HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News-Record, 1902-05-08, Page 3May Sth, 1002 TEE C't.T.ITTO11 1.17r.17S RXQRD
. wpm, 11111 1111101.111 1 111.1111 1, 1.
."
111.0•••••••••••••••••••••411411•4140•114411010. e
.
41.0,01
My Heart's Darling
I
:
• Auther Of "A Penniless Orphan," "Gertrude's Marriage
i
0
.
, "Her Only Brother," Etc., Etc, •
9
.0401.9.940+114;00•0•4111.0.41****0•941111.9.0.1•0•111S9
• $ -$. $
BY W. HEI:i4BURG
"Because I do not wish to. I wisti
you would not look at me so—it
makes me nervous!"
Lucie went out without a word
and waited in the salon. She heard
boxes fall down, and hlortense'a inh•
putient step about the room. Final-
ly she hone out. She wore a tuft, of
pale -blue feethers in her hair, and
her ornaments here turquoises and
pearls. Silently they loft the room
and descended the stairs. A. welter
was just, going through the lighted
vestibule with some gorgeous table
ornaments of fresh flowers and dis-
appeared behind the door of the I
smaller dining -room. Hortease had
looked at him in an absent, manner,
•hhhere is going to be an entertain-
ment there," she said, as if glad. to.
find an indifferent topic.
'The Rittmeister von Wilken is tit.
give his intended bride and her path',
wits and ishations a little supper al-
ter the theatre." said the hoed Wait-
er, who was just passing, very re-
spectfully.
1 Iortense inclihred her head to
thank him, and stepped out into the
twilight of the spring evening.. •
"We shall be too late, Lucie," said
she, with perfect composure, "Set us
hurry a little."
They arrtved just before the be-
ginning of the overture. The house,
was jimmied; for a foreign sin -ger
was to take the part of Susanna in
"Figaro." They stepped into .box
in the. first row, and at the door of
it stood a gentleman bowing as, if
he had been expecting them—Walde-.
mar Weber.
Frau von Lowen passed. by -him;
she did not seem to have noticed,
him; but after Lucie had taken her
place, he dropped into the next•chair
with the coolest expression on hidi.
energetic features, as if that were
his place, and the only right .one ter
him in the whole house. Lucie
scarcely noticed him; she was ex-
amining with great anxiety . •tho
boxes in the first row, then a shed-
der went 'through her, for .opposith
to there, next to the royal box, sat
Wilken in • uniform, between a hand-
some old lady and a .young girl in e
pink silk dress, with long blonde
braids hanging down her hack, attd-
who was listenik to him with a
sm iling face. Belli nd him sat an el- ,
heels- gentleman in civilian's dress, •
and two young officers. „ • .
Lucie turned anxiously to Hor-.
tense, and just at that moment her
gaze returned from the same group'
There was in this unguarded „ mo -
meet a look of the bitterest .griet
in those large gray hyes. Invelah
tartly Ihicie tried to grasp hersien-
d'rr hand, but it was immediately, •
withdrawn. Hortense sat quietly in
her chair and looked- with itemarent
interest at the stage, where Susanna
was just trying on her hat before
the glass and Figarowas measuring
the room. buck)saw and •heard
everything as if in a dream; she
knew that near her was Hortimse,
stillering.•e; thousand torments, • .1i:rid
she gave a sigh of relief when•
first act caine to an end. The boxes:
were emptied. All flockedto the
lover. Hortense, too, rose. She
went slowly between the rows - -of
laughing and chattering people, and
leaning toward We buffet- satd, "I
am thirsty."
In this large, pillared hall there
were not many peeple; only- a few
groups were standing -before the: in-
viting table, or sitting on thc. sofas
by the marble balustrade.. • Hor-
tense seated herself as if tired As
Lucie asked for a glees of selther wa-
ter a voice near hcr said. "Do not
trouble yourself, fraulein, I have
al-
ready what you went in eh. band."
Waldemar Weber handedher a.'
glass of the sparkling water, and
then -turned to Frail von Lowen.
Lucie looked about hr and forgot
to drink; she was convinced Hor-
tense, in her mood of to -day, would
do something rude. She eould not.
trust her eyes. The young baroness
took the glass smilingly, and pointed
to the sofa, and he took the place
there by her. Lucie soon knew why.
Opposite, on a low divan, sat Wil -
ken and • his fiancee, who with a.
ch i Id i sh appetite was devouring. a
lhate of ice-cream, and did not no-
tice how her lover's gaze was fixed'
'upon the beautiful woman. before him
' .
in the thin black dress.
Hortense looked really charming at
this t. Laughingnct talkin
were becomingto her; and as she
held her head a little to one side
and played .with her fan of blue Os-
trich feathers, more than one look.
was fastened upon her.
• But her cavalier did not suit' such
a charming apparition, thought Lu-
cie; there was something—but that
she could not define it—it was not
in his clothes, nor in his figure, • for
he was a large, fine-looking than; it.
was something in his manner as he
entertained Frau von Lowell, Lucie
thought at last. She put down her
untouched glass on the little table
and laoked at the crewdshurrying,
away. The bell had hist rung for
the second act.
Hortense also rose, and resting
the tips of her lingers on Herr Web-
vr's arm, followed close behind the
engaged vela She had signed to
Lucie, and put her hand in 'hers. Lu-
cie noticed how her eyes rested on
the slender officer before her, though
1«s•ping up an animated conversa-
tion.
• ,t," asked thogiri
Were taking their laces, "What
does this mean?"
"Nothing," was the anSwer; "after
the next act let us go. I am tired
to death."
Nie did indeed appehr etitirely
hoisted when they rettiened to the
hotel and to their salon. The tea -
table was sot, and the candles Were
lighted before the mirror.
