The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-23
when the tall mountain grass was ready

the forester.
He did not know that he had been put
in Lotte's room; he supposed it the
guests chamber.
But upon that particular night in
June he had made up his mind to speak
to Yeri I; and then it was he found that,
Judge and orator as he was, he could
not plead for himself.
"What ails the old Judge tonight?
thought the forester. He does not
seem himself.
The time went on, and when at last
the Judge decided that he would defer
it until the morning, the forester made
the discovery that it was dark, and the
moon would not be up for two hours, so
the good Judge was invited to stop for
the night.
He had no idea that his remaining
put the primitive family to any incon-
venience no more than at the moment
he learned that he took Lottes room
from her.
But, in fact, the young goat-herdess
was carried off to her mothers room for
the night, while the forester made him
self bed of furs, etc., on the ground
of the living-room.
He thought the girl looked pale and
anxious but he could not detect that
she was in great tribulation.
A little while, and the forest hut was
quite quiet-not light to be seen.
Now they have habit in parts of
Switzerland Of cutting the high grass
by moonlight, the belief being common
that grass so cut makes better hay than
that which falls beneath the scythe in
sunlight.
The old Judge, unable to sleep, was
turning over in his mind what he
should say on the following day to the
forester, when he heard the tinkle of
cow bells, the numbering of heavy wag-
ons, and the rattle of talking and sing
ing voices, all of which gradually APP
preached.
Not ignorant of the custom of moon
light hay-making, the old Judge found
the rustic sounds rather soothing than
not, when he heard tapping at the
window.
He listened, and the sound was re-
peated.
He knew that the window was ten or
twelve feet from the ground, and that
it could only be reached either by a
ladder, or by climbing the vine which
grew on the wall about the lattice.
A thief What thief would tap at q
window? What could thief hope to
steal in that poor place, unless
The old Judges heart began to beat
high.
And, as though in reply to his
thoughts, a soft, pleasant voice called,
as the tapping was heard again
"Lotte -
He moved off the bed (for he had lain
down in his clothes, too weary with
thinking over the grand question to un-
dress), and drawing near the window,
he saw by the light of the moon which
had now just topped the trees, that a
black-haiTed and extremely handsome
youth was clinging to the vine, his
bright eyes eagerly fixed upon the win
dow.
The old Judge silently opened the lat
tice there was a low, bright laugh,
and the young man leaped lithely and
blithely into the room.
And whom have we here ?" sudden
ly cried the Judge, bouncing upon the
intruder.
The youth uttered a low cry, but
offered no resistance
" What thief in the night are you p
" So please your worship" said a
clear, pleasant voice, " / am no thief,
but Wilhelm, only son of the wood
ranger at Kusnach, and I am come to
see my Lotte ~
"Thy Lotte p
+" So please you, she is my wife %
Your wife ?"
"Ay, messire; twas an Unterwalden
wedding. IT'S our custom here in this
canton and L am but waiting for my
appointment as ranger, which l hope
to get by the interest of one Messire
Seller, an ex-Judge, who has been a
second father to my Lotte, to tell my
father and hers that we are betrothed,
and that we are ready to marry by sun
light l'
so, then, the interest Yeris daugh-
ter has shown in the old Judge comes
out of the hope that ne will help thee
to thy rangership p
Z" It's exactly so, messire. 1 am no
thief, but an honest man, and Lotte s
husband by the laws of Unterwald p
How long since Z?
"These fair six weeks %
The very time during which she had
looked at him so earnestly.
He understood the look then.
a" Begone, young man think may
promise thee thy wife and place."
Next morning he was very grave, but
there was that noble something in his
face we are pleased to call resignation.
" Messire Seller, thou art not well l''
cried the forester.
"Nay; better than yesterday. BY
the way, / told thee last night / should
have something to say to thee. 1t is
this-I want thy consent to a marriage
between Lotte, here, and one Wilhelm,
only son of the ranger, at Kusnach."
The forester beat his hand upon the
table as Lotte uttered cry, and the
good wife clapped her hands.
"Never !" said he; I" It's rare good
for-naught p
mo-" said the Judge; "Ill answer
for him."
"Thou, Judge ?"
Eyes; he will make her good hus-
band"
" But he has no post T; he is nothing. y
" promise you he shall have the
under rangership."