Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-18
GRETCHEN.

1t was about ten o'clock in the even
ing when the drinkers came out from
the brewery of The Swan. Theodore,
with the others, walked down the silent
village. Windows we're being shut in
the distance, and the voices of the
women could be heard in the night air
as they closed their shutters. Good
night, Orchel!" Good night, Gretch-
en- Z" Sleep welll"
Then all was silent, and Theodore was
alone in the quiet street; the innumera-
BILE stars over his head, the gently moy-
ing trees at each side, all along the way
looking, listening and dreaming. When
he looked up to the sky the words Of
Conrad, the weaver came to his mem
ory: "Guard thy soul guard thy
soul!7 But when he looked on the
earth, when he breathed the sweet per-
fumes of the autumn, the breath of the
new hay, the faint odor Of the dying
leaves, then he dreamed Of Gretchen,
the pretty Gretchen, so fresh, so beauti-
ful, with lips so sweet and red, with
great blue eyes so merry and clear, with
laughter so frank and childlike, DE
trembled in thinking of the young girl.
She seemed so near to him ahat be
counted every thread in her dress, every
stitch in her collar, every line in her
rosy, dmpled smile Not shadow es-
capped him. He looked at the stars and
saw Gretchen; he listened to the breeze
and heard the voice Of Gretchen; he
thought of the world, and Gretchen was
there, always there, listening to his
thought, replying to it. o lovel lovel
who art thou Whence comest thou
Theodore wandered thus in the lulnin-
GUS night; behind the village, along the
village, along the bushes, walking 10 the
little paths bordered with fences, and
the fields freshly moved; looking at the
irregularly constructed little houses,
with their outside stairs, their worm
eaten ratings, their farm yards, their
great spreading roofs. all bordered with
dark, mysterious shadows. At the end
of his long winding way, he found him
self again before the house OF Reebstock
He stepped under Gretchens window,
and looking at the shutter, with the
round hole in the top that gave light TO
the interior of the little room, he said to
himself, "She is there" And thinking
that she was there, his gaze became so
fixed, so absorbed that to see him you
would have supposed he saw something
strange, something curious. But he saw
nothing. Hs thought, "She is therel'
And from high up in heaven the moon
whitened his forehead, shone on his eyes,
silvered his light beard, and streamed
over his artistic costume. which was
loose and flowing, full of free and pie
turesoue elegance. In his left hand he
held his large gray hat, whose plume
swept the ground, and with his right
hand he seEt his love to Gretchen in q
kiss.
"Ah," thought he, if Gretchen should
come out for an instant. If | could see
her now would have the courage to
say to her, Gretchen, | love thee
he had dreamed in this way for an
hour, not being able TO decide to go
away, when he heard q singular nsise
outside the building. Theodore listened
1t sounded like a smacking OF the lips,
such as any one would make if he was
drinking the best Johannisberg in the
world. 1t was soft, rich, oily.
"What is that2" ssid the artist; and
he stepped cautiously into the yard.
There .he sound was repeated three
times Theodore looked everywhere,
but saw nothing. Finally he pushed
aside the branches of a. tree loaded
with red fruit, and saw at the foot OF the
wall the idiot, Kasper Moss be was
sitting on the grass, his legs stretched
out and his ragged hat between hls
knees, full of excellent grapes which he
had doubtless stolen from somewhere In
the usiahborhood. The poor fellow
seemed as happy ss o thrush his head
bent down, his idiotiR feas shining with
satisfaction. 1t was he WHO vas pnaeG-
ing his lips. He raised the large bpnehees
of fruit and held them over his mouth,
which was stretched wide open. His
fat throat swelled contentedly. Hsl
har' said hs, chuckling to himself. Tai
weeds bent OveF towards him IN the
shadow of the wall, aHg spndry dry
thistles kept watch al his feet.
"Ah, you rGscal," said FheodoEs 10
him, is this the way you spend your
nights2"
The idiot turned his head carelessly,
partly shutting his eyes with mocking
air, God without taking his lips from the
grapes.
" Who gave them 10 yest -.
Kasper stretched out his hand and
said, Down there. There's plenty Of
them there"
What, there2 You have stolen
them, than, from Reebstocks gardenY
Yes, fheOdors," replied the other
simply.
"Aud if ! tell Of itf'
You won't do that"
"WhY rot2"
You would have to say what time Of
he night il was when you saw me"
As Kaspar said this, be winked in an
odd fashion aud laughed at the artist, who
hastily recrossing the yard, murmured,
z Yes, yes, The fool is right. Hrr ar
But as be passed, Moss seized hold Of
lis coat and cried, " Stop. s.opl | have
,aught you; you came to steal aWay the !
leart OF Gretehenl' y
Theodore grew pale.
Let ne 60.
No; sit dowa'
Moss, beg Of you to let me 90.
Eat some Of my grapes"
Listen. We will rouse the house"
ksnd me some tobacco, Theodore, /
md ! viii make Gretchen come cut,
said Moss, in q strange tone, full Of atten.
4. /