Lucie helped her to lay aside s her
igh t wrap,
"My dear Hortense," she Said,
affectionately, stroking her pale.
cheeks and bending •doWn to her,
"come, lot us go away; you Will be
ill here."
The baroness started as if bog&
he herself.
"Why," she cried, "haVe I come
Ifa things you haVe seen, of Which one of this gay throng. Lueie dill
1
i yeti write so enthusiastically, but ; not knoW whether Hortense had en-
' fi ar you hat e built your cahtles orairaged him, or whetlwr he had
pl asure on the ruins of yo
ur true contrived hilhself to be •one of them
happiness. You write me thatat allhevents he Was eiwityS there
friendshil) has its rights, as holy and sittiug. quietly in his chair, an
unassailable as the bonds between .tellcing in his deep voice, the first
Parente, brothers, and slaters, and I sound of which seemed to rivet at -
married people. It yeah lie so; but tentiOn—to the men about horses
1 can not imagine it. May Goa pre- and hunting, and to the ladies Of
serve this friendship to you, and , the delicate porcelain treasures made
1 specimens of which he promised to
keep you front disappointment, in a. Thuringian • poreelain factory.,
"Shall I see you soon? Can You
not leave your Hortense for a few ; send them for their etagerech
days, and come and sit once More I Lucie was very quiets the kept
by ihy bedside? The children talk asking herself what Hortense meant;
so ntucli about you, and what beau- but she found no answer.
Wel stories you can telh Do come, On the eve of Willson's wedding-
' utile! day Hortense remained at • 1101110.
'I must stop pow. 1 am very tir- he had declined an invitation to an
"No, Hortense, X am not afraid," ed. Much love from your sister, excursion to the fohtifications under
said thwie, quietly, J. ineent it, ; "Mathilcla." the plea of a headache. She lay on
Well, for 1 eee that you are sutler- The girl sat quite still when she ; the sofa .in her datkened room With
had finished reading this, her large, closed eyes.ancl a pale lace.
You see the hasa
ginations of your d eyee fixed upon Hortense. "Hortense,'" said Lucio, synmathe-
go," she fiaid, Intlf aloud. tically, and steoothhig
to desperation in the theatre with. the. window, and stehped up to the so deliberately make yourself ill!"
her pale
own, brain, thy 01111(1," continued "1 lutist
Horteuse, excitedly. "You drove me Frau- von ',Owen came back from ; cheeks, "if I only knew why you
your looks, ha treated inc as if table. "What?" she asked. Hortense pressed the girl's soft
I were erehy; you coinpromised me "I must go; Mathilda is ill; to- hand, but did not answer. . .
dreadfully. I must bog you for the -mOrrow, or, still. better, to -day." • Lucie all that day had an unace
future to cease front shell unwished- She stood up holding the letter countable feeling of anxiety and ap-
tightly. in her hand; thwi she went prehension; she went down three or
with slow steps • into her . room, four times to ask the porter if there'
for sympathy.'
. and sat doWn-on • the edge were any letters for her. He had
- CHAPTER . her XVI. ht lieve . been none. She wondered whether this
of beh.
• wickeh, -wicked, and neglect, silence was 'a good or bed sign. As
Lucie stood like a whx. tigure be- ful of mh duty," she said aloud; and she was . standing, thinking about '
• fore the young baroness, These
the invalid's white, thin face, and this In thp vestibule, a perplexed
were the first unkind words she had her lonely room came vividly before look -upon her face, some men from
ever heard front .hr. U liable to re- - a florist's passed her with gigantic
• and seated horse f at 1.110 °pert hails - .
, dow. It looked toward the Elbe. sionaliy her brother-in-law; but In a
Veal the tiny garden below her short time he would leave, "because
came up the perfume of the lilacs he would be of no use;" the old Fier-
exid the flowering shrubs; beyond the •
vant, when she had time; he little
roofs and towers the town stood girl would come in with e bunch of
wild flowers,. and would give the
out in dark relief agctinst the star- '
• lit. sky, and in the black, broad • feverish mother something to drink,
but thehrest of the time—she clasp -
stream a thousand lights were re- '
. fleeted. : Across the large' bridge ed her hands over her faCe—the rest
flowed the life about the palace, et the time she wotild, lie quietly, at
clerk crowds of Inert, lighted' horse- was her went, alone, and no one
-with her to hear her cough, or to .
. 'Cars, and ,cebi with. lighted lamps,
- and front the' places of aumeement notice, her want of -breath.
Lucie trembled. from head . to foot;
sounded cheerfel voices and merry
music. . She neither heard rfor tiasv • she knew the cough artd the • hectic
flush on her . sister's thin cheeks,
clanreyatihrii;ng.herShleie.asxt.at:.rebheaotutsviatsh ifbiiteteiit. . Was it hossible, and so. heieklye, •so
They lied long feared this ..for her,
•prtin—with a hheat bonging • for • the quickly? s Oh; hol it could mit; it
lichee that she had mice known. She must not be!
laged for. the gentle. -words or that ".
. brought . her. little traveling valise
out - of the corner. She. had but 0110 •
thought--te go to the . sister. who
had watched' over her and loved her
as. if she were her 'own child! • . -
The door opened, and •Hchtense
came- in. . . • • .. ,
"What are you &tug to do?". she
asked, hesitatingly.: • ..
hl am going te, Mcithlidat I told
you Methilda is M.'s .* -• -'• • - •
"Is it serious?" '
main quiet, she went into her roon
Who would • stay by her? Occa- laurel and Myrtle -trees, carrying
than to the salon, the door of
which stood wide open.
