The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-09-18


neighbors said, almost with one accord
that Franz Hoferdahl had broken his old
friends heart BY going away"
= Broken his heart J" said Conrad 10 him
self. " But he did not break mine! And
| have "A heart, teo--I can feel IL beat.
And loved old Franz. and | loved my
father. very m 4ch; and | feel a. ii could
csy all day, il ! were not 30 very bly, a
man.
The strongest evidence that Conrad had
a heart. however, was Vet "a come. As
the days went by. after his fathers death.
the shop. and everything in il and about
il. became utterly dstasteful 10 him. Day
after day he sat down by the bench and
tried 20 work: but the very ticking of the
watches was insufienbly oppressive, while
again and again he started up and dropped
his file or his hammer in renewed aston
ishment at the continued absence of those
two old men.
= II only Christine would come. " he said
10 himself. "and call old Franz home TO
dinner,'f
But she did not come. and the silence
and loneliness grew more and more lrk-
some; and so. by-and-by. when good
customer opportunity made his appear
ance. Conrad Midburger almost gladly
and the house. He sold, TOO, everything
else that his father had left him. except the
old mans pipe and sword. and the medal
his father before him had won i'm the old
wars with the French. Neither did Con-
rad. any more than Franz Hoterdahl. tell
any Of his neighbors how great or how
small was the golden store he found him
self possessed Of; but the Midburgers had
been careful, saving and close-mouthed
race for generations.
And when the sales were all completed.
and the transfers duly made. and Conrad
stood in the moonlight. one fine spring
evening. and gaZed at the home that was
no longer his. he said to himself:
= think | could almost break my heart
now. after all. for did love that house.
and loved the shop; but | could not stay
there with the empty places. There were
too many voices there that did not speak
That was il. But what shall do now -
Conad's question was answered for him
by the great French emperor and by the
king; for Napoleon had determined. i'm
his old age. that he must fight the Ger
mans. and so great many quiet people
had 10 march away from their homes To
be shot at. without the wi~est man in the
village being able to give them good
reason.
II was sad thing for many. but Con-
rad Midburger felt as ii he was almost
glad 10 90. He was sure he loved his
. Naterland'' in every bone of his 5ody
and. if the king called for him. he was
ready. Still. "a they marched away from
the sleepy old village. Conrad said to him
self
There are the old house. and TIE shop.
and the church-steeple. and the trees. and
the graves in the church yard. did not
know my heart was so big. for I'm sure 4
ove about every thing can see.
He could not see anything very clearly
ust then. however. for his eyes were
dim. No doubt the sun was i'm
hem. and the CLINT and glitter of the bay
lnets: but. if any one had looked in the
young mans face. he might have said:
= II is very thoughtful face, and there
are lines of strength beginning to show in
t.
And then there followed swirl marching.
,omfOrtless camping. all kinds of severe |
md trying soldier work. and good deal |
IF very hard fighting. Whatever the l
and reports might say about |
{. Conrad Midburger and his comrades |
earned that the Frenchmen were brave
elbows. and that the glory Officiating them
vas never very cheaply won.
Being big and strong and brave. good
wordsman. and every day growing more
nd more intelligent, Conrad himself won
.lory-that j.. three or four slight wounds.
medal, promotion from the ranks. the
compliments OF his commanding officer.
nd the envy Of his comrades.
Being a man ct property. OF respectable
arentage. Of fair education. Conrad might
ar.l m IL
i'm the German army bv a man
{ less than noble blood. if the war had
ot been so very brief and If the corps to
Thich he belonged had not been among
he first 10 bc ordered home. Before a
reat while he found himself almost his
WIN master again. though still within the
cope and control of army regulations. for
o German of Conrad's age j. ever
eyond them. and he said to himself:
Well. loved the army. | almost loved
ghting. | know could love glory with
Il my heart. know ! am ten times As
luch a soldier a. that little white-mus-
iched ape of a baron that commanded nv
Dmpany. That is il. think could love
country where there were no barons. ,
et me see. think my heart must have
zen growing n good deal during this war.
here j. more room In il than knew of.
M vet il is always full. think there are |
,me things in il that never saw there in
le old times. Twill 90 and take look at
he village first. and the house. and the
lop. and ! will hasten again to see if ian
EAR Christine call her father home To din
ar. Then If don't hear her. what then:
ell. think will just ask my heart about ,
- ,
Now. all this time. old Franz Hoferdahl
ID his daughter had known very little OF
hat had taken place in the village they !
Il behind them. They hsd found their
lgrimage long and weary enough. and q
ey had reached a resting place at last. {
I'd they had written home to their old I
sighbors. as all Germans do. but very lit q
E information had come back To them. 4
hey knew that old Gottlieb Midburger a