The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-05-12

sons of opposite sex being alone together
anywhere. Somebody must see them;
somebody must be able to vouch that the
two conducted themselves with the strict
est propriety, else nobody will believe il
ofthem; certainly not the coffee-and,scan-
| dial consumers.
Still Captain Won Weber managed to
I find opportunity of saying to Miss Morri-
son ali that he wished to say. She was
not untouched by his devotion, and there
were times when the thought occurred
that we're she not an American girl, and
in love with John Robertson, how devoted
| ly she could love this handsome, chival-
rous young German soldier. But she
could not be faithless to John Robertson
(what an ugly name, by-the-by!); and she
did not think. considering the different
national tastes and habits that it would
be quite prudent in her to marry a foreign
er. And yet she did not like to give him
up. at least, not quite yet So she avoid
ed decisive reply to Carps proposals; on
ly assured him that she wasn't engaged,
and made him believe she loved him, and
told her friends, when they bantered her
about the devotion Of the gallant hussar,
| that lit was only an innocent filtration"
How long this might have continued. or
where it might have ended, Heaven only
knows, but for a little incident that at
length occurred .... az
Somebody had spoken of the beauty of
the mill, and walking and sketching
party was formed for the purpose of visit
ing it. Captain Won Weber could not 90.
He had some garrison duties to attend to,
he said, regretfully, and go Miss Morrison
accepted the escort of shaggy and fierce
looking Russian count, who had from the
first professed great admiration for her,
but rarely succeeded in obtaining an OPP
portunity of manifesting it; and the Cap
tain being away, Miss Morrison thought
1t no harm to encourage the count little,
just so far as to amuse herself and let peo-
pie know that she had nobleman for an
admirer. In fact, she enjoyed the idea,
and thought how nice it would be to make
John Robertson little jealous. and then
to rejoice him with the knowledge that
she had preferred him to real Russian
count-veIy poor, it was true, but count
nevertheless. So she smiled upon the
count, and chatted charmingly in German
and French; and the counts dark eyes
glowed upon her almost as softly as the
blue ones of Carl Won Weber; and very as
siduously and tenderly he assisted her
over the rough rocks, and chose for her
the mossiest seat, whence she could see
and sketch the picturesque old mill. And
then, as she was thirsty. he left her and
went to little cottage some distance off
to order glass Of milk and some brown
bread and honey-an Arcadian repast
much affected by the Bubblesch walenbur-
gian visitors on occasions like the present.
And then it happt ned that as Miss
Morrison sat busily sketching, apart from
the rest,there stood before her, under those
lindens, fair pale little maiden with a
profusion Of golden hair, and large sol,
emn blue eyes, that looked into hers with
fixed and earnest gaze.
"You-you are Fraulein Morrison"
said the little maiden, painting. and press
ing her clasped hands over her heart, as
if to still its beatings or to ease some pain
there.
"Yes." said Helen, in surprise, and
thinking to herself how pretty and inter-
esting and sad this little creature looked.
81 am Gertrude IRELAND"
Helen had heard of the miller's pretty
daughter. Some good.natured people
women, Of course-had told her how sur
prisingly beautiful she was, and how de-
voted Captain Won Weber had been to
her But she had never thought much
about it .. -.f .
Ill wanted to speak to ycu." contin-
ued the girl, hurriedly, as before, and
seemingly afraid of being interrupted, and
the color came family into her face as she
spoke. .a.. 60. .s-t- -.a.f
Say what you wish" said Miss Morri-
son kindly. "Don't be afraid. Tell me
what it is you want with me-"
The kind tone was perhaps unexpected.
Gertrude's heart was opened at once She
knelt down on the grass at her rivals
feet.
81 want to ask-oh, do not be angry
with mel-but / want to know if you are
to marry Carl Won Weber, as they tell
me2"
Helen Morrison looked at the lovely
face before her, the face so child-like in
feature, so womanly in its expression of
love and suffering, and light dawned
upon her
NO" she answered quietly, 81 am not
to marry Captain Won Weber"
"But you love him2 oh, surely you love
him?"
Helen hesitated.
"No," she said slowly, II do not love
him"
What a sudden light broke over the pale
face, and how eagerly she seized her RI
walls hand and pressed it to her lipsl
"Fraulein" voice trembled with
earnestness-'if you do not love him,
why do you take him away from me2 /
love him,-ach, Colt, how / love himl
And he loves me- He told so often and
often here beneath the lindens. He kissed
me, and called me his Gretchen, away
from whom he could not be happy. And
we 'oers happy, oh, how happy until you
came"
The tears gathered slowly into Helen
Morrison's eyes. She took the two burn
ing little hands into her own.
Poor child |" she said soothingly.
"Oh, Fraulein, give him back to me-
give him back to me! He was all had;
he was all the world to me. And he loved
me-he loved lnel'
On her rivals breast the low wailing
cry died away, and Helen, holding her
tenderly in her arms, and softly stroking
down the golden hair, felt the trembling
form grow still at length. Poor child!
poor child
That night in the ballroom Capt Won
Weber was surprised at the cold and grave
greeting which Miss Morrison vouch-
safed him when he, as usual, eagerly
sought her side What did it mean? What
had happened? He could not well ask
an explanation there. but he looked anx