In the background hung a bright
putple curtain, which the upholster-
er WAS still arranging, and upon
the improvised stage steed a'gentle-
man with a white beard, talking to
the landlord. •
.Wilken, just then came down the
stairs With a, handsome lady . in
sister - Who had been 'asochind mother She sprung up, struek a light,. and
• street costume on his arm. Her fea-
tures bore a strong.resemblatice to •
his. As he pessed Luele. heard him
say "Mother" to her. 'A .strong feel-
ing of coinpassion seized her; she
ran upstairs to. Hortense, hrid tInew
herself 'weeping upon her neck. '
The day passed. TOward evening
Frau von Lowen got up; a letter had
Conte, shut. from, mademoiselle. It.
inclosed a small letter with It *chest •
and 'a. foreign postmarh, "From
to her, for her little room Nvhere
papa, said Hortense, and mit- It
the lindene wished before the • win- back. 'She hastily ran. though made-
moi•sellee sexawling French hahd-
writing. "The Old people are the
same as ever; they play chess; and
the ,horses are. well," she said, tele.
ing scissers and beginning to cut
the letter, without' reading it, in a
thousand pieces, • •
•• Lucie gazed thoughtfully out on
the , beautiful Platz, lighted up with
the glow of the setting sun. The
numerous statue§ on the Heikirche
:heeled dipped in he'd •gold. •. Oyer
the perferated towers of• the Luther-
hn 1, attic s oo io le
a".ainst the st e. 1 -blue sky, tile her-
rfiw crescent.' 01 the IlOW 1110011 W ;IS ,
early to fie seen. The hamps .were •
hurtling ht 'the theetres, Sand the
•
earl els. •he . air was full of . the •
perfumes: which: were wafted from
the parks and gardene.. A handsomo.
carriage now rehed over the pave-
ment. Ludo looked down As • it
stopped at the doer of the hotel.
Wilken,* in Ms uniform, helped. his
liride•elechto alitslit, and the parents
followed. .The young. girl, :in a pink
dress, had her blonde bralls fasten,ed..,
up to -day„ arid carried -a bouquet .of
roles in her hand. Lucie started,
Hortense • had -suddenly come .. and
stood beside her.
.hhhall I reed to you?" she asked.
i•ce, the ingeons , flying over the
-Hofkirche in the evening. twilight;
it. huthes:me thinic of -Venice. Do shet
reniember 'how we Toad the "Mr -
Chant of • Vehiee there?!' . • • 1
• .At this moment, there was a ba-
rouche at the door: the:whiter .• an-
nounced:. ."Herr Weber." ,... Hortense
hOweel 'assent. •.
"I. had hardly expected to .find
grace -ie yeah' rhea," ho•said,•, 'jest-.
ingly to Hortense; hbut.I heard with
regret Opt .you were, ill, and ceme
to . mho :inethries tabout " of •
,leraulehi Walter. HIM*: You very
much,' be said; .. taking, a chair
which Frau . von howen, offered
net disturb .you.: L•see you
arc suffering, you are eo pale. I dui
• cnly afrhicl. that,. this, inerry-making
just under yo u will •disturb your
nights rest. • It is So odd :that pee-,
pie .like the old, err von Norbert,
who has. -such' • it, handsome' house,
should .eelebritte a, fetidly 'benquet in
a hotel."' • •
•„Hortense, who heti seated herself'
in arm -chair, asked:. '
"Do you know these people?” •
"Slightly. They have an estate near
my . property. I haVe met him at
the club, and 'once. at an agricultur-
al society. Ile is. ah odd tellow,hrat.
an honorable man from head to foot,
with all due respect to his queer ho -
tions. The ladies I• scarcely know
at all," he 'added. "I have alWays
hoard that Marie Von Norbert was ,a
Very wellehrought-tip• child. But par-.
don me, Frau • Baronne, you look.
really 111; mah not send for a phy7
sheen?" .
• Hortense shook her head. "I must
beg you to excuse me foe this even-
ing,"
He toOk his teethe With a 1,r:rabic:h.
look. .
• -The aiy is very close to -night," he
said, softly, t� Lucie. "I•think , We;
shall lia,he a shower thlrihg the
• theist," .
Ithrtense eat still. her head heiting.
dows, for the daguerreotype of her
. dead mother over the birch-thood
.bureatie . "Alt! to be there just
'ace!" she whispered, ;and then she
passed her hapd hastily over her
-eyes, for itgeth there rose before her
• eyes, as therehdidAvery day . now,
the visicin of a cozy little house sur-
rounded by tall trees arid illuminated
by the setting sun. • .. . „
I f '
But she- Would. not :thiek •of that; u •
. . .
• o will- leave me alone—heres-
she would hot. Soulethinh, else— • .
• . .. '
miicktyl. 'bite Herr \Archer, what, hid ne,t‘ ' • - s.
'Go . .to • your granafather' for .a .
he want? ' She -forced • her. thoughts h' '
t rale. Why, should yeti , stay here?
heck to Venice; lie had first. met them. /, ,s
in the •hotel ou the Rive. del Schley- 'h .: -
,..Ne, and -a tfieueand . tithes no!" . •
' erni, and -.from. there he had. persist- ' 1
deed 'Hortense, beside' herself. ,,r -
ently tolloWed them to Padua,. and' will not go!" • .
Bologna. In lelorence, iii the Pitti• • I '
dress in the valise'. She.. stoppecl a
of smelting. to thee:h.-by returning h
looked . with alarm at her friend's.,
'
lost fan to Hortense,. and had been mile face; . •
•Politelh'Irat coolly .thanked"hfer. it. ' Hortense let her look, i.
then turoed slowly as -if to go.
..---• ---.-ii • 'hDo not be*so herd-he:tried," cried
311.11time• he had suddenly • ahneare
• beside .theinsat the 'Fountain of TreVe • eht.,h; .
