Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-04
The Stprp Temer.
LOVE IN THE CLOUDS.


my daughter A pretty fool should be to
give Annie to coward like him!" So shout
ed honest Master Joss, the sacristan Of the
cathedral of Vienna, as he stood in the pub
lie room of the "Adam and Eve" inn, and
looked after the angry, retreating figure OF
Master Ottkar, the head-mason.
AS he spoke an honest young gardener,
named Gabriel, entered and, for moment
the youths handsome face flushed high, as he
thought the sacristan's words were directed
at him. For it was the old, old story. Ga.
briel and Annie had played together and loved
each other before they knew the meaning of
the word love and when, few months be-
fore, they had found it out, and Gabriel pro-
posed to make Annie his wife, her father re-
iected him with scorn. The young gardener
had little to offer besides an honest heart and
a pair of industrious hands, while Master Ott-
kar, the mason, had both houses and money.
To him, then, solely against her will, was the
pretty Annie promised; and poor Gabriel
kept away from the sacristan's pleasant cot
tage, manfnlly endeavoring to root out his
1oVe wi1itv exIermtuartug rtre weeds TN ms gar
den. But somehow it happened that, although
the docks and thistles withered and died, that
other pertinacious plant, clinging and twining
like the wild convolvulus, grew and tiourlshed,
nurtured, perchance, by an occasional distant
glimpse Of sweet Annies pale cheek and
dropping form.
So matters stood, when one day, as Gabriel
was passing through crowded street, neigh
Dor hailed him:
"Great news, my boy glorious news! Our
Leopold has been chosen Emperor at Frank
fort. Long live the house of Austria He
is to make his triumphal entry here in day
or two. Come with me to the adam and
Eve and we will drink his health and hear
all about it."
In spite of his detection, Gabriel would
have been no true son of Vienna if he had
refused this invitation and waving his cap
in sympathy with his comrades enthusiasm,
he fastened with him to the inn.
We have already seen how the unexpected
appearance and more unexpected words OF
Master Joss met him on his entrance In the
height of his indignation the sacristan did not
observe Gabriel, and continued in the same
tone:
II declare, I'd give this moment, full and
free permission to WOO and win my daughter,
to any honest young fellow who would wave
the banner in my stead-ay, and think her
we'll rid of that cowardly mason"
From time immemorial it had been the
custom in Vienna, whenever the Emperor
made triumphal entry, for the sacristan of
the cathedral to stand on the pinnacle of the
highest tower and wave banner while the
procession passed but Master Joss was old,
stiff, and rheumatic, and such an exploit
would have been quite as much out of his
line as dancing on tight-rope. ltwas, there
FORE needful for him to provide substitute ;
and it never occurred to him that his intend
ed son-in.law, who professed such devotion to
his interests, and whose daily occupation OBJ
liged him to climb to dizzy heights, and stand
on slender scaffolding, could possibly object
to take his place.
What, then, was his chagrin and indigna.
ton when, on broaching the matter that at
ternoon to Master Ottkar, he was met by
fiat and not over-courteous refusal 1he old
man made hasty retort; words ran high,
and the parting volley, leveled at the retreat
ing mason, we have already reported.
"Would you, dear Master Joss, would you
indeed do so? Then, with the help of Provi-
dence, I'll wave the banner for you as long as
you please from the top of St. Stephens
tower"
"You, Gabriel ?" said the old man looking
at him as kindly as he was wont to do in for
mer days. my poor boy! you never could
do it; you, gardener, who never has had
any practice in climbing"
"Ah, now you want to draw back from
your word !' exclaimed the youth, reddening'
"My head is steady enough and if my heart
is heavy, Why, it was you who made 1t so.
Never mind, Master Joss. Only promise me
on the word of an honest man, that you ii not
interfere any more with Annie's free choice,
and you may depend on seeing the banner of
our Emperor, whom may Heaven long pre-.
serve wave gloriously on the old pinnacle,
81 will, my brave lad; I do promise, in the
presence of al these honest folks, that Annie
Shall be yours" said the sacristan, grasplng
Gabriel's hand with one of his, while he wiped
his eyes with the back of the other.
"One thing have to ask you," said the
young man, "that you will keep this matter a
secret from Annie. She'd never consent !;
she'd say was tempting Providence; and
who knows whether the thought of her dis
pleasure might not make my head turn giddy,
inst when I want it to be most firm and COL
lected."
"No fear of her knowing it, for | have sent
her on visit to her aunt two or three miles
in the country
"And why did you send her from home'
Master Joss ?"
uD...,s. tLo ,;oLt of bor nola fonn and