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

thoughts 20 back 10 the old sleepy German
village. She read all the accounts OF the
great war, too, wondering il any Of her old
neighbors hid been in this battle or that.
and she listened very silently when her
father said:
"lf Conrad Midburger was IN any OF
that lighting, I'll be bound he behaved
himself we'll. There's good blood in the
MidburgeI~. and Conrad j. fine boy
" lie must be- man by this time," said
Christine.
And then she thought what very tall.
fine looking man he must be-. and how
well he would appear in his uniform.
But when. after while there was news
OF peace and they heard that the army
was gong home 10 be- discharged. old
Franz Hoiordahl grew less thoughtful.
and Christine tried in vain 10 arouse him.
or amuse him. until one autumn morning
he said 10 her:
"All the other old soldiers are going
home. think il is pretty near time for
me To go TOO"
ITO Germany, father - exclaimed Chris
tine, with sudden light i'm her eyes. = O
fathe..m
- No, Christine" solemnly replied the
old man; - Germany is not the only faith
erland. am very old soldier. and |
think this is my last campaign"
Christine understood him then. but all
in dreamy and unreal sort of way. I'M
til. few weeks later. she found herself
sitting alone i'm the house. while the chill
ling wind that whistled by the window
was frcightcd with the first white harhin-
gers of the winter. II seemed a cold. for
lorn, and empty sort of world 10 Chris
tine. and. when she tried To think of the
village where she was born. that. too.
seemed empty and deserted. and she ina
gined the old shop shut up, and the snow
flakes beating against the spider-webbed
windows.
The door-bell rang. but Christine lid
not hear il. nor did She know the servant
had admitted anybody. until she was con-
scious of heavy step, almost beside her,
and deep. clear voice, full of manly
strength. but that trembled in thrillingly
musical way. said TO her
christine Christine,
She looked up then in the face-a scar
red and war-bronzed face-of tall. erect.
noble-looking man. who wore medal of
honor on his breast, and whose large. dark. I
eyes were absolutely radiant
as they looked down into her own.
= Christine" he said again. .do YOU
Ine F? have come.''
He had GOMEZ" she Thought. for one
brief. burning moment. and il seemed as
il light and life. and happiness and I
strength. and the old German home itself. /
had come with him. She now 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 al their |
work. but she arose and threw her arms
around his neck. and only said. between
her sobs. 30. Conrad. I'm so happy so
glad you have come ~
Ii was a sober day and sober meeting.
after all, but. some hours later. as they Sat
by the crate i'm the parlor. where the fire
burned warm and cheerily, while the first
merry snow-flakes of the opening winter
lifted softly by the windows. and they ex-
stories OF all that had happened
to them, Conrad said to her:
"Ah, Christine. did not know myself
when you went away. dill not know
had a heart. but | soon began 10 find IL
out. | found that ii was a great, big
heart. too. with wonderful things in il.
One love after another seemed To wake up
md speak 10 me. TO tell me il was there.
until al last the biggest love of all came 70
life. and il grew and grew till il crowded
'ut all the Others and filled up everything.
lni then bad to come across the OCEAN 20
ind you. But who would have dreamed
hat you had kept anything for me, wait
ng all this time for me Ia come. | was
erribly afraid about that"
"Oh, don't know said Christine.
Il don't understand il at all. All the
While il has seemed as if | were only wait
-waiting-and that. if waited long
nough. You would surely come
And here am" said Conrad. "only ,
think there's good deal more OF me. ,
omehow. than in those dear old sleepy
avs ~ hn,n.