... 1 •• . • • ,
• like a 'shadow, and, that whole Week tht— . • ,
Hortense came beck. ' • - '.
• He had once had the opportunity • •
had not let them out of Jiis sight.• ' .."Lucie," she said, and knelt down
by. her, "Wilken •is to be matried in •
of • relieving them.from a disagreeable .,
predicameht, when their carr•iage was. e few days, . here. ' in •• Dresden; the -
tvedding brealclast is to be in this
jammed in a crowd during the •carni-, .
Val. ..A broad -shouldered 'figure .inse, .11.et•Pt. You can not leas:ram alit* •
wire hutsk suddenly sea -ted 1 tn. . you can notih. She had buried her
n face .in the girl's lap, her whole body
the. box of their carriage, end bowed . shhhh; :
rcspect u t when t 1 y reached1 .., 1 ' • Y ou do .• not hnow," she .
. . .
Murmured,- "you de not know how
.hotel. 'And. ..scs he .kept, ...following
- .- • i.:!,.°Ceollit.;e• with me, Hortense," . Said, '
-them et a disthnce through their.en
tire journey, till at last they hail bed T,,,.(. • i,,..t. rneveci 'as. she lephed •
•'.Dalace; he had fainichen optserlamity Ale,10 was just putting a mourning
resort to a stratagem to put Inni on.:
over her and sinoothed, her hale;
the wrorightraek. And now ho. ha h.
There is 'a nice room in the Ober -
appeared again and liorteese. ' hith,' forSterei; it is so .quiet and home -
been most gracious to him. For the .
. - .. like there that it will do you -good.
Moment Lucie felt really. jealous ot Yoh must. not—you can not stay
the hig Thuringian. Then she- had to • herhe. - . . . .
-smile.- Hortense *had so evidently . . Hortense sprung hp. . "
.. . . .
used him, to-dity as' a• mask to con- never
' 'l will not' go.- . Will you•
d
ceals the pain she Was sufferiegs. enderstand.. me? . Well, go, then,
"Poor Hortelise' She rose - and.- . and leave • me alone, art. this hardest
Went over to the. door. "She "is uh- day -of ray lifehancl let what . may
'haPPY,.." :Me. thought; "and I left . • . , , . ,
' her On accoueh• of an tinhinci "word, t, ' h
Stop,..Horteneeh': cried the girl,'
*wrung, front her by her, sufferings." . him-med. • "I will -stay with you!" •• '
. ' Hortense was 'stancling by. the .-e, in- She felt thoroughly 'frightened; she
dew; looking out upon the Dietz. knew 1 hose drawn tips, hthose. large,
' She did not turn round:es I,ticie en- staring ehes; , she .seemed to sneell
-torch. On the table the lamp .. 0 gal rl that dreadfUl. Odor of chloroe•
burning, and bh it lay a letter. Lue • .form. Hortense came back to her,
cie recognized the. . gray envelehee , micl. threw herself on .her..neck. .
used in her eister'a house. • . : ' -
htelters," she added, ."this even-
• Mg again? I must have overlooked
sit before," she added, as no answer
chew. .. .. .
. • She 'seized it; it was her • brother-
in-law's handwriting, 'Her heart 'be-
gan' to beats wildly.. What had hop-
• pened that he Was writing to . her?
.. She tore open the .ehvelepe. Thank -
•God, It Was her sister's writing, but
Written with a perm% and not hulf
' as clearly as usual. .. Lucie switch
herself on the nearest chair,' drew the
mitted a crime? list X hide triye
self? Why do yoti make such a pro-
posal? What do you think about
me? Are you afraid that ra•-•Will
she Stepped,,
"You would.. not .go away ,and
leave me --you could hot!" she
. cried. And as the girl remaieed sie
•
, Reit she talkedh eagerly, drawing her
howta upon. her lap, , "Now, .suppose
you were married: and had a sick
ehiid—theu. you would not. go' to
hour sister,. even if 'Use dangee were
I ten times greater.' •Think that I •ani
your child., •Don'tsdesert me;
• We ate udarer to .each other then to
nny one in the world. 'Yeti know it;
: is. so. And is'. not, a menthl illness
lamp toward her, stud read: -*
"My. good little. Ihteie,h-Yotemust. hist as bad oh a physicel one? And
"woeld hou Want to leave me 'just In
t his er Isis?" •
• now have been a hoed -whilein fires- ; 8011(1(10(1 so pathetie. • . •
den, and perliaps have not missed the I
Lucie laid her head on the shoulder
etter front me wiiicn was to uo • of the young baroness.
wraith* there for you; or did hoe? 1 , ,h•oshi.he "no," she. Bath 'sobbing, ,
3 have note had Any . news from you • "and promise ine--"
1
tor
it long time; you never wrote ex- ,.We wiltif leave tifis in st week, ray
cept in answer to My letters.. Lucie,h, darling, I premise, I will take you
If you khose how I longed for a fesh • to .your sister myself." She kissed '
Words from youth my sick -bed, • yOu' • the girl on the brow. . "My good
would surelyhhave • written, X Icnow, gel!" she said: • •
George wanted to telegraph you • They hid not; sleep that night, and
WhenI was at my worst, hot- I both . looked pale and exhausted
• •
table. The Music. teloW laid stopped
ftoor bteheliontoorma en butt.Utrore glut; itsottilgent
tearless sobs. Then Lucie ruined here
Sell, hastened to her room, and
Caine back with her hat and dealt..
Hortense seized her by the arm.
"What are you going to do?
"I intuit go," Was the hnswer.
"To -night? assure you, Lucie,
you can not travel; SIX you are
radroereolpfougily,, • unnerved. Whit tit
Lucie, without answertng, lied the
strings of her cloak about her wain..
