Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1912 — An Intermezzo [ARTICLE]

An Intermezzo

“.How nice of you to come/’ the daughter of the house whispered to a gentleman in evening dress whose serfous face was in strong contrast to most of the other guests at the fashionable ball. “I only came to stay for a moment," was his curt reply. “But please sit down,” the beautiful girl whispered. “I enticed you here tonight just to have a few words with you, and I know that you will stay if I really want you, won’t you, doctor?” He bowed silently and sat down. “We have not seen each other for three years, doctor, and I confess that I have looked forward to this meeting with great joy. As soon as I heard that you were once more back in Berlin I told mother it was absolutely necessary for us to give another ball, and the first card I sent out was addressed to you.” A strange expression came into the serious face as he replied: “This was something that I had hardly dared hope for from you, madame.” <

“You are still unforgiving. Is it then not possible to correct a past error when one has grown, to be three years older since it was committed?” “There are errors which never ean be corrected, mistakes which can never be forgiven because they have destroyed something which cannot be brought back to life.” “Did you then really take it so much to heart that I did not say ‘yes’ right away?” “Take it to heart! You killed something in me.” “Which cannot be brought back to life, doctor?” “No.” His reply was so curt that she* looked at him in surprise. “At that time you looked upon me as one of the men who did not give away their love. You looked at me as a young, poor physician who was hunting for a rich young wife to open the way into sbciety for him. Is that not true?” She hesitated. Then she Said quickly: “I have many faults, doctor, but 1 may say this about myself, I cannot tell a lie. And therefore I must say to you now that what you just said was true.” “Well —Efnd by distrusting me you killed something in me which can never be brought back to life.” “But when it is like that, doctor, when you feel as you do, why did you accept our Invitation?” “I came to guard you against a calamity.” “How that sounds.” “It is serious, Miss Erna. By accident I heard during my first visit to our medical society that a young man was seeking your hand in marriage and that he had every prospect, of success. It may have been an accident, or maybe my friend told me on purpose to see what impression this news would make upon me. You know there are friends of that kind. I did not show any emotion, but when I heard the name of your suitor it took my whole effort to remain quiet. I do not want to ask any questions. I cannot spy, but when your invitation came I accepted it as a hint from Providence. Here at this ball I must find out for sure If the rumor was true, and I saw it was as soon as I had entered the ballroom. For the very first gentleman whom I saw you dancing with was he.” ‘Herr von Wall?” “Yes, Herr von Wall. You know whom I mean.”

“But we are not yet engaged,” Erna exclaimed; “that Is to say—” "That Is to say, we are going to be engaged,” the doctor replied, completing her sentence. “Now I will tell you what seems to me a duty. Hern von Wall was my first patient and 1 know that he Is living a life which is ruining him physically and morally. 1 have tried everything to make him change his ways. I have told him that he Is practically committing suicide, but it was no use. I have found out other things about him which justify me in telling you that Herr von Wall is a scoundrel, and that the young girl who marries him will become as unhappy as a woman can ever be. Now I have done my duty and with your permission I shall leave." He arose slowly and was about to turn away from her when she took his hand.

“Stay,” she, whispered. “I thank you for your sacrifice, and It is hardly necessary for me to say that I believe you. But what do you want me to do now?” “That is for you to decide, Miss Erna. I have done my duty. My reward will be the knowledge of having saved you from a dreadful fate. If I had wanted any other reward I should not have dared to speak.” She threw herself on a couch, burying her face in her hands, and it seemed as if she were crying. When she looked up again he had gone and her mother came rushing Into the small boudoir. “But, child, where have you been? Atod how Is it that you look so? I really believe you have —” "Yes, mamma, I have —but -it’s all ©▼er —It was only a little intermezzo." She looked at her dance card. “I suppose I have to go back to .work now.”