The Osceola times., 1875-12-04

You and | will 90 for our walk, and |
will take you for peepat our cottage.
Max snatched his hat which he had
flung off in disgust, and, locking the
door behind them, the sister and
brother descended many stairs, and took
their way through the streets, and out
by the Porta Nigra into the country.
'"Look here, Max, did you ever see
anything so gloriously blue as the Mo
selle this evening? Could you bear to
live away from it? How glad ! am that
our new home will be near it. And
look, how magnificent the red lights are
upon the uncovered banks, with the
crimson earth glowing between! How
the tall dark poplars and the golden
acacias seem to thrill us they bask in
this wonderful light! If | had been II
man, Max, | should certainly have
tried to be an artist. Karl laughs at
me when | say so; he does not care
for such things, and gets annoyed
when | talk about them; and yet
never saw half the beauty of things
till he loved me-"
"Elow many people are out walking
tonight, krescenz! ! never saw the
road so gay. Oh, there is that Gretch-
en- kissing her hands to me, and | will
not look at her. Why? Because she
was so impertinent thi, morning, telling
me that Karl had left off loving YOU,
and was going to marry Luise.'
"lt was silly joke, Max. | hope
you did not get angry. What did you
say?"
Something that ought to have
stopped her kissing her hands to me, "
said Max.
1T was too foolish to be angry
about, little brother. Some one said it
to me, the other day, and only laughed.
| knew so well it was because | sent
Karl Il message to Luise the other eve
ming. But Gretchen ought not to have
said it to- you, Max. When | get to my
new home don't think shall ask her
to come and see me. do not want to
hate anybody, and
Il will do the hating for you, Krcs-
cenz, and | hate every one who says
Karl does not love you"
Every oney Don't give such big
name to two people, Max. If Karl did
not love me, should he not be the first
to know Of it? All, do you see our lit
tie house peeping above the acacias up
in the fields over there? How delight
tul it will be to live there, Max, with
all the flowers growing in at ones win
dows. And Karl is providing this
home for me! All, little Max, this
looks rather like loving one, doesn't it?'
Max was silent, and kept his face
turned away, with slight frown on the
brOws.
81 wish | could suddenly grow big,
Krescenz," he said abruptly.
The sister laughed. my dear, you
must wait she said gaily. by and
bye you shall copy your brother Karl,
and if you can manage TO grow like
him you will do very well. In the
meantime, you are not quite so small
as you were, my boy, when | first took
YOU in my arms, and carried you about
our poor garret, trying to put you to
sleep. Mother had died the day be-
fore was ten years old, and you were
only born was very little nurse,
wasn't |? But it seemed to me that
was hundred years old. How
proud was Of you, and how ! loved
you"
"And you worked for me, didn't
YOU, krcScenz|
"Ah, didn't |? We were alone III
the world, you and me. | paid poor
old woman-a very, very old woman,
who could not do anything else-a
penny a day for taking care of you, and
| worked for us two. | was Il strong
little girl, and Us industrious as bee.
People gave me work to do; it was very
hard until | was about If and then |
learned to sew, and things began to be
better. At Ii was able to rent Il lit
tie room for myself, and so bring home
my little brother. All, Max, how
often we have been hungry togetherl
and vet YOU are brave boy for your
age. have pulled you through the
worst, and now God has taken us both
into happiness and safety. No more
scantv crusts for YOU. No more sit
ting up all night, sewing by candle,
for me. No more pinching at the
heart when rent day is coming
round. Who could have thought of
it-that Karl, whom every one admir-
ed, shonld have sought out me! | did
not accept him hastily Max, for | was
afraid he might change his mind;
afraid that he had not known what he
was saving, or that he did not know
perfectly how much people thought of
him. But he would persist in loving
me. he would, indeed; and that is why
| laugh 50 much when the people tell
idle tales. If you only knew, my
good people | think, If you only
know how we'll ! know And Max
YOU see donot mind saying anything
to YOU must confess that the greatest
trouble have had lately has been the
fear that so much sitting up at night
was taking away my good looks. look
50 sicklv sometimes when the morning
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