had
slide deep shadoVes under her eyes,
and Wag' tearing up old letters; the
wan se busy that she did not ' sae
me, and did hot notice that 1 took
the key from the door—vous cern-
preneze-it is so horrid to be *eked
Out. I tried to talk ta het; but she
said, in an agitated voice' 'Leteve
me alone, mademoiselle, I beg that
you will not come to thy rooni again
before this evening. Those endless
inquiries only trouble me—say that,
to gratidpe,pa.' Que faint? 1 had
to leave her."
*Lucie promised. to go up. ,Virst
she had to heat why mademeinelle
had come to this Miserable hole of
Holmberg( and then extravagant
•
ening entail df chloroform alrectet
evereame Lucie; she ran to the Win-
dow and opened it hastily, not
ticing that she tore the beautiful
lace curtain. Then she haeteeted bask
to the bed, and threw' On the door
the White cloth which cavil/ea the
young Woman's face. A frighteul
smell! Ever, the pillows and cover-
ings seented to be saturated with
the dreadful stuff. Her heart beet
violently as she half raised duo
conscious woman; the beautiful bead
fell upon her shoulder; ,nit she
groaned again, and whispered some-
thing that. Lucie could not tinder.
stand. She must have help, and vet --
(To be continued.)
THE
• BLACK CAT
3
IS COMING .1
wmommmwoot