The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-27

kind conductor; but an exclamation of
general, joyful surprise Withheld me-
"Ach soie shon :" ("Ah, how beauti
ful!')
And beautiful it was The narrow
mountain pass opened at once upon soft
sloping plain, covered with sweet smelling
turf, through which nicely graveled path
ways curved in all directions, enclosing
the most lovely groups of evergreens,
roses, lilies, anemOnes and an endless va
riety of blooming flowers.
Far in the distance, slighly elevated,
there came in view large and spacious
dwelling-it might be called villa Its
light colored walls were adorned with
climbing plants; its windows with taste
full balconies, surrounded with flowers !;
while behind the villa loomed a high
mountain peak, sheltering it from the
northern winds. In front of the dwelling,
on large, neatly-trimmed grass plot,
some fifty little boys and girls were play
ing, shouting Laughing, running, jumping,
and evidently in highest glee.
The view was 80 really magnificent, so
sudden, so like fairyland, that could not
help gazing around and before | knew it
the wagon stopped, my conductor alighted,
offered me his strong hand to get out, and
udNlnR tuc cduiC StIfICc W
those who were with us, drove off; leav-
ing me surrounded by people coming and
coming, talking, admiring, exclaiming, and
evidently too much engaged with things
around them to allow me to ask them any
questions concerning that which had pre-
occupied me since I heard the name of
Trudchen.
| followed the stream Of guests which
okf 4 f1ax Gov u,
ed-snd dispersed in its spacious halls and
rooms with that freedom and gayety, that
decorum and respect ofpersons and things,
which characterize the people.
In the corner of the large hall, which
we would call the reception room, saw a
comfortable seat, inviting enough for one
who felt physically and morally fatigued
20 rest awhile. l did so, and was looking
around upon the increasing crowd of joy
full Switzers. when a gentleman came to
me, whom soon recognized as the good
old doctor, whose acquaintance I made
under sorrOwful circumstances.
Ach. sind sic da :" he cried, with hearty
Joy ".Sind sic aourkich das (Are you truly
here p Is it possible! That is herrEich D.!
herrtich :"
And he pressed me, Switzer fashion, in
his arms.
When recovered from the confusion
which these hearty and impetuous demon
strations always occasion, to me at least,
said:
"ADd Karl-how is he ?"
Karl ?" said he, Karl ?"-and as if
his memory had received sudden jerk
All, the Herr Land Amman, you mean
Ah, he is very well; very well, indeed 1!
Soon be here"
"Tell me-" said 1, with an emotion
which l tried in vain to conceal, "who is
his wife 2"
"His wife9 Well, friend, thou ought
to know, to be sure; well-Trudchen,
sweet Trudchen."
"Trudchen 1 exclaimed; "what
Trudchen ?"
"Well, friend. thou art beside thyself
Thou knowest Trudchen, l think But,
upon my word, perhaps thou knowest
nothing of all that happened! True
enough-thou art a stranger, though thou
speakest our mountain talk almost as well
as one born here, Thou must live far
awav not to have heard of it,"
my good friend" said l, with slight
tone of impatience, know nothing; l
live hundreds of miles from here. Tell
me, tell me-"
"And so SHALL" said the doctor, press
ing my hand and drawing a chair near
mine "You left us when Trudchen was
dead, and laid out to be buried-is it not
so? Well, we loved her so much; we
went so often to take look at her
came the day before the one appointed
for her funeral, to see her once more.
sat down beside her. l felt her hands
her cheeks, which had yet blush on
them; 1t was all cold-but not so cold it
seemed to me, as corpses generally are.
put my hand under her back It was warm
1 called Magdalen; felt bewildered
said Magdalen, postpone the funeral, if
it is but one day.
"' Herr DOCTOR said she, that cannot
be; all the people are invited, and come
from afar'
"She must not be buried Tomorrow
said /: decidedly not. Postpone the
funeral for two, for three days Magda-
len looked at me with amazement But,
as spoke with great determination, she
sent at once messenger to give due warn
ing of the delay of two days. l rode
h way, ha ring many visits to make-but-
returned that night, and resumed my IN
vestigations. There was no change. l
slept that night at Magdalen's. In the
no change. l went out, and re-
turned at evening. No change Only
the hands seemed to me less cold. l
watched anxiously. l felt the heart, the
pulse. Thought perceived very slight
motion, / called Magdalen l called
Karl Both came looking at me with a
sort of bewilderment so help me God! !
said 1, in whisper, as if she might hear
me, there is life, life; tell you, lifer
"That whole night watched her. The
pulsations, though very slow, seemed to
increase in strength; and toward morn
ing, just when the sun began to rise above
the Alps, l thought l could perceive a
twitching motion repeated at intervals.
Magdalen,' said l, stay thou here;
Karl, go thou in the next room. When
say, speak say in thy natural voice at
the open door: "I 1rudchen soel ?" and
repeat it slowly
"When the sunbeams began to dart
through the cottage window. the twitching
increased, the pulsatiOns increased, the
warmth increased At my warning, Karl
said in his deep cultural voice: "Is
7rudchen welt ?" repeating it at intervals
some three or four times There was a
sort Of a cOnvulsive effort visible in the
whole frame, the lips trembled, the hands
opened and closed then minute of per
feet stillpess; then l heard, like faint
whisper: Karl ist komn,en. Karl ist bon,-
men, and the whisper died away, succeed
ed by stiffness again. When the voice of
Karl repeated: Is 1rudchen soeH p the
eyelids opened little, the head began to
turn in the direction of the voice. and
there came clear utterance: 'Mutter,
Mutter, Karl ist konamen'
"The mother, pale with anxiety, sp-
preached, knelt down, took her hand,
l.: knr laI