"Do be reasOna,ble, Lucie; you can
not be of any uso note. You will be
there early enough tohnorrow;
yoti--"'
But she Stopped, the girl looked at
her so indignantly.
"Do not try again to keep me from
my duty," came from her trembling
lipssh.e"slitroopuphave deprived me of her
last words. You—"
ed, panting for breath,
end turned away, Oe. the table lay
veil; she snatched
thdheoeronrig: unpYenanadnd went .to the further
Hortense remained standing 010-
tionless in the same place.
"Lucie," she cried. The girl BOP -
ped and looked back, am afraid
ttoonsloot. you go alone," said Hot,
Lucie lopked at her absently.
'with mo?" Why do you not come
"Because—because we code( not
reach our destination to-nighte am
sure the trains do not connect. To-
morrow, Lucie. Stay her!"
The girl hesitated. But a still
pale face rose befotheher Mind, that
lay as if ableep."hteht.
"I must go;" she -shield; "do not
keep Me. I can notathavih awl the
net enoment the .dOor dosed behind
. her..
CHAPTER XVIII. •
Lucie scarcely knew herself how She
got to the station and in the rail-
way 'carriage, or . how the night
-passed, and the three hours Of wait-
ing at the little .station, where the
briinch line from her home joined the
main line. She had only •one
•thought, one hitt& hegret; she had
• one picture' before her all the time,
and that was Mathildehe eyes full ef
'tears with longing to see the -young
Sister who had forgotten her in her
. hay life away from home.
When' at •last the train came to the
station the •day was beginning • to
hewn. She shivered as she. stepped
fetch the empty' compartnient. As .it
grew lighter she looked out into the
iniety lune morning. She was fainil-:
jar with the region through- 'which
•she was going; the cloud -covered
mountains 'over yonder the outlhing
I .] i II !\I I
v+,seVi.
• ha„nhde`orgel''
, something."
rooth toward the -man Who sat se
trembled as he Went up the steps to
horns, which. in sunneer was also
approached the houe his: steps be -
In the large hall, adorned with stags'
the hall.
used as a clining-room, all Was still
Ca1/10 .slower. 1.11CiR saw IIONV 3141
as death, only the euch00 cloek tick,
ed on the Wall. The door of her
brother-in-law's remit was open, and
Mg and remonstrating with hint.
soon? Come, do not have Stich
which Lucie did not know, comfort',
have thought this would hapPen 60
wicked thoughts, but come and eet•
out of it cattle a woraan's Vele%
leather sofa, his head resting on his
door. She took a few steps into the
despairingly in the corner of the
the poor little things! Who would
The little telloW r On, but as he -
Lucie followed hini equelly slowly:
Lucie croseed over and opened the
"'For the children's ,sake, cousin,
herself by the table; she looked ready
she said, and supported
to drep, and her white 106 Could not
frame another word. • ,
Ile looked up and raised himself.
"YOU come too late, Lucie!" -
?he stood perfectly still, with
clasped hands. A small, stout wo-
man of about fifty, with her hair
brushed etiffly 'down- at the sides of
her face, a stub -nose, and hard, 1
lolvgehrt heoyrfsili syneaiiiingact black apron
--he -11-.00 -Jess, and black
ribbons in her cap, and a. blhck hand-
kerchief round her neck, stepped up
to her,
you. must be the sister that
• the poor woman so longed -tor. Ah,
yes! it is .very' hard when one comes
and finds all le over. But you• are
wet as can be. Have you ,any dry
• things witb-hou? Wait* a -moment; .
I will get yen some hot coffee,' Ono
mutt 'eat shed •drink even at. such
. She tohltr.tiff • the girl's hat and
cloak, enh ?tient out with them. The
• ..0berforster walkeh up and down
• the room; he trod` hehvily, and as if
1.4retis and was bent over. .
Lucie thought he looked 'years :
'older. ' She placed: herself before hint
with her hands clasped..
' 'Take •ine to. .herlb. shit begged. •
Ile pointed' with handsteward
the door. - . • •-
- "There lies what remains of her;
she. can not say anything: to you."
iele comers were hurrying into the
• would not. let. iiiin; I would not have .when they 'met, et breakfa.st•the next„,
you worried, and. 100111(1' not ..- have Morning. :Lucie wrote to her sister,
•let you make the long journe.y alone he but scould not say whit she.
In the etate of anxiety , you would . wanted to, for if she had given tit -
have been in. . .... h. termaa to her anxiety' she Would
"But now I ant much better; thY have .said th herself, "And .you re-
cra1gh is not so severe, and iny chest male here?"
I
is not so oppressep.• I have mice
She forced bers?lf to appear calm, ,
more confidence- in the future. Sum- hut in reality her apprehensions al -
thee Is here again, end I see tny hus- most broke her heatet. When the let- i
• bend and Children again without the ter was finished, tt Was a Curious
tears blinding iny eyes. My Poor piece of writing; ft Was full �f unfits-
• husband! Lucie, he Was hi despair. ished sentences. Only at the conclu-
You know him; he has mit much pa- shh, stossessas.
Vence, and when he thought, our •h, Imes te be with you, D. V. in
good Doctor Feldner wet; not curing woky,
ma quiehly enough, he went oil one •!..
day to llolienherg, and hrought Doc -
Ing agitated the very much Ludo; Tfortenre now began to. live IS a
had to cry bitterly; X felt as it X • Whirl; sne appeared 'to cah lOr no -
must beg his paedon for yoU. hut het. thing hut amusement. - Drives, via -
Was (Viet and sympathetic!, and dic the theatre followed each other
not allude to the past. 110 same in quick succession. One of her
ofteti after that; / have the greatest school friends in Dreeden had hear-
.
