Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-12-10

ried YOU about our poor garrett, trying to
put YOU to sleep. Mother had died the
day before was ten years old, and you
were only born. was very little nurse,
wasn't L? But it seemed to me that my
heart was a hundred years old. How proud
was of you, and how l loved you ~
"And you worked for me, didn't you,
Krescenz ?"
'.Ah, didn't +? We were alone in the
world only you and me. paid poor old
woman-a very, very old woman, who
could not do anything elsa penny a day
for taking care of you, and l worked for
us two. I was a strong little girl, and as
industrious as bee. People gave me work
to do; it was very hard until was about
fourteen, and then I learned to sew, and
things began to be better At sixteen |
was able to rent little room for myself,
and SO bring home my little brother. All,
Max, how often we have been hungry to-
gether! and yet you are brave boy for
your age. have pulled you through the
worst, and now God has taken US both i'll
to happiness and safety. No more scanty
crusts for you. No more sitting up all
night, sewing by candle, for me. No more
piDching at the heart when rent-day is
coming round. Who could have thought
of it that Karl, whom every one admires
should have sought out me! l did not
accept hiu hastily, Max, for 1 was afraid
he might change his mind; afraid that he
l,od I,o I,nt hn or
that he did not know perfectly how much
people thought of him. But he would per-
sist in loving me, he. would, indeed; and
that is why laugh so much when the peo-
pie tell lille tales. eff you only knew, MY
good people, think; IF you only knew
how we'll 1 know And Max-you see L
do not mind saying anything to you'll
must confess that the greatest trouble l
have had lately, has been the fear that SO
much sitting up at night was taking away
all my good looks. look SO siekly some
times when the morning light comes ill.,
Stare at me well in the face, " ak, and tell
me if am getting ugly"
-"You are the prettiest ana loveliest girl
In the town, sister KrescenZ."
s'But am not rosy, like Gretchen. nor
are my eyes so big and bright as Louise's,
nor''-
"No matter" persisted Max. "Not one
of them can smile the way You do.''
'After that must say something nice
to you, Max. Sit down here on the grass,
and let me tell you the kind # life we shall
have, over in our little house yonder. W.
shall have four rooms Of our own, and
there are vines growing round all the win
dows. We shall have Il pretty garden with
bees and flowers, and field with COW i'll
it. shall do my sewing. sitting under I.
tree, looking down on the Moselle. Yon
will go to work with Karl, and in the even
ing you will both come home, and We shall
have supper In the garden"
II wish we had some now, KrescenZ."
II wish We had my boy; and I think it
is time to go and look for some coffee and
bread.''
The sister and brother turned their steps
towards a pleasant summes-h0use of re-
fresha1ent, built among trees, upon the
high oyerhanging bank OF tie river, where
the people of Tfier love to drink coffee in
the cool of the evening. AS the girl and
child took their simple meal in a nook of
the projecting terrace, the blue Moselle
rushed under their feet, and Trier lay
bathed in ruddy glory in the distance be-
fore their eyes, W tn its strange contrast
ing outlines softened into m ,gnifcent haf-
motIy, and the fierce black Roman gates
making a frown IN the very front of the
sunny landscape.
"iIow splendid it looks the dear old
town ?" cried Krescenz. "Do you know,
Max, cannot understand why people ev
Ell. leave their homes to go out into the
world.''
Il should like to go out and see the
world said Max.
'You mustn't say so, Max. Nothing
would ever induce me to leave Trier."
They were rambling among the trees on
the hillside, stopping now and then to iean
forward and take fl esh peep at the beauty
of the river and the exquisite CLEANS of the
distance on either side.
''Oh, KrescenZ, Krescenz! I have found
a pair of lovers"
mo! Have you, MAXI" said Krescenz
with inter- st.
behind that large tree, in such pretty
nook. Just peep around and you can see.'
Hide, then, while peep, so carefully"
Max retired while Krescenz lie mel for
ward with smile of mischevou5 delight,
and peered from behind a screen of leaves,
herself unseen by the objects of her inter-
est. When the boy thought he had waited
long enough, he came forth again, and
plucked her blythe skirt.
She turned to him slowly, and put her
finger on her lip.
''Krescenz! Krescenz!" whispered the
child, ''what makes your face so dreadful?
Are they ghosts?'
flush, Max! 1 cannot see. take me by
the hand, and get me into some quiet
place, where nobody will find u.s."
"Oh. Krescenz, you are I'LL Are you
going to die?"
mo, dear, shall not die. Fetch me
some wafer and tell nobody"
Max obeyed, and while tho red light
paled on the Moselle, and purple mingled
with the crimson and olive of its banks,
the girls white face lay on the moss,
gazing blankly upward with fixed eyes.
The teals trlcklod over Max's innocent
cheeks as he nestled at her side and kissed
her lips, her hands and her hair.
"Oh, Krescenz! mayI call some one to
come and help Won homp2,
''No, dear, no." said the young girl,
starting up. ave are not going home