Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-11-15

4 IN l.
Ii was in the year lG0l that young
man sat at table in the front room Of
house in the town of Nordhausen, anC
from time TO time passed his finger:
nervOusly through his long yellow hair
as he perused a pamphlet entitled "Fdnac
fraterHitdtiS la.ddtelu ordiRis Rosecrll-
ciS.'
The windows of his chamber looked
out upon the square, and it being mar
ket day, there was the sound of many
voices and the incessant tread of wooden
shoes in the street below
Karl StOlberg, however, needed not
the noise of busy tongues or the tinkle
of goats bells, but passed his hand
slowly across his brow, and throwing
himself in his seat, gaZed vacantly al
the smoky ceiling.
As he thus sat, there came a faint tap
at the door, and without waiting for
permission TO enter, a young girl, ap-
parently eighteen years of age, came
into the chamber and stood beside the
half-unconscious man who still retained
his posture. Laying her hand lightly
upon his shoulder, she said: DAY
dreams and castle building will never
make one rich enough to we'd"
At the sound of her voice Stolberg
started, and looked upon her with a
pleasant but sad smile.
"Ah, tits you, Sophie, he replied,
taking her hand and drawing her af-
fectionately TO his side.
"What have you here?" asked the
girl, picking up the pamphlet and gaz-
ing on the title-page. Then she added,
what a pity l cannot read it. L per-
ceive it is written in a dead language.
- 'Tis Latin, my dear girl, and, OF
course, you cannot read it; but even
could you do so, fear it would benefit
YOU nothing. 'Tis not Il book to interest
women. Sometimes l fear subjects like
this will drive me mad. | think-and
think-and think, my mind becoming
SO imbued with the mysterious, that L
scarce know what l say or do. Yester-
day did not eat at all; forgetting that
there was such a thing as food in the
world; or that | required it"
"You shall not read such things
then," exclaimed the girl, reaching
forth to lay hold of the book. 81 will
not have you go crazy, because you are
to be my husband, and l have right
TO protect you, even against yourself.
Stolberg smiled as he stayed Sophie's
hand, and taking the pamphlet, he
placed it in a drawer, and locking it,
put the key in his pocket.
81 was going TO Market" said the
girl, SO l merely stop for moment TO
wish you good morning, and"
Give me kisss," exclaimed Stol-
berg, suiting the action to the word.
Sophie betrayed no anger at the young
mans boldness. She merely laughed,
and pushing him gently aside, said:
81 must be gone. Will you come
with me to the market places"
"Alas, Sophie, l cannot replied her
lover, glaneing at the clock with its
two long weights reaching nearly to
the floor. Il cannot, my dear, L am
expecting Herr Moeller here every in
stant."
Il don't like that man." said Sophie,
81 never shall like him, and l don't
wish to either" and she tried to make
her pretty little mouth look stern-
Karl only laughed.
"Tut, tut" he answered. You must
not indulge in such prejudices. Noel
Ter is a very learned person, and 1 tell
you there are few like him in our coun-
try; perhaps not in all Europe"
But he talks so strangely" replied
Sophie; don't seem to live in the world
like other people. One would think to
hear him converse that he came from
another planet. L don't like him, say.
Just as she uttered this last sentence
Herr Moeller stood directly before her,
having ascended the stairway so noise-
lessly that Sophie was not aware OF his
approach. He bowed stiffly to her, and
passing into the room the girl hastened
away TO conceal her confusion.
Herr Moeller was about fifty hVe
years of age; his hair, which originally
was black, now was thickly streaked
with white, and worn long, falling
upon his shoulders. His eyes were
dark and piercing, deep set, and shaded
by bushy brows. His teeth were as
white as pearls, and very regular. he
Was smooth shaven, and his face, though
iull, was sallow.
When he entered Karl Stolberg's room
he dropped quietly into chair, and fell
into reverie. Stolberg, who knew
NOeller's peculiarities, did not inter
rupt him for a few minutes, but at
length remarked: "Well, my friend,
| have been studying your book, and
confess tits a wonderful subject for
ones thoughts
Herr Moeller raised his eyes and re-
Piled: ''Truth is always consistent
with itself, and needs nothing to assist
IT." Then abruptly changing the sub
Jeet he said: "Your marriage day ap-
proaches, | believe; at least you told
me so."