ClIAPTIM XVII. •
t to m b dchde The meet-
confidence in him. The last time he ried an officer, another the owner of
' came to see 1110, your letter from i a large estate in the neighborhood,
Palm= lay on my bed: Ile turned And she now did what she never
quite pale whoa he saw it. Oh, L0' -formerly cared to ho—in feet, had
del Why must it be so? Antiety foe carefully ehoided—she sought the so -
you hag given 1110 Many Weary hoUrs. • eiety of ladies, She became a leader
When X was lying so quietly in .1113' in everything; she would propose a
bed, the children playing retina out- dinner en the terraeqf or MS exeur-
side, and George at his duties, X had sion by water to Pillintz, 'After
plenty of tittle to worry. I can not the theatre there WOUld be a merry
lalp feeling that it, WAS your duty gathering in the saIon of the hotel,
to deVoto yourself to him, to try invited by Hortense, and she Would
and find your happiness in that; for laugh and talk end appear to be -
Yon had given him your Word, r the merriest, of all.
49 110t hearedip you( ail the Waal- Waidentar Weber Managed to, be
on the back of the chair,not saying
a word. ft Was quit in the mai,
and very .• sultry. A shiver went
through her as the first notes ef the
bridal. swig in "Lohengrinh floated
Up soft and ssveet.
• "I -think it will be , quieter In my
room," said Lucie.
. "Leave me itionel"
The girl seated herself silently op-
posite Hortense. The sareet strains
of the band floated through the room
then all would be still, and then the
-dance music would begin. A wales!
Now he has • his bride -elect in his
'ants, and is flying with her through
the rooms, and this fiancee ime a,
fatker who is. an .honorabig man,
thought, Lucie. Poet, poor Ilor-
tenSel
"A telegram for Praulein Walter!"
cried the waiter, whose knock had
, not been heard, and he handed Lucie
the smelt folded paper, lighted a can-
dle, and disappeared.
"For nte!" said the girl, in a
faint voice,
She .knew what it was witheut
reading it. Her hands trembled as
him °Petted tile Muter, und as she
looked at it she stood reolionless,
her head beet as 'if she had received
blow.
"What is iti?"' asked liortense, and
Caine over to her. She took the paper
out of Lucie's limp hand. "Mathilda,
passed awtty quietly to -day, -•••-
• George," she read.
She did not dare to look at Lucie,
but, laid 910 paper allentiv upon:the
sours of the •Hartz Mountains, and •
• the villages stilt sleeping quietly.
The clouds in the east becerne-
er•bh (teethes but the win could not
eissipate them, and finally xt began
to hainh-e, light fitiarain that threw
, a thick grey veil over the entire, re-.
glen, At •the little stations where
the train stopped peasant women
got in with their merket-baskets,
her and there some gentleihen else •
going to the makket-town,. Foy a
• momerit there would he 801110 C0/1 -
Si 011' bet ween •unihrWles and mar- • •
ket•-leiske:.e,and therewould be
• quiet. again. • At the •station of the
'
town there wets more of a crowd arid
a longer delay. She listened as 11
a dream to the bustle of themen
and . the. pattering. ef the rain ; as it ;
fell on the roofs of the with •
Sriddenly she • sprung tip and let
down the wiudow.• Through - the
crowd a child was pushing its way;
it was a boy of about twelve, whose
thhi little face beneath his light -blue
cap had a peculiarly sad, wistful ex-
,. Pr'e'sCsoie°rnad," cried '•
the girth "Con-
! radl" 'The boy pillaged- and came
• over. "Got in," said :tilde,
you going home?" "
t Ile had taken offhis cap and bow-
- ed, but at the same time shOWed
hie ticket. • . ••
, "I must go..third-Class," he said.
• "Wait,": -she cried, -getting but; and
the next minute they were sitting op-
posite each other in ain, empty third-
class compartmeut, and the train was
; beginning t� move slowlyen.
• For a few. moments 'they sat pee-
•fectly still; neither spoke a 'Word, .
The little fellow, with his pale face,
• and eyes that seeuied to ask what
• this incoMprehensible bitter • blow
that had come to him nieihnt; •kept
looking vut - of the windowt •Lucie
could net speak for tears, as she saw
before her the child 'whose mother
• had been taken from him so early. •
"Father *rote yesterday," he be-
gan at last; "but Frau Muller did •
go. suppose he Wrote to you „ttio,
.
not tell me till to -clay, .7h, let, me.
The 'little bey • pressed his lips
tightly together to keep back • his
CHAPTER XIX. .
Lucie went out, anil across the hall,
to the "sitting-rnt. The three eld.ei
children were -Ming by the large
table which wits ceVered with oil-
cloth; the 'little girls, of eight and
eine, with tear -stained faces, were. -
huffy with somo. green leaves. .
boy, •ov.eretnne with grief, wee lean-
ing pri 'the, table; his heed buried' in ,
his hands, and sobbing as if his. '
heart would hreetc. 'The 'hountteSt,:
three years old., Stood' atthe door •
leading inte the • room where . hie.
mother. lay. The. tear h were, running
shown his round, childisihscheelts,.ahh..'
•his• Whole body .was she:king. asS. .he
.cricod.:oeo
the.' deOit!'cihen the •door!" t I
. her h.
• • • . I
.
• 'Oleic took the Chird in her armss
."Coine,'! she said.,:cind cccrried him
. into the chamber pf the head. ,-
hlie stepped; with the child, • who
• had ceased to• up -to theeottch;
white - -shoot, cevered . With flowers.
was stretched over it, She did net -
hare. to ' turn. baek the cloth ,not
look at face. . :. •
anuna!'' 'said • . the . little -..otiet.
