Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24

Aud then she thought what a very tall, sne-
oking msn he NUT be, and how well he ~oald
spps ar IL bis rBtform.
but when, srer n while. there was news OF
pesce, add 'hef b ard that the army wa gong
hone 10 be asst sEded, olJ Franz Hsf- rdah
grew lees Thoughtful, and Chri,tiue tried IN
VAIN TO sToure htm, or smnss him, until one
autumn morning he said TO her:
nd the other soldiers are going home.
thins e is pretty near time tor me to 90 too"
"Te Germany, father" exclaimed Christine,
VIVID suoden light In her eyes. "O father"
"No. Christine so.emnly replied the old
man; Germany II not the only fstaerland. L am
campaign"
CHRISTINE understood him then, bat all In
Creamy aud unreal sort OF way, until, a few
weeks later, Sue found herself fitting alone in
the house, while the CHILLING wind th at whis led
by the window was lighted with the hrst white
hsrhingers of the winter.
1t seemed a cold, fOriorn and empty sort of a
world to Christine, and when she tried to think
OF the village where she was born, that, too
seemed empty and deserted, and she imagined
the old shep shut up, and the snow flakes beat
| iDg against the spider webbed windows.
The door bell rang, but Christine did not hear
| it, nor did she know the servant had admitted
step, almost beside her, and a deep, clear voice
! full OF manly strength, but that trembied in q
| torllingly musical wsX- said to her:
! "CbTIstinei Oh -lstiLe.
1 Size Looked up ,hen in the fsce-a sc aired and
war brOnzed face-of tall, erect, noble looki z
/ mSn, who wore a med al OF honor on his breast,
/
! IUteiy radiant as they looked down into her
I own.
Christine" be said again, "do you under
! stand ne? 1 have come"
"He had comet" che thought, for one brief,
| huTuiDg moment, and ii seemed as If light and
| lie sud happiness and strength and the old
| German home itself, had come with him. She
| noS had an odd quick fancy that the door of the
| Old shop opened, and the sun began to shine,
| and she could see the two Old men At their work ,
but she arose and threw her arms arou nd hts
| neck, aud only said between her sObs, go Com
| RAD, I'm so happy! SO glad you have come!"
| Ii was sober day and sober msetng after
| all, but some hours later, as they sat 6y the
| CRATE IN the parlor, where the fice burned warm
| and cheeri Y, while the first merry snow fakes
of the opening winter fitted softly by the win
dows. and they exchanged stories of an that Al
| happened to them, Conrad said to her:
| "Ah, Christine, did not know myself when
| you went away. L did not know L had a heart,
| bat soon began to find il out / found that il
| was great, big heart, too, with wonderful
| things init. One love after another seemed 10
wake up andspeak to me, TO tell me il Waslthere,
until the biggest love of all came to life, and it
grew till il crowded out all the others and
filled M everything, and then L had to come
have dreamed that you had kept any thing Tor
me, waiting all the time for me TO comv? L was
terribly afraid about that"
| "Oh, don't know" said Christine. ''I don't
understand ii at all All the while il has seemed
| as If l were only wsiting-wsting-and that, If
| L waited long enough you would surely come"
| "And here 1 am" said Conrad, "Only think
| there's a goSd deal more OF me somehow Ia an
| in those dear Old sleepy DAYS at hOme.U