HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News-Record, 1902-06-05, Page 3,4
1•••••••—..••••••
Julie 8th, 1902
44111•014.111.0•0141404,1111•111141•11.1141,W0401.0•11•0•10.10+0
My eart's Darling
BY W. HEINIBURG
Autb.er of "A, Penniless Orphan," "Gertrude's Marriage," t
"Her Only Brother," Etc., Etc. 2
$00044044•0•••••••••••••,cp•oip.•••••*•••••••••.:
tee h her angers; a fefut color tees
in 1,er diet. 1..8. :elm leeked IV at LII -
00, us emelt as to has: "What did
he Wahl. oi
••yeer imthandehhe wiehee—"
She steeled. and WW1 •she
could th.1.1.-t nothiog to sae.
\\ ha' matter is it le me?" inter-
rupt ed I I ort (else, al/raptly, as she
roil: from her chain r?Voir—ill,
dinner."
%%An that she left the room.
Lucie stayed where she was, feeling
very sad.
Would there /ewer be daylight be-
tween thtau two twinge? No, ifoi•-
tense d '1 love. h int, never would
late hint. Ile was hoping in
But she must speak to her once more
about it, piust say to her that • She
•was wronging a heart; that Nivea her
faithfully, hes, she would be his
champion, and hers; they must be
happy, these two.
•
CI I APTER
•
The next day, which Was Sunday,
Lucie went to church. As she was
walking through the carriage -read,
Weber joined her; lig had just come
out of the greenhouses. Ile- inquired
for Hortense, but Lucie had not yet'
seen her. . •
Is she not standing there by the
window?" lie asked, looking toward
the house. Lucie turned too, but she•
saw nothing but, the curtains. Teest
went on talking quietly together. He
stopped at the enteance to the park;
be would go back and ,keep 1f8rtense
company at breakfast.. "Pray for
• us," he said, trying to. jest; but ine •
eepression was troubled. • •
"Yes, from the bottom • of, .
heart!" site answered, warmly.
lie turned quickly and returned by.
a side path. As he inquiree for 1101' -
tense at the house, he received the in-.
1.01ex...dee thatmadame. had eigilete .
out a few moments -before. tie shrug-
ged his shoulders and looked at,. the
rain just beginning to falL
Lucie returned an hour or se, later
from church; the bre:direst had*been
delayed. 1 fortense had not yet come.
home. At lase she rode- fete-. the •
eourt-yard. • Lucie came theneet -her
on the stairs, looking anxious.' ,
"Oh, 'Hortense, in this weathexh" • •
Fro u Weber laughed , Mit ehe was
trembling with the cold. 'et w ill* be
do p1O(1SC do • hOt,
wait for me." -
• •
"Net ltle 10.11) you." • •
"No, thank ',vote" sounded back„
She made a long, . wet lineon
blue carpet as. she • diseppearee
• • ,
through the door. • • •
Lucie stayed, alone in the thane
room. Weber Was walking he and.
doWn in the adjoining room; then ;
she heard voices within. , • • • . t
"How could sem ride out en such
It was a -pleasure to me." • • I
weather, Hortense?"
"A great pleasure!" said•he. .."Yett
will be ill!"
"Do not he vexed." said •a wilco 1.
.
which sounded 1111034)er tedly gentle.
'I ant not angry, telly worried.
"r thank you; but let us dime Ace:
breekfast,"' she se id, and - opened the. •
door into theelinitig-room. • •• • •• •
she hail still n smile oa her lips. •
-can we have somethieg to eat?.'.•
she asked 1 Aida
V
1( 110 would like to bave taken them
one and all by the collar Ma set
them 111 the- Oren air. Tim :nester
did not seem like himself; before that
Ito bad been sitting in his room with
11eittitniann, • vonKeeler, who came
half an 110111' age; they were appar-
ently talking of • something
for when I announced the visit-.
ors theY had papers before them."
"1 fortense—receive visitors!"
-Lucie shook her head ineredulouslY.
'"Wito is Herr Keeton?"
"He has an estate on the other side
of A—, treadle" said the old WO-,
Man, , was standing- at the
mirror, trying to brighten up her
mourningedress "1.1 ith some jet • ornae
ments. "It is called ichelsIeben, Ife
used to be here a great .deal when
Frail 'Weber visited our masterwitii
her youngest daughter,. but they sae"
the frateein would not have him. No
one could blaine her for that. Since
then lie has not shown himself. I
will riot say any more; but 1 thinle
the master would retber see him go
than comq.t' • •
Lucie started; she thought of the..
note; wee it lie? Site felt she Would
far rather not go q .down. .•
•
At the outranee of the so-dailed.re-
..coPtiou-room Weber caine to .nreet,
her, . . •
"De me the favor, Frouelin Lucie,
to go to 'Hortense.. Semis dressing.
I beg' of her most . earnestly not- to
.0011113 clown; the gentle's:en are. more
or less the evorse for eVine."
He. looked • annoyed; 'and spoke .
meekly... Lucie. turned, .1sue .cried
1-• •
' after her; . • .". •••
"Come •bacig. it, is too late; she -
hs
agone in hy!the other door.'
The laeghing and tallcine had sud-
denly ceased; they. could her .chairs
move,. end ellen Hortense's voice.
• "Clo in quickly, Lucia" whispered
Weber.. 'The next meinent. she woe
ilt the roorn, followed by the maseer
'of the house. •-• Hortense was extend
-
Mg. .She had just
;greeted the. visitors.. • She loOked
wonclerfelly well 'in ,a, .dark-.
blue dress' • or soft silken ma-
terial, her' high.cellar closed at the
throat with 'a -little diamond. brooch
1*1 the form ofsee horseglicie; her blue- ..
blaele hair
waWoudlsely round
her telictltti-head, and her .eyes
.•
shone" es drk.he e:color of her
dress. . . a
Weber' Presented the gentlemen te
Ledo; !Hortense as lady 01 1110 bouve •
had already introduced herself. The
vieitere were thee.° hoepg lieutenants •'
and a eel:tithe wee appeered to be
the only quiet .one 'among theni.