Then
. down and •clasped her hands-
- together, and pressed. her 'face, wet,
With tears, against the cold cheek.,of
.her dead sister. • •
"Forgive mc!" she sobbed, fort ve,
. noleln".hdoetibii.itmekatohetolinenao
:But the tired ' ehelide did net Open-,
and' the iimeth wise sPeechless.. When
tho old :woman, came into the room a
• few minutes later., Thipie lay -.uncoil-
scietis on the floor beside her, sister's
body, .and •the'ehilh was hitting
.her playing with. Sento' of the flowers
wiljeh rt. Lind thheth.from. the thee:,
'The funeral- was jusi-hiver; tbecar-
riap e .with the last • intiurners • rolled.
along 1.10 ti-dhd road; all was • 'still
. eh.' in th the 'houses. ...• • ' • • :. . . • .
't lie -children. stitsin thessrard,, end -
felt quite 'important, his every:. 'one
hidspoken to them to -day and sym-
pathized with then'. The little &is '
lookeh oddly in their black woolen
' dresses, Which were. almost 'too long
for. them. They. had their' little sis-
: ter between them, and were taklog
niolheely care of her. , • •
he boy was eating a piece of cakcs••
, with teerfeleyes: 1 The Oberferstee
• inwsed by them, but booked the other •
shah, as if . he couldnot bear the
sight. • Ilehad siting his gun over
his. shoulder, and tvalked, folloshed
by his dog, •acrow; the cotirt-hhith'.
Mid out. -Of the gate, •
• In, the sitting -room ' where the
. Mother used to sit, .the elderly little.
woinan was testing herself trent the
fatigues cif Lite. last •week, and 'par-.•
ticularly this past hay. Lucie, who
was stenciled at the other Window, ,
'looking at her brother-in-law, Itnew,
ne w that this woman'. had a right
to sit there; she •was a, relation,: and
lied arrange h so s o c e, o
remain in. the house and look after
. the children • and the litatifekeeeing,
• So Lucie under.steod quite Nel1 thal,
• she was • net needed. She laid her
. head agitiest the window-fratne and
watched the tall man .dleappear be-
hind the •trunica of the beeches. He
was' hastening away 111 his despair;
the house- Was so. empty, end life so
.She had tried to speak to
hira as they had Metearly in the
day by the collie; she had grasped
his hand, but lie ;neither saw • her
tears nor appeared to feel her heed.
"Let .hthgoties be by-gones," he
liiidiiernittittttteord
ieno.t. at
assistatwe in pre7
paring the breekfast for the pall-
bearers, which Wah yet in the .best
room,, was also ,a, falbure.
The cousin gave orders about ev-
erything itt the store -roam and linen
closet in suel1 a loud, noisy manner
that Lucie felt as if the Shaking of
the keys must 'rouse the .dead from
J)4,s
'1\1. II I
Our Glasses
satisfy because
they are right.
Spectacle fitting 1110
guess wora.wita us.
We are- expellent In
retnedyIng all eye de.
facts.
We guarantee sails.
tactien.
3
A. J. GRIGG
Scieratific 3enveler and
Optician
CLINTON. ONT.
h._ it— sh
tor's wife from the next, village, end . •
Lime Frau Dinh Inc of the sugar fac-
tory spelt() sympathizingly to her as
the funeral procesnion disappeared in
the wood reed. She had neither,
heard nor answered. And she was
just as dazed and stunned still, . Aott
n
last she IN on up 10 her' little room, .
and lay down on, the bed where she
latabouth
ddreao..
lilect t.he happy dreal
youth, and listeed to..the stillness
It with a curious condition she was
iu. Hie tried to put herself back in
the time that this was her home,
and, siranhely hnough, she succeeded.
Half awhke- ime half asleep, sho
heerci the clock* strike, aed saw the, -
mem shilie through the teees;
made moving shadows .on the white
floor. , The little iron stove- in the •
cornet,' looked, • in the. uncertain
light, like a • winnitn • with a
long waiet and e pointed cap. She
had once,.., when she heti afever, im-
lutineci it looked like that, and the
reeollection had renia.inecl with her;
As soon as . the twilight. came on,
the woman stood in the corner, and
to -hay -it came . On the birch -
wood, hurehu • Was thglittle china
vase. Why Was 11 empty?' Ilati she
picked no floWers when she was in • •
the wood with the .cliildren to-clah?
• ltitekl... was not that SMathilda's •
voice? No. Mathilda sva •
alshays was, but sume one spoke. . .•
T 11 0 t NVOS he, 'her lover! ''Alfred!'
•she - sitith and Warted hip in abject, .
thither. • No, she ihust* have deceived
'herself. Where. was slie, really?"
-She • 'got up, :heed *edict). herself
against the' bedepost.• hhe heard-- a
, shrill, high' womerhs voice say: .. ,
.The funeral; my 'good friend? It
is • oher. . , Y ou wanted , to pay the
last • respects ' to 'her?. To -morrow? •
hood heavehel . to -day? We, have
bed for• yoh; Herr •Thootoie: come in:
my cousin willbe bade soon; he. rats:
, just gone into the weed." • •
• 'The girl set down again; al/ the
horrors Of the present moment °camb.
over with full force,, and now he too -
was here! Haw long she remairie,d
so She did not know; all was still.
ihhthoe hnouee bachdaina,
'once: • !Allez! •
"March!" soutided suddenly, hike the
notes pf a trumpet. h•Then bitter
--
childish • ceying. "For Heaven's •
• sahe, what• 0,1'0 yoh afraid of? What ,
noneehsehh. eotmhed. again; and theh
-lit he. feet eame . pattering tip. the
• ete int ., • •
The there heart, heat contrulsiVely.
hhe thought how hiathildassat by
the bedside • of her darlings until:
they had Lailen •asleep. 'Suddenly .she
• stood -hp end -rem to , the nursery!
which was. oPpoSite ,her room.
h• hliall I put you to ' bed?" she
asked.Upon that -the •children hung,.
imen ' her,. hobhiug and , embracing .• •
her.. 'illestill," she Whispered, "so
Your little sister does not wake.h,
s as she
tears. •• . • • ''
•:Lucie, nodded,. and then she 'sat bY
hint and put her arm round him, and
began, to dry bitterly; •
"The -last tline I Was at home,"
said the by, receiving her caresses
With indifference, "on Sundity--.-moth-
er thought you Were coming, and
had cakes baked. She felt sure .of it,
because she fifth:Written you she Was
111,:• Why didn't you come, aunt?"
