Part 3 (1/2)
”No.”
Toward sunset, Dumont, lying by the window, opened his eyes of a dying _Lammergeier_:
”My Ilse.”
”Father?”
”What has thou to this man said?”
”That I will be engaged to him if thou approve.”
”He has gained the fight?”
”Today.... And many thousand dollars. The theatre in Chicago is his when he desires. Riches, leisure, opportunity to study for a career upon his stage, are mine if I desire.”
”Dost thou desire this, little Ilse?”
”Yes.”
”And the man Venem who has followed thee so long?”
”I cannot be what he would have me--a _Hausfrau_--to mend his linen for my board and lodging.”
”And the Fatherland which placed me here on outpost?”
”I take thy place when G.o.d relieves thee.”
”_So ist's recht!... Grus Gott_--Ilse----”
Among the German settlers a five-piece bra.s.s band had been organised the year before.
It marched at the funeral of Albrecht Dumont, lately head gamekeeper to n.o.bility in the mountains of a long-lost province.
Three months later Ilse Dumont arrived in Chicago to marry Eddie Brandes. One Benjamin Stull was best man. Others present included ”Captain” Quint, ”Doc” Curfoot, ”Parson” Smawley, Abe Gordon--friends of the bridegroom.
Invited by the bride, among others were Theodor Weishelm, the Hon.
Charles Wilson, M. P., and Herr Johann Kestner, a wealthy gentleman from Leipsic seeking safe and promising investments in Canada and the United States.
A year later Ilse Dumont Brandes, a.s.suming the stage name of Minna Minti, sang the role of _Bettina_ in ”The Mascotte,” at the Brandes Theatre in Chicago.
A year later, when she created the part of _Kathi_ in ”The White Horse,” Max Venem sent word to her that she would live to see her husband lying in the gutter under his heel. Which made the girl unhappy in her triumph.