Neaalleetense;. in an arm-eimire 'rota
tenting '03, her, set,' or' rather
gentlemaneiVilian's -dress—a.
• dusteeellored Suit of the newest surge.
style..! lie worehis thin, . light.
•71iair elaborately brushed; his eon).- .
pioxion exactly matched. the ,
'•••of. his. clixthes, and he. wore his long ..
moseache witeeci eitto two -Pointed. .
ends, which stuck out over hie thin, ,
•dheeks.There Was something este. -1
trembly imPertinent in his face • and
in the whole way in which he acted.
Asehe bowed to Lucie, lee let. .1114
eyeglass. fall, but put it 'beek • :at
. erica on, his eye, :end, continued to ;
state at Hortense,. • Frau -Weber :
looked at him • coldly, tureted. half
round,, • and began to- thek to;the •
eat/lain 'who eat Oit. her other side.
Lucie. had 'found. a place between
11 err Weber One twehtg-year-old
lieutenant; • who, judging •from. .
beaming" • face, still found life ;nest
delightful. . He took iMmense. pains.
to appear 'entertnieed. • • •
• e'A famous idea cif Ignetan'ighelie
Propeeed •• this • drive after' dinner. ,
liainy ,daYe: -are: so tiresome, The
.sturener theatre does not begin, till-'
half page. sevens This WotterSdorf is
a jewel.. :What' a pity the cashiers
„
are 'see...". • •• ..• • . •
The et:rya-et entered With coffee.
•Lticie• did not answer her neighbor;
she looked iet Ileirtense, Whase face.
Was •one moment. Palo end the next
flushed; it seemed, as if Herr Ihostan
were 'trying how badly he weld: be-
have in her presenee.. • •
"Kostan," ,cried Weber, sharply, .,
•"take . • that glad: out, Or your eye; ,
you annok1my e.. •• .•
With' a moVethent Of the face the
glnss .fell.
e'Since When?" .he asked, carelessly',
playing with his ,beerd. e an re-
member that' What von Lowen heed •
• to be looked at throughtill kinds of -
asses. Hee seclugion made you •
sa--•eshy, madame?". .- • •
He had .spoken la a half 'whisper,
so that •Weher, who. WaS sitting ast
if on the rack on the opposite side,
did not Understand him,
Hortense's eyes blazed. "I have
never noticed that ,httve beeri more
looked et than others, and I have
ho recollectiOn Of having, seen you
beftire.'' • • •
•Rostan laughed. 47 ten not. go'
eel:ceded ' as to auppose you have; -
but you must be lemen 11. yeti. are
not. 'forgotten When mem edee, ma-
dame," ,
•
Hortense shrugged e •
Imperceptibly, • . .
"I had the hohor once ins 13aden
Baden, if I ani not mistaken; . you
were accoinpanied by yOur father."
A. deep red spread Over Horten'
pale face, •• . • •
"It is pessible; I do not regiem-
her."
"I had at that time the opportun-
ity -of doing your father a little ta-
vor; he• promised me to Write to Ate
-seem day." •Here he laughed mock-
ingly. "May I inquire, madame,
hoW Herr Von toeVen is? Where
does he live notv?".
Hohtense rose. suddenly, "Iterr
IIituptmann.," she said, "may 1 show
you the picture we were speaking
about? It lutngg in My .0001n." she'
Walked to the door, followed by the
officer, Who khew there Was no pie -
tura tO see; but grasped the situae
Cott,
"Lucie," Meld Water, half Weed,
"g0 with Hortense." Lie, fixed his
eshe On Kostan, who, with a malice,
Gem smile and his %reglad/ in his
eye, was looking *titer Hortense.
There must have been somethitig
Peculiar itt that look of the master
of the house, for the smile faded out
of Kestan'a face' he Straightened
himself' Mt his chair and began to
play With the string of his %reglad/.
"Weber, how IS that fareantit how•-•
lingaellegeorif yettre?" aSked Oral. Of
•
•
. -
'01 course; we..have only. ,wttited
for you." • •
"I have a letter .from inademoiselv
le," she said, casually. "(rand-puptt
had. a faint turn again a NW. days
ago." •
They talked for some tithe nbcnit.•
it. Weber said he would write , to*.
Dr. Adler and ash whet he thought
of it. • ,
-Please do," said Hortenee again s
• .. • e
in that unusually gentle vdiee, -
The breatfest passed 'off morequiet-
ly than listed. Hortense wee'not-cia,
perverse as was her- wont. •Limie •
tried to do many little things for her,
but she did not appear to notice. -
them. As they rose; the girl follow- •
ed her. . • ,
" 1 (',1i' I fo rt ense, are you •waree
now? Do put on something. tray
rend to you?"
she declined everything. Ledo Whet
to her romn, •e•eli tie. troubled, Seated
herself at her work -table, and went
on with a rover she wee embroider-.
ing fpr Hortense's birthday. ...Thera
was 0 death -like siienee all around. .
her; • outside the rain pattered clown;
3101
not a living thing was to be Sella -
the perk. ' Ifer Work bi11 into her •
int); she laid back her head and.
thought, not on the . past,: she had.
done with that, the threads 2 were
broken. She thought of the fide:*
s•he saw herself setting in this: • sage: .
room, • her hair white, her :bront
wrinkled, her bunches of roses faded,
grown ted In work, in care. foie Hore
we' tense and her Imuse;
Tile world might roll on, ID 'Storm
and strife, in passicin and. in -happi-
ness: she would not feel a breath a
it, in her eventless -life, with one day
Just Dee another. •
She looked up at the little -mirror.
s t and i Jig on the table, anti Aim her
blonde hair shining, She. emoothed
her head gently; how long it would
be before that hecatne grah •
Just then whee's rolled over . the
gravel below; and she could . hear
Mntrhing end talking. What could
such an unusual thing mean? Frorti
her window she could not distIngufah
nny thing% as the main building Pro..,.
