The mountain Democrat., 1864-06-18
CHAPTER Ii.

HHpplneSS, ike ROiu, usually contains q
certain portion of alloy, and it is not,
therefore, to be wondered at, if the felici-
ty of Hans Sptzhuben was occasionally
disturbed by reflections of rather dis.
piritink description.
First Of all, he knew full well, though
he had never owned it to his most init.
mate acquaintances, that he was thirty
five years OF age, or thereabouts. and
Gretchen was, alas, but sixteen and he
could not help suSpecting that, although
Gretchen was not at all too young for
him. he might possibly be a tritle too old
for Gretchen; and thereupon he began
to ponder, whether in years to come, a
buxom young wife of thirty might infal
libly love husband of fifty quite as we'll
as-as- besides. the wedding wish rather
perplcXed and annoyed him. He felt that
he would rather give up such an advan.
tage. He might make some confounded
mistake in the matter.
Hang the wish. said Hans but there
is one way at least to escape it, and if |
wish frr anything on that day, may be
- and here he had nearly brought ont
snme form Of speech of rather powerful
nature, but he thought he heard sort OF
Snissering langh all around him, which
luckily stopped him in time.
Well, to go on with mv story, every.
thing fell out exactly as the Black Ficnd
of the Ha'tzwald had predicted. The no.
tary nearly threw a somersauit when the
fatal bond was produced, and made no
objection TO exchange his daughter for
this terrible proof of his rascaity. For
once, too. the course of true love mean
dercd on fairly and smoothly enough, for
Gretchen really loved her suitor, Hans,
who, by.thrby, ! forgot to mention. was
in good truth perSonable fellow enough,
and just the sort Of man to captivate the
affections and dazzle the romance of a
young and crntidirg maiden OF sixteen
for, besides a daShing figure and hand.
some face, he rtjoiced in pair Of curling
let-hIack mustaches, AMI beard that
that-Sulfice it to say, was the envy Of al
the tnwn; So that he fairly took little
Gretchen 10y storm, and the wedding DAY
was fixed precisely one month after the
Black Firnd'S visit to Hans solitary
chamher; the said chamber being speedi
" exchanged for a spendid mansion il
the best q arter Of the town, for Hans wa,
now very rich, and, Of course, was very
much respected.
Well, it was joyous day. to,he.sure
but as tn" happy couple walked from tn.
church door, Gretchen could not help OBJ
serving that slight shade Of mrlanchnly
dwelt upon the features of her handsome
hu>band.
My darling Spilz, said she, affection,
atcIy, surely nothing now should damn
our happiness, and vet meth;ukS, dearest
some trace Of care seems to lnger ever
in your kinde>t look
All ! said Hans, with sign that nigh
have agitatcd a windmill !; is not low,
like life, but ileeting, as the poet sayS''
Who cares about poetS?' quotl
Gretchen. True love endurcth forever!
True, Gretchen, said Hans, and tru.
ly do you love me now; but in future
years, when you are still young, and I lam
50 no longer, will you still love me then
as You do now
Pooh! pooh" sail Gretchen, with a
Togui>h smile, what stuff and nonsense
yon are talking, Hans. Why, vow and
drr'ar" that, to me, YOU seem to grow
younger every day
All, | wish did = said Hans.
Granted, muttcred a voice at his el
boy, and at the same time hollow, un.
earthly laugh rang in his ears; in fact, il
was not altogether a laugh there was
something like shuddcr mixed with it
so that Hans shuddered too, aud felt so
faint that he literally leant for support on
hi, bride, who, dear little afftclionate
creature, exerted herself to the utmost to
recover him, attributing his sudden in
disposition to the awful nature of the Ger.
emony he had just. gone through, which
some times is known to affect the stern
nerves CT the male sex more than it does
the elastic senSibilties of the gentler por,
ton Of creation.
Wei, bless my soul' said the Mar
chioneSS, what on earth had the man to
complain Of? Pray, Count, does any one
know the address of that politest of all
demons?'
Il dare say there are few ladies now "a
days, who would faint at the granting of
snch wish. said the Count, but wait
the result, .M.!;::!%:m.' ":
The agent Of the Evil One knew full
well what he was aho t, as you soon shall
hear. True it was that everything went
on Swilnmingly at first, for Hans did in
deed grow younger every day-to the
great aStoniShment Of the entire popula-
ton Of Golzherg, But, alas Gretchen
grew older at the same time; and when
he had grown down. and she had grown
up, to the age of twenty five, Hans was
beginning to forget the first tender-loving
attachment of his good little wife, and
having dug up the whole of the wild oats
that he had Sown when he was young be.
fore, what with gambling, drinking, Smo-
king, and, am sorry to say, far worse
than this, sad, sad life he began to lead
poor Gretchen.
'Oh, the villain = said the Marchioness
Well, a course Of dissipation cannot
last forever, though for a time Hans
Sptzhnben thought he had Outwitted the
Firnd in good earnest. and so, in trut' lat
first sight, it appeared. But if the ways
of Heaven are mysterious, the designs of
Satan are absolutely unfathnmable; and
i, was only after some miserable years of
vice and drbauchery, that Hans discover
ed that ne had again miScalcnlated, as he
had on former occasion in his tiIst en-
counter with the Temptcr; and his silly
triumph changed rapidly to despair. as,
rnfeebled in health, shattered in intellect,
damaged in reputation. and distracted by
remorse, be began to loath the wrstched