Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-10

mounted Dy some sort OF Dlack con OF con-
zeal head-gear Their aspect, altogether,
was very singular; | found that, so soon as
nv eve had fallen on them, | could not
take it off and to say the truth, If L
stared, the young women returned the stare
with interest. As moved YEARLY away,
the elder one spoke
Have you no money to buy yourself a
nights lodging, young man ~
have enough for that, Fraulein,' |
tired to 90 about and look for one
=. | have been ILL., and have walked some
miles to-day
The sisters exchanged glances.
. IF it be so, we will give you supper
and nights lodging We need no pay
ment. We are bound by a VOW to help
any poor wayfarer so far. You may come
with us, young man"
Something within me said, - do not go
But why? What young fellow of twenty
would refuse the hospitality of two hand
some women, especially when he has but a
few shillings in his pocket, is tired and
hungry ? Yet | hesitated.
Accept it or decline said she who
was still the spokeswoman, somewhat impa-
tiently.
We cannot wait here longer
We were at the door as she said this.
will paint your pictures in the morn
ing, then, in return for your hospitality" /
replied smiling. [ was a vain boy, L am
afraid, in those days | had good teeth
and liked to show them. The younger
sister, | saw, never took her eyes off me
There was no harm in appearing to the
best advantage | bowed rather directly
to her as | spoke, and once more the sis
tiers exchanged glances.
! \ hired carriage was waiting. With
out a word they stepped into it and | fol
lowed them The driver clearly knew
where to drive Without any order being
given we set off rapidly, but what direc
ton | did not think of observing. Lik'
most German carriages, the glasses rattle'
over the stones, so that | could not hea
myself speak. l made a futile effort, bu
neither sister attempted to respond. BOtt
sat there opposite me, motionless, leanlni
back in the two corners. | had nothin
for it but To watch their faces in silence
and speculate about their history, as tn
lamps swung across the narrow street:
threw lurid Jets of light ever and anon W
on those two white masks under the hlac
point d'coits.
1t was not until we had been driving fo
upwards of twenty minutes, and had com
out into what | supposed to have been
suburb of the city. Judging from its hig
garden walls. that it suddenly flashed upo
Il. I l.. 1 I..(+ l-vo,,-,.t- habtr,1 ~
in the confessional. An exclamation
: annoyance escaped me
t What i it - said the Younger >istc
, leaning forward her voice was far MOI
: musical than her sisters.
l told her what troubled me.
e Did it contain anything Of value
: asked the other.
? | shook my head Nothing Of val'
to any one but myself change of cloth
' and my coIors and brushes, and 4 fe
:. books
. The cathedral Is locked now.
e would be no use our returning. It will
f open at SIX, and if YOU are there betol
| that hour, You will find your property :
, safe, no doubt. Here '
t, are, Gretchen; have You the key ?-Op
l the door
n We stopped before a small, single stori
|, house. having a wall on either side of
d and no other habitation near. SO much
; saw. while Gretchen (the younger on
r. drew out key and opened the house do'
It The carriage drove off. | followed t
e sisters into narrow passage Upon I
l. right was the kitchen on the left, I
e staircase at the back, door, leading
'e flight of steps, into garden!
Ie Come with me. Young man. =
/ Gretchen. Lori will get supper rea
/ meanwhile
We have but two rooms. l.
d will prepare your bed in the parlor at
le supper. Will YOU wash yC
Of hands 2'
re She struck light, and opened door
lt the left at the top of the stairs 1t
v the bedroom of the two sisters-sm;
lie vet containing two beds and several or
" chests. y black crucifx, too. | obser'
or in the corner of the room.
n And you two live here alone :" a
ne ed No servant ? Are you not afr
er sometimes ?''
:, She shook her head. . No, we are
1t, afraid. Lori is afraid of nothing
ng even of ghosts Do you believer in ghosts
II, | laughed.
id DO not laugh" She whispered, ''Gh'
he are the only things fear. Sometime
of fancy | see them in the garden thei
of She shuddered. Sec what fine gar
we have. Plenty OF space, j. III
I'M not ~
; L She was pouring water into basin +
IN an earthenware ever, [ remember, as
'ty said this. She set the vessel down,
he turned to the window, through which
'ut moon, which was now rising behind ;
w, tarv sycamore shone into the room.
III \ square space enclosed by high W
ro- where the grass grew rank, and II
grown walk. led to a little door III the
net at the further end This was what
err was pleased to term the garden.
the The violets grow rarely there IN
d spring. she said, with strange smile
the if interpreting my thought.
the When | had washed my hands. Gret'
ing conducted me into the next room. W
nty Lori had now laid the supper 1t W;
At small chamber. with an alcove or close
, L one end a great earthenware stove, al
rk- number of gaudy prints around the "
in In the midst was the table, where t
the covers were laid. 1t was decked wi
L bunch of China -asters in Il jar, and
or substantially furnished, was glad TO
ape with a pie. IA dish of raw ham. a loa
The black bread and some grapes. As
hat drinkables. there was a small Jug of b
lid rian beer. and there was a bottle of W;
laid Lori hustled to and fro; Gretchen lig
e another candle, and set them both on