,jected. Now the crunching of the
wheels eetisod; the carringe had
stepped at the door. Probably • it
was visitors; if so it woad • 'soon
move away; ifortenee did not recehre
any one. lately, when the old Frau
von Be-- had called, announcing that
she had. known liortense's mother,
Herr Weber had to receive the lady
alone, and exettse ITortenSe On at -
count of "headache."
All was still again; Ludo took up
her work and embroidered tite 'gay.
silks in the linen.
•• grata e in," cried Meru .kein, at
door, "there are visitors!" The old
wornan's Mee was' red, and 91j3 10011 -
ed annoyed. "A fine set of peeplef
• They came in Here Nostan'e doge,
nee; three 13— otneerie They
Se 1.1Ni to have dined well;
they have hot heads, end are 10.1
O'Sy sParrows Ot day -break. And
my In181 111148, (IS1 eenouneed tlie gen-
leme13-1 was ituttthen in the Intil
--answered; 'I shall be glad to see
theme I felt ns if 1 had had a
stroke. You ought to IntVe Seen the '
master's face, M1.11101111. he rooked as
THL cz.n.Nrirow 1V4*S •ItE0oRD
the officers. "What if We Were to
melte up a perty?"
"1 ant ready, gentlemen; just
wait a moment; if I Den not
inietaeen, Herr leostan is just about
to 1•,ave. I will only accompany
him to his carriage; then—" •
"That Is prettyplain!" seal Kos-
tah, staling, and, turning a Shade
11111 glad you have understood,"
ret rn Veber, and ca.11ing the see-
vent, :who had just enteeed, he said;
''llerr Kasten wishes his carriage'
thee tering to the totally bewildered
ushers, he said: "You will do me
an honor if you will drive to Ea -
with my carriage; it will aways be
a pleasure to me to see you if you
will visit me house without this
gelltionatie"
An unpleasant pause. ensued; they
looked questioningly at Weber with
perplexed faces.
"allis is not the place, gentlemen,
to make eXplanat ions; I. must ask
you to wait for the present." .
"I must do the same," snarled
Koster:, buttoning hie gloves with
the• greatest composure. "I sup-
poee, sir, you will send a challenge
to myr second?"
"With the greatest pleasure."
"Au 'revoir." . The next moment
Kostan had ,disappeared. •
.."Ile has been drinking heavily,
..1h.re Weber," Saiki one of the alloys,
trying to excuse bine while another
hurried after • Kostan. • •
is scoundrel!" returned
Weber;
•
"Ilese,beluevioe to madame was iu-
comprehensible; I sat as if on coals,"
said. another. . "Pardon us, Herr
Y..•It was a silly
ilcleelowo'n ottp ‘•
...•'"(N,eosat elle will. yeti. take • your
pIa.
•
Ife rang and oedered the :howling -
alley, to be made ready to play, then .
he stepped across to Hortense' bou-
- dole, which adjoined the. solon.
"Do you hotel, Kirder? we .are
just going 'clown,'' • •.
. The captain made his bow to the
ladies and followed Weber.
"May 1 place myself at your ser-
vice, Weber?" he asketi, .and. took
the dater. Which the, latter offered -
1111'1'1i .
.was •about to ask you."'
"How was it?"
simply put hint out' houie." •
"The scoundrelI :Metered the
eabtain. • "Xtret think,-Weber'your.
wife, thinks I came withKostan. I
let her: think so; it will tot strike
hey as so odd;-,ehe must not have.
any eeea "of 'this." •
, "On • no .accounte ". It is curiotish•
Ieed • telt I should consideeihg
with you -to-day-how I Should best
eateli the., gentlena»; and that, he
shouldeappear• here jest theM" - -
"Is pistols, Weber?" • " •
•• • e,pt.. cheese. All the rest •I leaha
to you.. Liditenent Weissbirchen
iliov.e ore with observed Weh-
er, loOking, xis lie. walked With the-
-captain over the -Wet graVel,tOWard
• the, bewling-alley " .Where the • here
'careers. were standing talking in lciere
totiee 01 whet, had Inippened.
•
,The lil1s .Were scion .roiling 'titer
. the smooth' alley, and tee Voice of
the gracile, -tyke Was puttihg.
.up •the •••pins;• cried out leudly . the.
neMber that had
When the captain lett Iterteheei
boudoir. theth was. •silence foe:awhile'
between the two friends; •,HOrtense.
wile had. • bedi chatting • pleesantly
:and • easile, new. .sat in her urine'
their, pale..ena With a' drawn • look
about, lici meutle Ltieie• moved. her
:chair hearer,. and 'bent, her fair head
rd (070 her. • • • e •
"Hortense," she asked, ,"did any-
uripleadint happen? 'Hove' did
yen entire reeeiee the .gentleineri?"'
• ••'• Pray. Weber le u :shed a, shoe th• heed,-
. .
• little "laugh,. arid did. hot, anderee.
Lucie was silent; ;she "felt frightena
die she had ortee before heard . that:
laugh; it was' Me that day that;
elle could never .think of 'without .
-shudder. -She took a hook Irene the
)�w table by the 'ehaiseslongue.
r:•Mith. e...reed ...en you?" the asked,
11, ars--fleill•Ytense.• pet..ansWere 'she made
•
0. moveetent With liar hectri, as :ir tee
: thee • "Head*, Or don 1. ie'd it le .the
-erotic:to -ahe," ' --• •
• -Ietele• hesi tatter-. a moment, then be .
hem to reeds. eh, was a novel -of
Iteyse, ertavid , and Jonathan,"
-which she had begun the' previchis.
afternoon, ehe ithenot •keiehr whether
• IicirtenSa W1IS lieteninge She ,forgot
everything about her as she read, ge •
oheoehed .did the .hecome inh the fate.
cif Hans, deceived -by his friend; her
hiniee trete:bled .es .the•read. • •-k slight
noise Made her shop; Ifortenee had
risen g and -Wan abhut. to go ..aut of -
the
rootte • • •
"teedise nee, I have a heahlache,t.' •
sho. seith••searcely heartily,' ; • ;
, •
'TOL dearest, then I will not react
any More; you should have seid .80,"
said Lucie, fedling hurt., "If it: • is
• disagreeable to, you, • t will ..go. -1
only ineaht to do mg hest far yote".
