Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-08
or he had seen that little Maria was not

The boat rowed up; women rushed into
the water and dragged it iu with cries of JOY
Who were there Karl, Franz. Walther-
Fritz, Platter, Heinrich Lenz, two women,
and two dark figures lying at the bottom OF
the boat. All the men were more or less
hurt all looked solemn and awe-strieken.
In the midst of a torrent of questionings
they kissed their wives or mothers without
any outbreak of 10Y. The cure and the
others went to lift out the dark figures.
- damned in some woodwork, said
Franz, briefly.
johann Schmtt was taken out frst-white,
mOtionless, with sodden clothes. Ills wife
was away at the Sunnen Alps.
- lie is dead, - some one said in a hushed
voice, and no person cOntradicted 1t 4; but
they carried their sad burden into the church,
and the priest directed them how TO use ger
tain simple remedies As he went back to
the boat he met the second CHASTITY procession
the second heavy, silent burden, more
ghastly than the last, from deep, cruel cut
across the head.
. Who is it p asked the priest, who could
not recognize the face
g Christian Amrhein, - said Fritz, to whom
his mother was clinging rapturously.
And then the cure saw that Else was at
the head. She had run out from the church
and was in the boat before any one could
stop her, kissing the white, stained face IN
passionate silence, and as she would let no
one take her place, the men had passed a
coat under has shoulders and carried him 80
Else holding his head. They ali loved Chris
tan and were very tender with hun, bnt
they shook their heads IN answer 70 the cure :
questioning look When they LAID him down
gently whisper went round, ana the good
priest tried 10 draw thl girl away, but sHc
lifted her head and looked az them all resJ-
lutcly.
=. lie is not dead she SAID. =. My mother
Is dead. know; but God has given ne
back Christian.
Was it 50, indeed
They cut bis hair and bound uT the gaping
wound. The cure made fire at which to
dry the mems wet clothes, ami then, while
the boat was gone to bring another load,
there came trying time of naction. When
the boat returned there were more joyful
greetings, more questions OF sick anguish,
more talk about wtat had OF had not been
saved.
50 far as they could tell, four men were
missing Thomas Sturm among them then
there was little Maria and Else's mother
and the two living within the church and,
when the heavy tale was told It was, after
all. only wonder that so many had been
after there was STIR at the door. Other
boats appeared ON the lake as tie storm sub
-II led. Some of them rowod about outside,
trying 70 pick up those Torti n Ot the UNI
yer.al wreck which had been swept into tine
lake One At last dragged IN heavier bur
den with which they rlwed directly 70 the
church This IL was which caused the str.
tins 3mcthing-reverently covcrcl. eol-lI r
" lifted out. brought into the church. with
the cure walking before 1t. Lisa >tarm rose
from her knees. and went To meet It, putting
out her hand. and trembling violently. Some
one tried t. stop her.
" Take If the cloth. ." she said, in hoarse,
strained voice q. That is Thomas
At sign tom the priest the men oheyed-
Her instinct was true-tlere, calm and still.
Law her husband and there, 100, clasped
tight - his breast, lay little -oldcn-hsired
Maria That embrace had never been broken /,
his arms were around her, the fair llttle
head pillowei against him. when quick, sud
den death came lelping down and rlvcted 1t
There was something so tender, So peaceful.
So holy in the attitude in the faces that It
hushcd all mourning the wall died away on
the mother lips, the priest crossed himself,
and kncl- down beside these still. plsSI 1nleSs
figures Lisa glanced at him, trem5led.
bent down and kissed each tace-husba
All4 t--il CNftt1' kttt A.Ntc- ,t'lrt H-'-'--
also.
About an hour afterwari one oi the boats
came back with a doctor FIRST Of all, the
women who We're watchin. brought him where
Johann and Christian lay a little apart from
each other They knew that Johann was
gone beyond the reach ct all skill, only ms
wi e was away. and 1t seems more fitting u
these simple folk that the doctor should say
in plain words that no more could be done
hv any of them. And thcn he turned 10
where Else still kept her faithful watch, with
the yellow sunlight shining upon her hair,
her hand under the dear head. her eyes upon
those closed eyes that had looked 50 sadly at
her when last She met their gaze.
- He is ajve-that Is all, said the young
doctor gravely. Alter al he could not Do
much. and the women looked at little Else,
poor child and shook their heads rs the
minutes came and went. and brought no
change But the border-hnd was not passed
there came a slight duttering movement,
gasp. the doctor was at ms head in a moment
another painful breath, then the wonder
inr ewes opened and fixed themselves on
Else. wandered away, returned the lips
parted = Heart beloved breathed CHRIS
tan IN the iaintest. feeblest sigh her arms
were around him, and the doctor, halt sc1ld-
ing, half laughing, became peremptory at
once