The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-23


were by their long lashes.
"WelI, well, we shall see," returned
Gretchen, wisely resolving not Il
press the matter, at least for the pres
ent.
And there were naturally many
other subjects of conversation inter
esting to the family party, or at leas
| to the women portion of it; many
questions to ask and be answered
many friends to be inquired for ano
discussed. a
A merry and talkatiye group were
they, as they sat together that eve
ming at work, by the open window O
the cottage kitchen, 1t seemed al
though they never could get to the
end of their absorbing topics-births
marriages, deaths, changes of one
kind and another, rumors of what
might be, or what have been, flirta.
tions, feuds; who does not know tine
thousand and one elements of. village
gossip: If the conversation tagged
for a mement, it was sure to break
out again directly with an "Oh! what
do you think 2" or "Do tell me-" And
then on the tongues would GO again.
as glibly as though not a word had
been spoken for hours.
"Oh, these women, these women,
grumbled old Grandfather Gruhner
'Just listen to them click, clack, click,
clacking for all the world like flock
of geese. Set five women together,
and some mischief will be brewing,
one may be sure of that" And yet,
in spite of his protests, it did not
seem that the old man had really any
very strong aversion himself to q lit
tie gossip, since he hovered about the
group, pipe in mouth, with some
tenacity, instead of following his SON
in-law, Wilhelm, to the garden, where
he was busy digging potatoes. sf
The forthcoming festivities of the
wooden wedding, and the presents
which " ere expected or promised for
the occasion, of course took up con-
siderable share of the conversation,
and filled up the pauses of village
scandal. The custom of giving pres.
ents Of a special kind on each fifth an
niversary Of a marriage originated in
America, but has been largely adopted
in Germany. On the fifth anniversary
of the wedding day all the gifts must
be o: wood, on the tenth Of tin, on
the fifteenth Of china, and so on until
the silver. the twenty-fifth the golden,
the fftieth, and the diamond, the sell
dom reached seventy-fifth year of
wedlock, is attained. There was nat
urally a good deal of arrangement re-
quired, and some anxiety manifested
by the notable young housewife, that
the offerings should be such as would
give satisfaction alike to the donor
and the recipients, the rarest of all
cases in the giving and receiving of
presents. Possibly Margot had never
heard OF that unhappy bridal pair
whose thoughtful friends provided
them with ten toast racks as wedding
gifts. But experience or learning of
some kind had evidently made her
wise, and she was resolved that no
of such kind should occur
in her case. Though the gifts may be
limited in kind as we'll as in cost, there
was no reason why they should not
be of various description. At least
30 it would seem from the list which
she counted on her fingers, more than
twice over, for her Cousins benefit,
and which included among other
things an armed chair, tea caddy, a
carved necklace, picture frame, three
spoons, a brooch, potato bowl, and
tub.
"Ah, by-the-bye, she says, rather
after one Of those dead
pauses which ofteN occur, even in the
most animated conversations, "by- the
bye, my husband tells me that Hans
Steiner will come this evening to ask
what his present to me shall be. L
must decide. What dost think, grand
mother, of a little bracket for the wall
that would Just hold the best Dutch
china tea-pot2" aEa.t i.ais.
81 think that would be capital" re-
spends the old lady. eeaea
Meanwhile a look of intelligence
passes between the other women.
who is sitting close to Gretch-
ell, works away very steadily, and
pretends not to see it. laE
81 doubt if Margot's present is the
only reason for Hans coming up to-
night" said widow Gruhner, smiling
At her niece.
slow should he know 1 was here ?"
asks poor Louison, betraying herself
and then blushing
crimson to the very tips of her ears.
There is general laugh. At the
same moment Louison drops the
needle she is working with and goes
on her knees on the floor to find it.
her heart beats tumultuous-
ly. 1t seems 10 have Aown to her
head and to be knocking a very tattoo
on her brain the sound of footsteps,
of well-known voice has reached
her ears long before the others are
conscious of it. 1t is not very mu-
sical voice J.; it does not belong TO a
very remarkable or especially charm
ing person. Hans is, after all, but a
e,every-day sort of young
man; but yet TO the little girl cropping
around in the twilight after the miss
ing needle the voice has charm sweet
er than any other on earth, the round,
commonplace face. under the round,
shabby hat, has a radiance and beauty