Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-11

FORE with tears on his bashful face he had
confided all TO his mother: and, at her sugges-
tion, he had now provided a little present by
way of introduction katrine smiled sweetly
as she approached, for with woman's quick
eye, she had read his gances long before. His
lips at first rebelled but he struggled out
Salutation, and, the Ice once broken, he found
himself strangely unembarraSed. lie breathed
freely. 1t seemed 10 him that their relations
must have been fixed in some previous state of
existence, so natural was it to be in familiar
and almost afectionate communication with
the woman whom before he had loved afar off,
as page might sigh for a queen.
Stay, katrine," he said =" had nearly
forgotten" He ran hastily into the cottage
and soon returned with a covered basket
" See katrine, these white rabbitS!-are they
not pretty 2"
"Oh, the little pets!' exclaimed Katrine.
Are they yours ?"
No, Katrinchen-that is, they were mine;
now they are yours
Thank you, Carl. ! shall love them dear.
ly"
For my sake ~
For their own, Carl, certainly; for yours
alSo,-a little"
Goodbye, Bunny" said be, patting the
head of one of the rabbits. Love your mis-
treSS; aud, miud, little Whitley, don't keep :hose
long ears of yours for nothing; tell me if you
ever hear anything about me-
Perhaps Carl had better come and hear for
himself-don't YOU think so Bunny p said Kat
rne, taking the basket.
The tone and manner SAID more than the
words Carl's pulses bounded; he seized her
unreSiSting hand and covered it with kisses
So. this is the ba>hful young mani" thought
katrine. shall not need TO encourage him
any more, surely"
The night was coming on katrine remem-
bered her father al,d started towards the mill
whose broad arms could scarcely be seen thro'
I the twilight Carl accompanied her TO the gate,
and, after furtiye glance upward to the
/ house windows, bade her farewell, with kiss,
and turned homeward, feeling himself man
for the first time in his life.
/ Frau Proch had seen the pantomime through
J the flowers that stood on the window-sill, not
/ ill-pleaSed, aud was waiting her sans return.
/ An hour passed and he did not come. Another
hour, and she began TO grow anxious. When
+ it was near midnight, she reused her nearest
ueghbor and asked him 10 60 towards the mill
and look for Carl An hour of horrible sGS-
peuSe enSued II was worse than she had even
feared. Carl lay by the roadside, not far from
the mill iuSenSible, covered with blood, mOau-
ing feebly at first. and afterwards silent, if not
/ breathleSS GhaStly wounds covered his head
and his arms aud shoulders were hvid with
bruises. The neighboring peasants surrounded
/ the apparently lfeleSS body, aud listened with
awe to the frenzied imprecatOus of Frau Proct
upon tue murderer Of her son. May he die
/ in a foreign land" said she, lifting her wlther
ed hands TO heaven, without wife to nurse
him or priest to speak peace TO his soul! May
bis body lie unbnried, prey for wolves and
vultures May his inheritance pass into the
hands of strangers, and his name perish from
the earth" They muttered their prayers, a>
they encountered her blcodshot, but fearless
ewes. and they left her with her sou.
For a whole day and night he did not speak
then q violent brain-fever set in, aud he raved
continually. He fanced himself pursued by
Hans Stolen. aud recoiled as from the blows
of his staff When this was reported Sn>pic-
ion vas directed at once to Stolen n the crlIn
iual but before an arrest could be made ii
was fouui that he had fed. His disappear
ance confirmed the belief of his guilt. la trutl
il was the rejected Suitor who, 10 a fit Of jeaE
Gus rage. had wayIaid his rival in the dark
beat him. aud left him for dead
Katriue. who had always diSliked Stolen
especially vfter he had puTSued her with his
coarse aud awkward gallautry, now naturally
felt warmer Affection for the victim Of hi,
brutality. She threw of all disguise, and went
frequently to Frau Proch's cottage, to aid il
uur,in- the invalid during his Slow and painful
recovery. She had, one day, the unSpeakable
Measure of catching the irSt CLEAN Of return
ING sanity in her hapleSS lover, as she hen
over him aud with gentle fingers Snoothed hI'
kuotted forehead and temples. An ladi>>olu
hle tie now bouLd them together; their mutual
love was conSrcrated Ly suffering and sacrifice
and they vowed 10 be faithful in life aad II
death.
When Carl at length became strong and
commenced labor. he hoped speedily 10 CLAIM
his beiroihed, and was waiting favorable op
portunitv 10 obtain her fathers consent 10 theI
marriage. The scars were the only eyidenc'
of tie suffering he had endured. No bones hae
been broken. and he was erect and as vIgoroH:
as before the assault But Car, most unfor
innate Of men. was not destined SO soon TO en
iov the happiness for which he hoped,-th'
love that had called him back TO life. As th'
robber eagle sits on lis cliff, waiting tail th'
hawk has Seized the ring g-dove, thea darts doTI
and beats of the captor, that he may secure
for himself the priZe,-So SchoDheld, not aHln
formed Of what was going on, stood ready u
pounce upon the suitor who should Sain Nat
rine's favor, and sweep the last rival out OF th'
wav. An oficer in the kings service spPearet
iu TIE village to draw the conSCripts Tor ih'
army, and the young men trembled Ike Penned
up sheep at the entrance Of the blood-siaIue(
hatcher, not knowing who would be seized 10
the shambleS. The officer had apparently bee
friend and companion OF Schoaheld's Ia for
mer DAYS, aud passed some tine at his bOGse
1t vas perhaps only coincidence, but 1t struci