4`lereetherh" eried Frau Nein, sude
denly appearing :at• the door, "will
you give ine a long_ table cloth' eta
mord silver? • The' gentlemen are go-
' to stay. to diriner, •
' Lurie -notel.ed and took hp
the key -•linsicet; • Hortense had.
gone out: of the opposite doerwith-
out a word. The girl :turned emind
with a. sigh to givc. what. eves want-
. at, Peen Nein folloWed her.
"Only for three. persons, . if. . -sou
pleese,".he s'said; "Here Kocitan. and
one of the gentlethen hath gone
home. . Please give hie the lietafet Is;
W(? have trotd."
Lucie gave her silentty what •was
efanted, then Me' Went through, the
roome to find Hortense; he felt ter-
-
riley woreled rtbopt her, •
•
28*
•
doing so.
Angry tears $tood in her sew;
while stilt laughing at lierseit she
ehrugged• her Sh011idelS, She could
net complain of it to /time ehe could
not say to Agin, "Protect me; do
not let theIn pain inel" She did net
possess his confidence, pr he hers,
and she never would possess it, for
she had repulsed it, and 1101,)' it WaS
tO0 late.
oci. late, she repeated, softly.
She thought of her wedding evening,
and how she Mid -struggled with her-
self as to whether she should say to
-which you ought • to have known
him: "I have something to telt you
long ago:" but bee mouth seemed
struck with dumbness. She remember-
ed. how she hied sat bY his mother's
side and bow the ice at her heart
began to thatv under her gentle, wo-
Manly eyes; she had longed to clasp
her arms round the old lady's knees,
and say: "I am so bad, Mother; X
have concealed from Wade/her that
people point the finger of scorn at
the. Van Lowens; I have not had
courage, out of pride, out of fear
that .he would leave Me."
In vain. The bar was not yet tak-
en front her lips.... Driven to despera..
time she had thought. that here alone
with him, in the quiet of her own
house, It would be -easier; but here,
too, she was silent; she was shy and
reserved to Wm, and, by degrees, it
had become too late—too • later
then
of
fAitheflsttl
their
ae Iifitt
od ner•oarddt eon hti-epa t
ilitl; h
• had withdrawn more and more to-
ward -the outside that of the road,
atid. now he too had left the middle
and went on the outer edge, but not
the one near her, but the opposite
one. The broad waY lay between.
them; they could no longer reach out
a hand. tO each other, could nb long-
er read what was in each other's
oyes; not hear each other's whispers.;
there was no doubt Weber had grown
tired; he loved her no longer!,
Slid looked about her, and pressed
her hands -to bee temples. Out . in
• the corridor light steel.; sounded, and
a slight jingling tee if or keys. Sbe
looked toward the door with .a bit-
ter expression. •
•
There wts the one' who trod in the
middle of the path between ' them,
whose ear beard and whose eye saw
what she, the wife, should -have seen
and heard, but who weuld make it
itimossible that she.should over again'
go side by side with . • .
"Hortense," cried the:soft and:lov,
ing voice. She saw them both at that
Moment as they had • walked down
'the carriage -road ih the morning,
talking eagerly to yeeh other,- while
he had had no word for her. 'rhea
she had jumpe(1 on her horse and had
ridden a,botft for hours in the woods,
fighting , with herself and mingling
here tears with' the Thin -drops. • She
11111(1 peused under op oakat the edge "
of the ;bead, • (111(1 gazed. at the 'wet
Meese:10d', The midday chintes 111
'the were jest over, and she
'ogled her. hantle heti ,•
'It eilell..be Ole/e'er:I. I will --try
• to mein his confidence. • will go •
Weer° 1.1)010goes, 'will do What she
dove: take. on .myself 1.11t. enrol of the
house. I can uot. hOdr
SildiN' .41er first.thetetupt:: bad
been,. • frustrated ". Sho• •11'
Oita she, - •eould •.: not, ' make •
Smother ". end: " effert for -••it
long' tittle, perhaps neyer., She would
draw back / into- herself Inure Und
, mere,. and .Latele-p.erlutpS- She .‘ smile
day: .W.0-itld reign overhis heart ••its.
she new di(1. over the I.axys, not that
'elle would deceive- in 11)13'way, but it
Wbuld come .of itself, would ....lie .so
.na !oral, Eind then--- :
"Hortense; I have a ineesa.ga for
yea from your: husband; open • the
She." se/rehg tip. . +,1gain the itar:ci
•, •
singe come epon her ,lips.. 'She. weed
slowly cieroes the room and evened
the (Igor: • •,
Lticie • looked.. unxiottslY . at her'.
,
'"Hertense you ..are ill. - Veit took
cold: ectele• . this; *11(31 11111f, siet• eald,::
lahieg her •little cold ttantle he Her -
tandem. brow. . • • • ,
With.; an involuntary movement
Ilerthase • eterted • (twee' them ,h6r,
touch, and StepPed. . ,
.."114.1rr Weber Wishes to know it: f1.
evoule u'greenhie' to you if 1)0 23010
to tittle alone with the genflenien; :
it niiii•Itt save seat . front • some „
hariassmente, he -tleittlesg" 'She epoke
.''01 00(105(1, 1011.11 p1os-
11111Treo,esrr.el,t;,ti:eltIgisn•!:.-
•. .• ,
. •
.' "I will haye .our dinner brought
:the green ehoireettnd- we will , dine
.agai •0 tweeted.; , TIort di se, as. we •
• titied to do. ; :ball -Nye!' •
"As you likee' . :• •
• "I 'will mind him word, lhortense,
.and jara , look at the table again; •
. :ma will he' with hoe ,inintediately: •
Excuse,xue a.. moment . .
