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

| grew faint, and nothing was heard but the
distant ringing of the Wetterbrunner bell
"Hurrahl" it sounded suddenly, where
the road came direct upon the chalet
"Hurrah for Karl. Long live Karl! Long
live Trudchenp
| looked at the mother she staggered.
I caught her in my arms, but recovering
Immediately the brave woman said {: TX arl,
sir; Karl is coming" and she went to the
bed chamber She knelt down before the
couch whereon lay her daughter, seeming
ly asleep, her eyes closed, her hands clasp
ed over her breast. She knelt down and
wept.
l stood in anxious expectation. The
voices became louder and louder. | could
hear the tramping of horses and footsteps
Soon saw a mass of men approaching
the gate. Stopping, they gave hearty
"Hurrah for Karl Hurrah for Trud-
chen !" | SAW young man shaking hands,
with words of thanks to all, then lifting
the gate latch and hastily walking up to
the door.
He saw me, greeted politely, went into
the house, and said with voice thick with
emotion:
"Mother! mother"
The mother stood in the door, put her
finger on her lips, opened her arms, and
what an embrace What long, long en-
brace That bronzed face of the young
/ Switzer quivered, tears rolled down; and
the mother shall 1 ever forget the ex-
preston of thankful hope and grateful
love!
"Trudchen ?" asked Karl, at last.
"All yours, my Karl, my boy; all yours,
but i'll and weak. Look in"
Thus saying she led him to the bed
chamber, where Trudchen lay seemingly
asleep Karl trembled all over with emo
ton. He approached, knelt down, took
one of the clasped hands, kissed it, then
rose and softly left the room.
Though not a physician, L knew enough
to see that there was case which, unless
handled with care, might turn into DEATH
or worse even-lunacy.
"Be careful" said |. "DO not try to
awaken your daughter. Watch her. She
may sleep on the whole night. Stay with
her. When she wakes to consciousness
he guarded Violent emotion might kill
her."
The mother thanked me. Invent out TO
the gate, and told the assembled friends
the state of affairs. l begged them to
leave quietly, and to send up the physician
from Wetterbrunner.
In the meantime Karl told his story. 1t
was that of many others. After year of
toll in the new world, he heard of the Cali
fOrnia gold mines, made up his mind, went
to work bravely, kept sober and steady,
made what in Berne Oberland might be
cal'ed "gOod pile," and FASTENED to re-
turn so as to keep his word with his be-
trothed. On his arrival at Wetterbrunner
he generously treated his numerous friends,
who, in their enthusiasm, began to ring
the church bell, and accompanied him to
his future home.
1t was deep in the night when the ply
sician came-an elderly man, not only the
physician of the villagers, but their friend
and real benefactor He knew of Trud-
chen's faithful love and enduring expecta-
ton. During the third year of Karl's ab-
sencc she began to be quiet and thought
full; then languid and listless then there
would be now and then rosy tint on her
cheeks-once so full, but now wan then,
when she gave the doctor her little hand,
he felt it feverlsh, and looked serious.
Mother" he said to old Magdalen,
"mother, be very careful. No night air,
no dreaming to the stars, no listening to
the far-off breeze when it rushes to the
big pine forest Take her out, mother;
visit neighbor Wortheim, your kinsman !;
I 20 any utIt, IlDtutIy anu give utT
change. Perhaps she may fall in with
some of our sturdy mountaineers, who
msy replace what seems to be lost"
And the mother did as she was told, but
Trudchen remained thoughtful and list
less, and at last seemed unable to help her
dear old mother in the household duties.
Thus the old doctor knew his patient.
He approached the couch carefully, looked
awhile on the beautiful sleeper, took ten
derly her hand, and felt the pulse.
"No pulse" SAID he.
"No pulse" repeated he after a long
pause What is this ? 1t seems | hear
her breathing" said he, leaning over her.
"Yes, hear it distinctly, but slow; very
slow What is this p? and no pulse ?"
"Karl," he said to the anxious lover,
abe careful not to be near her, should
she awake. Very weak, very weak. l
should say on the brink of eternal sleep.
If she awakes from this, be not there.
Break it softly to her. Her life hangs on
thread as fine as spider ever wove.
Good mother of God, be merciful, be mer-
ciful !"
The good doctor was a piOus Catholic,
and kept up with mass and confession at
least as well as with the current literature
of the healing art.
"The mother Of God" said Karl, with
deep emphasis, which struck me, listen
ing with anxious sympathy, "the mother
of God, Herr Doctor, can avail us moth
/ ing. She is or was, a creature like you
and /; but her Eternal Son, yes, He can
heal now as he He did when on earth.
May he have mercy"
/ The doctor looked puzzled; feeling once
more the pulse, he said, after while:
"No pulse, no pulse. Karl make a
vow, make VOW; perhaps there will be
mercy from the mother, or else from the
/ Son"
And the pious, good old doctor crossed
himself while saying this
My vow is made long since," said
Karl, with the same emphatic tone; "long
before came shall add nothing to it |;
but keep it SHALL" add ed he, the tears
breaking forth; "yea, l shall keep it,
whatever may happen"
And then there was long pause. AT
length said Karl, "He knows best"
am sure the doctor felt curious about
the VOW So did l. But we both kept
silence, and watched that long night with
intense anxiety. At length the morning
came. The breathing had become slower
and slower. The hands were clammy
cold, the feet were cold and toward noon
the doctor said:
"God's will be done! Trudchen is in
Paradise For surely, such as she deserve
no other place"
1t came not Unexpectedly. 1t was fore
seen. The mothers eye had watched so
long that she was prepared for the bitter
loss. Yet bitter, very bitter, was the cup
to drink for mothers love. Very bitter