Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-14

so soon as my eye had fallen on
them, | could not takeit off and, to
say the truth, if stared, the young
women returned my stare with inter.
est. As moved weariIy away, the
elder one spoke,- ...~,' -.
Have you no money to buy your.
self a nights lodging, young man 2"
"I have enough for that, Fraulein, y
| replied, coloring; "but / am almost
too tired to go about and look for
one. -. Il have been i'll, and have
walked some miles to-day"
The sisters exchanged glances.
" If it be 50, we will give you a
supper and a nights lodging. We
need no payment. 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
60" But why? What Dung fellow
of twenty would refuse the hospitali-
ty of two handsome women, especial
ly when he has bst few shilIings in
his pockets,is tired and hungry? Yet
| hesitated.
"Accept it or decline it." said she
who was still the spokeswoman some
what impatiently. "We cannot wait
here longer"
We were at the door as she said
this
" will paint your pictures in the
morning, then, in return for your hos
pitality," replied, smiling l 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
sisters exchanged glances.
A hired carriage was waiting
Without word they stepped into it
and | followed them. The driver
clearly knew where to drive. With
out any order being given we set off
rapidly, but in what direction | did
not think of observing Like most
German carriages, the glasses ratified
over the stones, so that | could not
hear myself speak. | made futile
effort, but neither sister attempted to
respond. Both sat there opposite me,
motionless, leaning back in the two
corners. | had nothing for it but to
watch their faces in silence and spec
ulate about their history, ,as the lamps,
swung across the narrow streets,
threw lurid jets of light ever and
anon upon those two white masks
under the black point d'coifs
1t was not until we had been driv-
ing for upwards of twenty minutes,
and had come out into what | sup
pose to have been suburb of the
city, juding from its high garden
walls, that it suddenly flashed upon
me that had left my knapsack be-
hind me in the confessional. An ex-
clamation of annoyance escaped me.
"What is y" said the younger
sister, leaning forward /; her voice
was far more musical than her sis
ter's
told her what troubled me.
"Did it contain anything of val.
ue 2" asked the other.
| shook my head. " Nothing of val
ue to any one but myself,-a change
of clothes, my colors and brushes, md
a few books"
"The Cathedral is locked now. 1t
would be no use in our returning. Ii
will be open at six and if you are
there before that hour, you will find
your proper all safe, no doubt. .....
Here we are, Gretchen have you the
key? Open the door"
We stopped before small, single
storied house, having a wall ON either
side of it, and no other habitation
near. So much | saw, while Gretch
en- the younger one) drew out key,
and opened the house door The Car.
riage drove off. | followed the sisters
into narrow passage. Upon the
right was the kitchen; on the left,
the staircase at the back door
leading up flight of steps, into a
garden.
"Come with me, young man." said
Gretchen. "Lori will get supper
ready meanwhile"
The elder sister turned into the
kitchen. Gretchen led the way up
stairs
ave have but two rooms -. Lo,
ri will prepare your bed in the parlor.
after supper. Will you wash
your hands z"
She struck light, and opened a
door to the left, at the top of the
stairs. 1t was the bedroom of the
two sisters,-small, yet containing
two beds, and several great chests
A black crucifx, too, observed in
the corner of the room.
"And you live here, alone?" l ask
ed. "No servant Are you not afraid
sometimes 7"
The shook her head. mo, we are
not afraid. Lori is afraid of nothing
not even of ghosts. Do you be
lieve in ghosts |"
l laughed.
"Do not laugh" she whispered
"Ghosts are the only things | fear
Sometimes l fancy l see them in the
garden there. She shuddered. SET
what a fine garden we have. ....'
Plenty of space, is there not"
She was pouring water into a ba,
sin from an earthe lware ever, | re
member, as she said this. She Sc
the vessel down, and turned to the
window, through which the moon
which was now rising behind soil
tary sycamore, shone into the room
A square space enclosed by higf