"Certaittly,7 wtss the--ariswer, 11111111indifferent tone, 'Fran Weber turned
beck and :began to walk. slowlyup
and clown the room. • .
Why eid hent remehimself? Had
he really .ntii itotieed 11010 -iinpert1)
neut.. they had been • to het'? •
Wag he go very angry with her he-
eause see hod reci•ived (l)ege visi-
tor? I1e. leal loateci at 110?- With
such a displeased expression as she,
'etood with. • the nests . had
made a very asvkwarci bee,inning; she
never did clo .the t•ight •thinge How
came he to not ice that., they. had
le:en deficient in respect to tier? I1.
it hed 'been Lucie— • • .
She 'Stopped befoee the long •hiligor
and gazcd 0 i , clis-
trtod face' looked hack at her, the -
eyes 8127011011 h. from weeping, and
her dressing -gown looked .se tunilfint,
She Compared herself withthe dein-
•
mm••••••••••
••
CfrAt"rrtut
Fetal Weber Wre as nowheto be .
foetid. Inele .stedi Still in the eite •
tiegsedont, keocked gently' With
her fleece.
'''Hortense, dear • Hot tense. can
do atiething?"• ' „
All was still Within. Through the •
open whitlow near her she could bear
the roiling of the balls and the
voices of the , gehtleinen. She turned
the handle of the door VerY softly,
but it wait locked. Ilhetenite heard
her distinctly, but she did' 1101 121000,
She hud put on it dressing -gown, avid
inotionlese on the sole, staring, •
at the ceiling, WhiCli WM.; (11 0 ;)ed 111(0
4) kelt 1011h n 71100-110Wer•ql MAIM
Her face glowed its if in a fryer; her
heart beat am if it would burst with
rage and. pain, Was slid, teem dome-
vtl In stiffer forever because of, her
father'dishonored nitute? What
right had People to come ep to her
boldly and gratefully und open
the old 'wound? She laughed again.
' • ol I" she Whispered. 'Whet had
the wished to do? How eame she
to be eueldentsr feeling to gentle. So
desirous ef pleasing him by receiving
this visit—this visit or nny other,
(00 the did not knoW these people?
;She had had her retvard for
t,s;, graceful figurein the black wool- •
012 deess, the embroiddred white ap-
roil• rmind liee eyelet, and the' velvet.
1)010 111 her 111011de hair, the key-bati.
kat -on her arm, so lithe, so woman-
ly and lovable. Had she been Out of
her mind when she resolved to place
this girl at her side . ixt the first
blush of their married life? • ;
III*: shuddered, as Lecie• just then
entered the room. 1.tiele had in her
hand a little tray 'with a glass of
Something so cold that the moisture
Stood on the 'Outside and sliees of
-lemon were floating about in it.
'''Drink, 'Hortense," she begged,
affectionately; "it is lemonade, l'ou
are so warm, poor heiertl"
"No, thnuic s-ou," stammered Hor-
tense; It Would, have been impossible
for her to towel the glees.
"Will you riot eat something?"
-Shall I' send your husband to Sloth
Hortense? Per -haps We ought to send
for .a, doctor."
"1 will net have' you send Wattle-
mnr; perhaps hie willaperhaps Come
himself." She sunk on the nearest
thair at thest• Words; she felt she
could no longer sterol upright.
"Hortense, come, let, Me. Tut 5100
to bed, bogged Lucie.
"Let me be alone," Cried Lila
able to Contra herself, "I beg of 1
young Wife, pa.ssionateler, ne longer
yea."
Lucie stood motionlese, a look of
horror on her face. "Aro you angry
With Me? What have I done?" she
asked, softly.
"Do nOt tease me. Do me the
favor to leaVe Alone."
The girl Went out silently. In the
corridor Oho met the load; she
sent her le, telling her to ask her
mistress if she wished anything.
Lucie stood a little while waiting;
the Amid. did not return; Hortense
had accepted her assistance.
Lucie sat in her room, unable to
colleet her thoughts, and asked her-
self in vain what she had done to
Hortense. She could Lind 'nothing.
A feeling of dread, like the presentl-
meet of coming misfortune,. mum
over her. The room looked strange
and uhhomeslike ia the twilight.
She lighted a, lamp, and ft seemed
to her it had never burned so dimly.
From ,,the garden ream. beneath hers
she could hear the voices of the gen-
tlemen at table.
The Master of the house hed or-
dered dinner here, as if he wanted
to keep the guests away from the
poet of the house. where Hortepse
About half past nine there was a
knock at Lucie's door; she was still
sitting 'in the same spot. "II-cater:se,'
she thought, and turned her head.
It was Frau Nein.
"Yes, yes; you .sit here, and my
mistress lies over there and . 111ST
beautiful trout stands untouched in
the green rooln, and not a morsel of
the venison is eaten."
"How .is Frau Weber?" asked
Lucie.
"She lies perfectly still, hud does
net even. turn her head. The master
went to her once, but got. al; little
of .a.0 answer as I. There are same
queer things .going on in tliis house,
fraulein," chattered the Old woman, -
seating herself . -eomfortably ie. a.
chair. "The officer who rtIshed away
130. excitedly with Herr' Kosta,n , has
been back again alone, and has been
walking up and • clown. the garden
.with lieuptmann : yen Kotler, • 'and
now he is off again, fust wish
the gentlemen would go to their
homes; I am afraid • our mistress' is
more 111 than we think, took her
hand just ncr•v, and 'it was. as • hot
: as a heated iron:"
• Lucie could- steed it no longer;
the hurried noiselessly into Mr -
'tense's bedroden. The red lamp
burned under its Almelo; the • youn
beroness lay. Motionless among the,
white pillows. . The • girl stepped
softly:up to the Intl and leaned Over ,
• it. • • • • •
11
•
"Hortense," she 'whispered anx
leuelY, "lee the stay with you."
