The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-27
COnrad's Loves.


Conrad's Loves.
A great Swapping, muscular fellow was
Conrad Midburger, and he was admitted to
be the best dancer and swordsman in the
village. His complexion was darker than
that of most of his neghbors, for there
was a tradition of Magyar blood in the fam
lily, and his face was by no means lackiny :
in intelligence of merry and peaceful
sort.
Gottleib Midburger, Conrad's father.
with his old croney and partner, Franz
Hoferdahl, had made and mended watches
in the same dingy and tme.worn shop
where their father had filed and hammered
before them and one life was like another,
and about as unvarying as the ticking of
the fat-faced time pieces behind the cob
webs in the shop window.
Just now, however, as if the course of
nature were being disturbed, various rip
Piles were beginning to come. Rumors
there were for instance, that the King,
''God preserve him was preparing to fight
war with somebody, and that all young
heroes like Conrad NIidburger would soon
be needed for the army.
Stranger still, and utterly unaccountable,
considering his time of life, old Franz Hof-
erhahl had caught the emigration fever,
and made up his steadfast mind to Join the
great German tide that sets perpctually to-
ward the shores of America. Already he
had sold whatever he had to sell, accept
his big pipe, his flute, and his daughter
Christine, for these he intended to take with
him to the Western Eden.
Perhaps" thought the villagers, ''it's
not so strange for ole Franz as for some of
us. He's been lonely since his wife died,
and then he was a great traveller in his
younger day"
That was true enough, for Franz Hofer-
dahl had been even to Berlin, and America
could not be so very much beyond.
The old man had sold his share in the
shop to his friend Gottleib, and had made
as good bargains as he could for his house
and movables; but none of his anxious
neighbors knew exactly how much of ready
cash he took with him when he and his
weeping Christine set out upon their long
pilgrimage.
Christine wept, indeed as if she meant
to ruin her pretty blue eyes entirely; fol
the little old village had been very dear tc
her, and her mothers grave was there Il
there were other reasons for her sorrow
Christine kept them to herself; albeit she
may have wondered why one person, al
least, had not asked her question or sc
concerning them.
As for Conrad Midburger, he had said
goodbye with all the rest, to his fathers
old friend, and the fearful Christine; and
he had rubbed his great eyes, afterward, in
way that looked as if the whole thing wai
as good as dream to him. If it was there
was no help for it, since Christine and hel
father were far enough away before he woke
up.
Nevertheless, when Conrad missed, day
after day, the accustomed form of old Franz
in the shop, as we'll as the CHEEKY voice o
Christine Hofendahl calling her father hom'
to dinner, the expression of his face would
change, at times, and one would almos
have said she was beginning to think
Not quite so much as that, perhaps-a
least, not yet; but pretty soon Conrad
eyes took note of growing difference il
the ways and seeming of old Gottleib Mid
burger himself. Just what it was woult
have been hard to say but by degrees, TIN
old man came to neglect his pipe, and thel
his glass of beer, and then his word; and
finally, he took to his bed and died; an,
the neighbors said almost with one accord
that "Franz Hofendah had broken his oil
friends heart by going away"
"Broken his hearth said Conrad to him
self, "But he did not break mine! And
have heart. tool can feel it beat. An
l loved old Franz and / feel as if l coul
cry all day, if ] were not so very big
man."
The strongest evidence that Conrad ha
heart, however, was yet to come. A
the days went by after his fathers death
the shop and everything in and about i
became utterly dstasteful to him. Da
after day he sat down by the bench an
tried to work but the very ticking of tn
watches was insuferably oppressive, Will
again and again he started up and droppe
his file or his hammer in renewed astonisl
ment at the coatnued absence of those tw
men.
''If only Christine would come" he sal
to himself" and call old Franz home to di
ner!"
But she did not come, and the slenC
and loneliness grew more and more irl
some; and so when, by and by, good Gu
toner OPPORTUNITY made his appearance
Conrad Midburger almost gladly close
with his offer to purchase the shop al
house. He sold, too, everything else tn
his father had left him, except the old man
pipe, and sword, and The medal his faith
before him had worn in the old wars wit
the French Neither did Conrad, any mo-
than Franz Hofendahl, tell any of his neigl
bors how great or how small was the gode
store he found himself possessed of; b.
the Midburgers had been careful, savin,
and cose-mouthed race for generations.
And when the sales were all complete,
and the transfers duly made, and Coma
stood in the moonlight, one fine spring ey
ming, and gazed on the home that was
longer his, he said to himself:
IL think ! could almost break my hea
now, after all, for / loved that house, al
loved the shop; but could not stay the
with the empty places. There were t.
many voices there did not speak. Tn
was it. But what shall do now?'
Conard's question was answered for hi
by the great French emperor and by Il
king, for Napoleon had determined in i
old age that he must fight the German
and so great many quiet people had
march away from their homes to be sh
at, without the wisest man in the villaj
being able to give them good reason.
1t was sad thing for many, but Conr
Aldburger felt as if he was almost glad
go. He was sure he loved his "Vaterlan
in every bone of his body; and, if the XII
called for him, he was ready, Still,
they marched away from the sleepy old v
lage, Conrad said to himself
"'There are the old house, and the sho
and the church steeple, and trees, and t
graves in the church. / did not knc
my heart was so big, for I'm sure l To-
about everything l can see."