. Site 'wept *still more bitterly; tho
• child's reprosith was like a dagger,
htihe was net angry," said the
boy,. good-naturedly, "only sorry."
"'Lade teak down her hahdkerchief
and gazed at the polished wood -Work
ef the railshey 'carriage, atid -then
at the rain Outside.. • •
• "She Is to be buried to -morrow," '
continued the boy. "Herr Muller has.
given ine a holiday. I May stay '
'Week With father, beceuse I am the
eldest," he a,dded, •with soine pride.
• "There 38 SehtlIZ011skatlip; we will
-soon be there!" 'With the same sad
look ih his childish 'Oyes, he hiSked;
• "Are . you. going to stay with tie,
aunt?" •
She nodded hastily, and smoothed
back her hair front her tear -stained
face,
"Xs it true?"
"Yes, nty boy."
. • There was' not a soul in the • tiny,
station • at -the edge of the'forest.
They stood on the gravel road • in,
front of the little waiting -room, •attdi
looked at the weather. '
• "We Shall hthhe towalk,". 43 aid the
boy. "Father does not know you are
eoraing, and /se -always Walk."
.They f011oWed the Wood road—tho
old familiar path. The mist' hung
front every branch of the beeeltes, and
the Water Stood in the 'elite of the'
• road. •
"Give Inc your hand, Coorad," beg-
ged Thiele, as if the boy could be a
protection to her, for in her hitter
Nolf-repreach she felt as if her broth*.
or -In-law might driVe her from her
sister's death -bed.
' "The clogs, atint; do you hear
thetithr aSked the boy.
IShe nodded; there lay the hOtiste
below them. "co on drat, and tell
your father X am coming," ahe
brokenly.
•''
I do not nee -any te p, rau
had been the answer, .as.•she• almost,
humbly begged .to • assist: . Elven ow
Itike refused her amid. her 803/8, 08
site begged 1.0, help her in the kit-
yeloleuiteed *ratt`thave -don
n*e anything in
"Leave it forM
"e, Pratilein Lucie;
it Is no work for your hands. Alt!
.
the house if you .had only been 'here
—hist to COInfOrt my mistress; sho
could not, make up.her mind to die.
frauleint she had taken. leave of an,
and could not emu& any more; but.
-.her eyea Wee alwaya on the door,
she waited so long, but you did not
c°;thetit"girl stood with her hands fold-
ed at, the hearth where she had
often busied herself so merrily. She
could not .weep any more. She sat
48 One efst
V
• We always do go tosbed elone but
we - W000 to-nighhh :sobbed .,
lit lie Christine. • ''The .-citarcoal-bur- .
nor says that for eight ditts our
mother will .conte: every night -to see
if WO are well eared faith whispered
the eldest; and in the husenlit room
Lucie cotilh see .the terror in the
child's eyes.. She drew the little one
tg"lil'ecrnir meninia. is .with the - dear
3.0rd in thstvelh" SUILI .g110, hand she
etks Him to htke hoe of me cull&
ren. put . she will not come here
vou poor litth. things!".
• 11Il• t MIsTIIODISTS .
t .
. . ' AND AMrStligNXS.
. • ••
New- Voris, April. 26. -:-Deep intereSt
:has been aroused •amistig. the :Metho-
dist ministers ofthis city by a.recent
meeting- of ministers lit Chicago,-
: where it was urged that the •church
laws Prohibiting dancing and.: kindred
amusemente-euglit to. be modified: to
whet, .:1110clete. ideas ,of the people, at
1.ailIii
gn;
't* a large timelier of ,Methodist
, ministers of thiScity hello.° that the •
' Chinch laws .agatest - dancing, the
-
;theaters, card }haying and so .on do•
. more harm 'then good, is apparent.
There. is it large number of ..the • Con-
*.servetive eltinent •atuong the .
ters, however; who think that a te-
laxation. itt,..Church diseipline would '
work to the detriment ot. morals. • • • ,
Rey. Goodell ..of the Hanson
Plate Methodist cherch,. Brooklye,
said
''11 think 'that the sentiment
is .such at present that it general colt-
ference might *.amend the chapter on
amusemetits hi the Church law so 118.
to the prohibition against"
such diversions as deicing .ancl- card
playing which can of thentselves 1131
conducted in the most. liniment man-
ner."
'Several iither ministers voiced situ.:
Oar expressions:
. Mrs. 1Vatson---‘Every now and then
in tlieding the move of failures. I come
• across the phrase 'preferred creditors.'
What are preferred creditors ?' .
Mr. • Watson -'Well I myself prefer
' creditors who don't dun me.' .
•
THE DRAINAGE BILL.
Like the Cattle Guard Bill, the
Drainage 11111 has been killed and no
rclief for tlic farmers in either of these
mato s is now possible until the
next session. The result shows how
di cit lt it is to net, re the pas-
;
sago at Ottawa of any legislation to
winch the railroads are opposed.
Once -more' the farm are shown the
the force which
necessity of t
tl,e railroad olgt.r..4‘v.;eitolktiya
•