A Motion of tho. hand, geptasing •
her', •was • the only answer. .•
. ."11Ortense, be geed to nue SOY
why 'YOU are angry with me? lf
have offended :you, will apologize
moee, NW": You know WO -hti,V11 I-
waye. done so to ,each.'other," begged
Lucie, 'her voice breaking into sobs.
Hortense .passed tier hued over lier
tenniles, and there • wile steel nervous
impatience in. the aetion • that: Lucie:
terned and, Went away. - • ' •
•
• • • • CITAPTElt. 'XXX.. • •
. • . • .
The next. day rAmie .and. the young
master of the house were sitting op-
Poalto :each .other alone at dinner,
,Ilortense had. not left her room; .she
•had had. her breakfast brought to.
her bedside by Frau. Nein, arid bed
Icheitgtho, old wobian by her to. " do
duty as sick nurse. Waldemar
er. had ,wandered with anxioith leeks .
the whole . :horning between II•ore
, tense's codch end his 'herleing-tableh
New. they ' eh -ere • eating: 'in '..sitenee;
that es,' letele toOk' a 11 )1 tit -011th
of seep. fe wag hoed for her Igie
speak,: a sleeplese hight and her an-
xiety -had so upset" her. She' all.
at once lost the feeling- of being- at.
home here,. and . regret •for -what. she
had once 'so lightly. thrown asvay
'• chine . . a f orce . • whieh
-ft:never had before; • . - . •
. lied net gene' agein to. Hor-
tensefe room, ..but kept expecting.
every nihfute that either •Weldenher
'Or the. maid,- est. Frau Nein. Would
.qopte to sun -non her,' but. in :vaitr.
. !Way. I beg you, FrOuleite'Llicicit
:said :Waldemar, • at.. the end 'of the
• dieing', ''to.,.be So good.,as toe. come
to •my. room.. in abon t a.n, hour/ .1 •
have something to shy to you ---a re-
queSt to. malte."..,„. • . • • • '
8110. bonred it silent •assent. "I sho;11.
drive off this. °veiling nee wiel probe
ably be away:amen' tbemorrow even-
ing; Thiser.e a— lint of this. later;
now I must attend to something -At
my desk:" At the door he • turned'
and said: "What -18 the niatter
. ,
..tWetin you' and ,Hortensla?'
• -"Nothing; r .keep. asking .111:401f.,,in...
vain whet I have crone to her."•
•"You• • do not khow, • either what
• this Herr Kostan to her yester-
day?" ••• , • . ' • .
"Not Hortense. hes, fer some thne,
eeased t� make a confidahle of me."
"0 11, it 'Is nothinee can hot be any-
thing," he • said; .wishing to eoinforts
here but in an abseht manner, as he
left the roam
Lucie took a short turn in the
perk. She wits in the habit or go-
ing out there to gather wild floweee
for • the young harortess, hut to -day. •
she did net do eo. She sat down ,
mashie the park on a, hill, on the
•slope of which the cherry orchards.
belotiging te .the egtate were situat-
ed,. and gazed. atiroes the country' to
. where the Mountains met the hori-
ton, !him harvests were • alrecitly
•
gathered from the flacid -the rechber-
ries hung from the hrtinchee of • the
in'ountalu ash -t0008; and in ehe warm
air of the SePtember day 'wits the
first •messenger, or autumn, it Silvery
•: thread of Misty light.
'She sat there for an hour, only nee'
casioeally turning her head toward
the park, through the thick shadotvg
of whose trees the little eaetle shone;
• once in itevhile sho mach: an effort to
rise and go back, then she would'
yield to another feeling atid reinain
• 'where she Was. -At last, she heard
steps coming rapidly through the
park gate. Behind her dote it man,
et:atelier): apperently, from the lit-
tle black sciteliel he carried hi' his
hand. Ho botved to her. as he Pass-
ed, but fig she Walked ttfter him
through the park he turned . and
said;
telegratn for Prattleln Welter,"
"Plectw give It to- Me." Site paid
the man atid read it as she etood:
one eide paralyzed, 'Veil Hortense
....meets ;yesterday evenii:ign/e,rtir;k0;
gently,
And this tool' What, effect would
thie riew8 have upon Hortense? She
Went slowly toward the house.
"The master has been atiking for
you frauletn," sOImded Frau
Neirl'e Vied! out of the basement. •
a She lied ,entirely forgotten. Now
ithe coati. at the sante time tell hint
of the telegram; it, wait certainly for
him to break It (0 Hort-duo,
He Was Waiting for . her in his
room. Ulm dark -green hattginge
made it Scent ,already dark, thottgli
•,), •
Ithe lent, mai of the settiug sun Were
still, In the sky, an(1, the twilight
made the faces of the riders. And ars
chore in the Gobeiin tapestry look
more ghost -lige than ever. The soft
carpet made the steps of the man
pacing Up and down before the lire -
place quite inaudieie. Now lie amid
St141.
