Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-01-27

Jessing went up 20 the straw couch and drew
the coverlet aside. Far down in the midst
of the straw there proceeded a feeble grunt !;
then a little girl made her appearance rising
from the upper end OF the bed. She yawned
and rubbed her eyes with both her hands.
\ good-natured smile stole over Jessing's
austere countenance as he placed himself by
the child and set her upon his knee.
Now, little Lene Marie shall be smartly
dressed, he said, g and got ready, and
her face washed for the sake of appearance,
then we will start OF and travel y
Lene Marie was no beauty. She had most
untidy light-yellow hair, in which lust then
several long sticks of straw from the bed
were mingled, a face almost as round as a
ball, an enormous mouth, and little imper-
/ tinent, turned-up nose. From head to foot
she was dressed in gray and red striped
iruck, of a thick wooden material. which re-
sembled bed-ticking. and which the school
master had himself sewn Tor her. Iene
/ Marie was an obedient child: when she OBJ
served that she could not escape she put up
with what Jessing was doing, she made faces
/ while be washed her with a wet towel, and
! when he was too rough, and hurt her, she
showed her teeth and uttered q subdued
] ey-y The sound was always the same,
only more or less drawlcd the school-master,
however, must have known her exceedingly
well, for he gave diversity cf interpreta-
tons TO her mutterinC
When he bad finished The child bored down
under the coyerlet with the adroitness Of
mole. Just at that moment the door was
opened, and dark, muiiied-up form entered
the cellar. The school-master did not seem
TO be taken by surprise at this appearance,
but trimmed the wick Of the lampIa little. so
that 1t emitted a strong smoke and clearer
light. Then he placed both his arms upon
the barrel, and sat looking at the approach
ing figure The glare of the lamp fell upon
a pale, youthful countenance, with dark eyes
and soft, sad features.
You should leave of roaming in the
moonlight, little lady" he at length said
You viii become asthmatic from the night
dcws."
What Do You mean ?'' asked the stranger
lady.
'' | mean that there are people abroad
whom You would not like to meet.
" must absolutely speak to you, -" replied
the lady, in a timid, humbled tone. "You
know We need your help, therefore have
come
d" | know nothing, but that YOU and an old .
man who is lame, were stealing about along .
the sea-shore last night in search Of hiding /
place, and concealed YOU here among the /
ruins
60 ou promised to convey Us away from
this coast, she said hcsitatinglv.
That may be done vet" answered Jes-
sing, " but We must Judge the proper time
% " e cannot wait, however" " she ex-
claimed, imploringly and s1rrowfully. "Tbe
Old man S life will be in peril if we do not
get away this night. DO YOU hear? He is
my father, am his only daughter, he has
only me 10 protect him. Rescue Us, since it
is in your power,
The school-master sat "a while looking
down before him as be listened to her entreat-
les when she was silent he raised bis head,
and said shortly and decidedly
You are a good upright child. apprsci-
ate that. will do ior YOU what / can.
There are persons, then, who are in search Of
y0u, and who can iniurc vou2 Let me tell
you they have come already. was speaking
To one Of them not long ago down at the inn.
4 res lutte fellow, desperado, who neither
believes IN necr0mancy nor in hobgJblins." ."
Then You must save Us. Do not hesi-
tatel' she continued, laying her hand upon
his shoulder. Time is flying, we had better
start at once.
Have YOU your papers in order2 You
are silent, he added, with good-natured
smile, " You have no papers. Well. do not
he uneasy on that account. know a man
who has Travelled much about the world
without papers. do not say what he is
called, but people think he resembles me.
and that he goes about with a homemade
elarionet under his arm. \ name az any rate,
You must have. Who are you ?''
d" Why do You wish to know"
When person risks his life. be natural
ly wants to know for whom be does it,
" Ny father Is Herr Sevel Friis. ageant for
Count Ulfeld's properties in Moen am
Jeanne Friis, his daughter.
" can conceive the rest" said Jessing.
B. Count Ulield has run away, escaped from
the country, and now they are seizing his
estates, and hunting d.wn his friends like
harcs. All, know that game well enough.
VIII take y0u both as freely and safely over
b Sweden as brought you down to these
cellars. You may depend upon that 30
'' Aoui' repeated Jeanne, .. bat you are
the schoJl-master"
Jessing shrugged his shoulders and
laughed
" Don't let that dis.arb you, he said. .. |
am school-master. certainly, am also
musician; neither Of my professions is very
lead the life Of a dog. In the
iay-time am a school master, in the evenin.
am a musician, and in the night sail over
% Sweden with people who have got into a
'crape in Denmark. Go now and get ready.
ye shall soon be of -
TO Be c0afiuuea.)