The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-08-07

decidedly. NOW, SIR, II you are his
friend, run to the palace, walk into his
room, shout into his ear that his old
house Is toppling; he has caused II by
fcrsaking the footsteps Of his father. II
he disbelieve-, I'll lend him my old
clothes; let him go among his subjects
and see and hear"
The young officer was visibly moved
by the old soldiers words, but the reply
he would have made was checked by the
sudden appearance Of girl, some eight
cen years Of age, who bounded lightly
across the threshold, threw herself into
the old soldiers arms, and exclaimed,
tearfully, my fathcr!"
Estelle vankramer was one Of those
lovely flowers that spring from a lowly
soil. Her figure was slight, but ex-
quisitely proportional. Her face was Of
classic contour, and the light Of virtue
and amiability CLEANED from lustrous
eyes, as dark and as large rs those Of
gaelic. Her COSTUME was that Of
peasant girl; but silks or satins would
not have added to the charms nature had
50 lavi.hly bestowed.
"why, you wanderer!" cried Van
kramer, as he pressed her aflectionately
to his breast; "where have you been
frolicking these last whole three daysY
II has made your fathers heart wiring"
"You may be assured did not will
ingly delay" answered Estelle. al
have been detained, and have suffered
but ! am with you again, and all is for
gotten"
Her tears gushed freely as she spoke,
but they were more In thankfulness
than in grief
May be pistolled, but there's more
in these tears than you choose to tell, 4
cried vankramer, excitedly. "You hava
been detained, you say. Has any on[
dared TO lay hands on your" -
"Yes-no-no!" replied Estelle, COZ,
fusedly. hs
"Speak the truth girl" exclaim bs,
Vankramer, sternly. Am / not y "a
father?" ',
Thus urged Estelle revealed the tscf
"Well, then you had always forbade
me to approach the palace" she said;
"but was told If went there that SER
wants would give me nearly double the
money others could afford, and, in hope
that should be able to bring you few
comforts, I did venture to 60 there, and
offer them my work, when, after some
delay, was shown up to the---the duke;
and he---he detained me-"
The old soldier pushed her roughly
away.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, fiercely. "And
now he sends you home to humble the
heart Of faithful servant, who was too
proud to wink at mis- vices"
"No, no, my father" she answered,
with quick esrnestness. al resisted his
entreaties; Heaven was merciful, and !
was saved"
He took her in his arms again, whilst
tears dewed his aged eyes.
"Oh, bless you, bless you, my dear
child" he cried, vehemently. "The
villain!" You thought of your poor
father. That internal duke! Here,
sir" he continued, seizing the young
officer, who had shrunk into corner as
il anxious toavoid observation, and drag
ging him unceremoniously forward,
what do you think of your friend now?
Look at this innocent girl, and look at
me. ! have shed my best blood to es-
tablish Charles Amadeus on his throne,
and he would repay me by dishonor-
ing my child. Who is safe in such a
land e.
As a kind of salve to his wounded
feelings, he gave the officer 50 vigorous a
shaking that his hat fell of, and his face
was fully exposed.
A cry of surprise broke from Estelle's
lips.
"The duke!" she exclaimed.
Vankramer grasPed his sword venge-
fully, and Estelle sprang to his side and
held his arm.
"Striksi" -ssidf the rdake composedly.
" 1t is not an unworthy end to die by the
hand Of wronged and worthy soldier"
There was a deep stiffness beneath that
roof for moment; and then Oerk Van
kramer thrust his sword back into its
scabbard.
at is not for me-" he said to kill
Charles Amadeus, Duke of Baden and
Rheingrave of Alsace, in sight of his
fathers cooked hat and boots"
A deep flush of Joy that mantled
Estelle's cheeks at her fathers clemency
was convincing proof that the young
duke would not have been an unwelcome
sutton had his proposals been honorable.
But now fresh perils awaited him. The
voices of men were heard shouting in the
forest. The assassins were searching for
their prey. Estelle sprang to the door
and locked it. Vankramer was for meet
ing the assassins and giving them fight.
"Tut! we are three" he exclaimed.
Z" There's a musket, like myself, not too
rusty for service, and / can find ball
and powder"
h The duke convinced him of the folly
Of attempting to cope with numbers so
much exceeding their own; and Es-
telle, with woman's ready wit suggested
stratagem. Her idea was that the duke
should dress himself in the old uniform,
and lie down upon her fathers bed in
the adjoining chamber, and pretend to
be an invalid comrade Of his.
This scheme was adopted. Charles
Amadeus took the uniform, and went
into the bedroom and made the change
in his costume. Scarcely had he done
No when there came knock at the cot
tage door. Vankramer directed Estelle
10 leave the cottage by the rsar door,
get to the roadside as fast as shs could,
and give the alarm. He then opened
he cottage door, and admitted a swarthy
laced man, in handsome hunting suit,
whom he had no difficulty in recognize
ng as the Chevalier Montaldi, the dukes
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