"' hay° a request to make of
saYp:o:kl.e",:hleowbI7.411-""T"oa-lego";aritra?";;:oilehl!
ing I shall fight with Kostan,
A stilled cry ef elarnt answered
"Be calm," he continued, In a low
tone. "Yeti know the reason. I
lichee perfect confidence in your clita
cretion. Here, in Illy writing -desk,
in the right-hand .drawer, is my will
and a letter to- Hortense, in case
that— X ou understand nie. Herd
I give you the key. I have only one
urgent request to :slake of you; do
not leave the poor creature; she
-will need your friendship more than
ever, 1 havetold her that I am in-
vited to a sepper-party, to be fol-
lowed the next morning by some
.pheasant -shooting, and have alreadY
taken leave of her, She suspects
nothlag; she did not once press my
hand. In, the letter "there—" Jio
stopped. "And yeti, too, Lucie,.
tell her afterwards that I have loved
her very dearly,"
He had taken the girl's hand and
pressed it to his lips,
e "Farewell, Lucie. Araby thanks)
IThe carriage is waiting. God. grant
W e may meet agabil"
Ile hastily seizea his coat and hat,
'and left the room. Lucie, who had
stood for ahmoment motionless, then
hurried to the door of the dreseing-
room, which. was next to the bed-
.. Toone she knew notv that -She must
not leciiiee Ilertense a, moment alone
--all else wag, forgotten. She start-
ed back; for there bebina the per -
they' stood IToreetise..
"I have startleileyou," .:sald the
. young..wife, • in •art annaturally quiet
tone, .
• "Only for a moment, Hortense.
• Thank God •yott are better!"
."come hem," salci,ythe latter, adz-
ing Isecip's hand. -"Sit clown .here
by ate." .4 She drew the triehleing
girl down by her on the divan. "I
want to „beg something of yoir:!'• • .
• "What. is it.,
SHortnse?"
-"Go away from here.' I
f- I:t. is- too
much to akof you, I willdeit"
she gasped out,
•• :•
"I clo not upderstand you . Her -
••.ji • 11.114.1
•
tense. except.. One thing--I.,that' I ant
.to leave Wottersclorf." •.• • "
The.shung wife, In her whitealeass-
• ipg gown, trembled veolerale.„ •
hLircie," you have always said yon
loved nre. If it *were true, :you
..11101:!':41.-laiv°eliggiertngdoet71.;a1 •crled out': tini
."Yes; you Inuit'. have seen hiAIr. I
eangielenaligellagg
Our Photos,
• Cibildr.en
eh() worlis Of art .
- 13ring in the little
ones. • Enlargements '
in every style of fin-
- guaranteed the •
best.
2ENBY'S PHOTO STUDIO.. - •
Our Glasses
satisfy because
they are right.
Spectacle Stting ia net
guess werk.wIth us.
We are experts (n,
remedying all eye cle•(
feet*.
We guarantee watts,
faction;
*.l.".?•••••N
0/) A, ,1". UG
Scieartieln asicl
?
. •
cx.,zztrrom,
,
•
. •
have surfered:h . • - . • • • •"1uele, do not leave' ine," she •
"Ghn: have I 'been blind il• thie Whiepertel., ", . • . • •
• Menne(' I:neje; flortense, "1 W fir steig•. With. yeti: eill he • .,
heve. I digereed • that you 'slimier 'Comes back, liertetise." . . • • •
this. a me, that you .• .should ,• dimes hack! 1Y11.4e .coing . .•
accOse• ine of tbe worst that dig back? -No; Lecke cae, not. bear • .
thought .of a girl, that youshored this ,, torture. • I think ant lone •
•ceme smIng arter • ine She Mg reason," •- She. walked tag and
w es stuldeely upon. her feet. :. i'Prtre- down . the roent; then stood befera., s .
.. elle. weitlegsdkeh. ' ."Witere. is the 1dt- •• . .
• • "Stay I heft . not finished .• yet,• ter?',' .. • •• .• . :
I heie, • •Y on meet • knoW. ers tee." - • "In' the /Mper :riglieshiind drewer; ..
• . • "I- Will •kno w , nothing; 1)))) haVe: • here „Is tile 1772 - -' • . ,
MOrttilly Weinylea Inc ' . .. ...Hortense took, eyithe trembling
: 'finch:, res, indeed] 1,:wt-1 Ft not hand5. ehe letter from ite place, 8(0.1. -
spying .',efter yquete Oied. IL . • Ise. .ed .herself ae the table:and read: •• • s.
well; ain
"I do- not. think any. harm 0. you. .."WIlen. • ,yoix hold • this .paper in ,
.wantecr to saV adieu to Waldemar:.. your ...hands you Will be free, Her-
: I felt: troubled enti•-anxieus -about: tense --will be 11 widow. I' althost
him, and then— .011 ' Lucie you wish that this May notebe written
could :net. help it:. • he must have in Vain,. 101 I see you Will never be ,
• loved ierou.,..e.Y.ciu are •the :sunshine in heppy smith.- me. I -believe- I know . •
•
-the 'house, ,:the. only -bright spot - for now that. I. can neirer whir :your
lam. lf it • had,. rait- been for S'ott, heart: . X have sulTerecl.morebitterl,,.
knOws'..if he,svotilcl have borne at .this Ithewiedge• than' 1 heve .lee
te me eq. ' . ;vow see: L :Mist. not filame you; Yoti.
She 'slipped down to the floor bb- 'have" neVer.. pretended to eare • for
tore f,ucle., rtn'tl• els-sped her knees.. me; it Was• presuhillitious mq
1(1110 yeti • Mest hear ie.—Meet believe that de love. go tette, .so deep- •
heoW that I love'. him, that ; can as mind, must in Limo find a, rer
tint'giVe 12102 tui to You.. No; 1 will, sponse. '1 have. been...mistaken. That
,not7.-1 can not 57011 .nie the trutii:' is my •• fault: 1 am to fight with .
what has' lityppened? .. Is he indite' jeoeten; you evill know :more ;front
Ag.tIt t Me? ...Hits he eonieseed it to Ifortense; take my
tnte; UP,- 't..rellthilek,• her M
. eer Sea be ,happier yeer •
• .. • . : • • • • : thanka.for the little yen 11a20100)0 ePri" •.
e•hoeke••be•rnilig. She pressed • her later yearet' • : • . •
,.
forehead -and With the• other ' hand • • . Waldemar." : •
•
• pushed.back the young. 21111. 12110 eve& A d.cep blush had graduallye
ovct-
mflill- on her kneee before het,. • . spread her 'face; she ..str.etched out-•
' • • .
'Spear; . • . bee Wes over the.paper end" hid her.
''• hee," said the 'girl, •seowly •gasp- face theme bor body shooh., "Ile
--
Ing out the words, "I will theak. I will dm -beca•use 1 loVe him—for. my ..
breirk my, egad, but you—yoe seed .and / can hot ten. him that' he •
. are respOliSible fcir 21 for 1 Can not is•dearei• to me' than anything in ;the •
Wait'. a protium before •exonerating 'world ! ' ' Aga I it she sprung up. •
the' man who just stood before' axle. ,. "Tele enie, why has •lie challenged.
11,6- brought me11 megsage for you; Kostan? Itrerely because he behaved
•he begged me to Say to ‚1011 that he so impelitely? could not have •
• loved yotterpore than, you had: ever 'heard what the man said to me.," •
. ,
. thonght; he begged me not to .leaVe ' He husa. spoken disresPeetfully of •
you if " 'The s
' Hortense %Teethe:it •thetionless; hire you remember • the , heeter Peterh . .
. ._, .
white fingers outlined so distinctly .. brought; just, as .you were defying off..
against the.dark.carpet on width she for the civil marritif? . • Vrenn .that
'knelt. • „ • • ... . time -yeur bud:maid determined :to .. - .
..'''lf itnythhig should . happen to. challenge him, but did not. knew . .•
• him," centinuctl Lucie. "Ile is ' to .. ,positively. that he eves the writere . • .,
fight a duel with Kostan • on • year and besides that,. ,Kostan has been • , ' ,
.areount." 'elle last .was oleic:et un- in SWeclen.until 110W." •
-intelligible. . . ,"Walclemar knew about Papa— . .
'. flortense \vas still silent....' . . .
up," Said 1.11e16, alinost kne?lew,—•ee'el,thjeih, hortense, eetere .ho . .
rotehtly. 'Mier°, in ehe writineedesk, ever sPoke a word to you—before he
, • , topped. •• . " : .yret end. yottr 'father, Itoetense. bo •
le his farewell letter. She seized the Rimer yeti-." •
young•wiras. arm. "Get up. I can "Ire ii in.A.--e, 1' *1010 I am sure!" •
. . .
not sPitre yeti this .' hour, for his deed ' the baroness. "Where else •
sake and seem own. I will stay shemid he be? Kostan's Plaee is in
• with you 011 to -morrow, as I- prom- .
ised hiln, and help you to bear it; • that neiglihoi•hood. I must speak to '
self." • • . • • him. 'Do you heat'? 1 110151. I will .
then / will go." Come, tontrel yolu•- drive - oher—die not 1111.110 8111110 1.1(110 ' !“10e. me 1 " At . .
Hortense . dragged,' herself. slowly , dint it eatuuled through the hoed:. • .
80.
Y •
• up,,Tithse if cahrerrialgleollbie restuosedwthoisiTeorvecei: think so, rAlcia
"Ile ,nntat be in Aes-, do
, you., ere
I entreat you,
r"iratel"r110.An6do titieftenreicht.14nilernTeinwe 'c
sahr
e-
• wg73107111,0 Mant3r1' . Put,
Litteltliya itno
go '1011.11
wait at the door and had,. pressed the
knob of the electrie bell, us," she gave orders. to the servant
"For what?" • seed •Lticie, "We- Wim anirtver'ef4 ilet. rink.
Withmit a 'word, Incie colleeted •
ne"" °I 148 3"1•17)W Wil"C 116 iii114 001110 cloaks and wraps, and silently
gone. Think, even if- ytint were . to she took her place beside Hortense
reach hint, your OPPectrance wottIci on the high seat. And 11010 the,
only unnerve him at a. 1110111ent, 'When ilery iinimal flew' through the. dark
he needs all his self-possession. A lahee of the park. tyith her light, .
bottle of soda -water," she said, load, and soon readied the high •
turning to the servant who had hist road: Thb moon shining theeugh • •
entered. She now went up to the the clouds gave a dim twilight light;
young wife. "Compose yourself; it the turnpike lay like a white stripe
must be borne. could not .aet 01.11 -before. 1h:etc:Ise let the ani -
°varied"' Her 'ace had a ateenge
met go RR if it Were mad. All that
tone in ft; all the lite had gone out passion of feeling of Which she wog
of it, and as she lighted the eandie m110401.. was rresi
front beneath her dark felt, hat.. Both
was in: longer the soft, girlish face; were perfectly -silent. Their way led
it Was a hard face with the lips cone,
. . through a, • village. tiveryt hing was
pressed as if in pain,
; .
Hortense sat as if Stenned on the
little their, the arms of which, made
ef deerts horns, Owned to offer her
but little SupPort. Her hands Were
claimed in her lel:, and she stared
vacantly before her.
‘gli)ti'sinsko''; ,S0141eitiZdertttilelaiet' 111°).t) Sving a
Poured out. •
Hortense raised her eyes, alai they
looked at each other, In retele's
eyes was the same eepression that
Trortettee had seen once before, as
Lucie, after reeelvitig the naive of
tfathilda's death, lind Stood before
her, threatening and coutentlatiOlts.
on, the writing table its reys showed
ti u ace let shone like marble
her features strangely altered. It
e het ON'reP ft/ riltTiM.
'1 e'ew thee Yehtien of the
Tee mo Digit, Star is one of the best
t1,i1tee of ilia kind hver published hy
r(111 (Han I: 1 er, it tee is. Ms with
te ograi (11185 the resolireva'
coal tletelepnitnt now going on in
what 111,8 come 10 1 e (1alitel New 1)1!'ario. 11.11(304r the Toronto Star
nil 131,1)111-1 it earrivs '11150> 3;1> 111 lite
ry beet vise • 1)41 Hes Let .
s .1g 1.; riee 18 :"11,, 11' 1' 11- 'or
the growing strength of that up-tca
date papeth