The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-01-19


we have grown up, and my father says
| must marry some one else, and !
don't like IL but what Is TO be doneP
| We can't always have what we wish. !"
| At this moment Il seemed TO Marie's
parents that the interview, which they
had connived 1t rather than permitted.
| had lasted long enough, for the door
above opened, and they both appeared
at the entrance. The mother, bux-
ON, middle-aged dame, called TO the
girl, who held out her hand 10 her
lover, and then ran up the staircase,
which her father Immediately after
wards descended, pipe in hand.
"Look here, Stephan" he said, lead
ing the young man little away from
the house; ssif ever you are father
you will know that you must do the
best you can for your children, to get
them on, and see them happy and
prosperous. Now, your family has
been unfortunate; l do not say that it
was their fault-far from it. Your
father was my very good friend, but he
did not manage, somehow, to keep on
good terms with the pacha, and he lost
every thing, including his life. Irisked
something at the time by befriending
you, Ii tie child and an orphan; for
be was vindictive man, that pacha,
and il he had known it, would have
owed me q grudge. Afterwards | help
ed, with Others, to set You up in the
farm you cultivate. You have worked
well you have paid back the cattle you
were started with for stock; l know
that. But you are in a small way, and
Government takes great deal from us,
though we ought not to grudge that, so
long as they leave us in peace; but still,
when man is poor and struggling 1t
keeps him poor and struggling. Marie
would have to work harder and live
more roughly as your wife than she
does now, and neither her mother nor
myself would like that. Her children
would have to be laborers of lower
class than is suitable for our family.
And our Marie can do better. l have
friendly feeling for you, and you will
always be welcome under my roof, for
your own sake as well as your fathers;
but must take care Of my own child
first. Think no more of it, Stephan
He held out his hand, which the
young man took, not very warmly, for
his heart was full of bitterness.
II can join the insurgents and get
killed, at any rate, I" he muttered. "That
is the best thing for such q mean and
unfortunate wretch as am to do. And
shall be striking blow in revenge
for my father, at any rate"
So saying he strobe of in the direc-
ton Of the village, while the old man
shrugged his shoulders with plying
smile and retraced his steps to his COM
Portable fireside.
1t was the same eternal story, ever
old yet fresh, no matter whether the
scene is laid in Bulgarian village or
Belgravian mansion--young love and
old prudence in opposition.
Likewise, there always seems TO be
some peculiar connection between dis
appointed affection and fighting, which
leads the youth whose heart Is blighted
to seek the remedy of a broken head.
Hodge, betrayed, enlists; the Tilted
Jaques courts the otherwise dreaded
consumption. So Stephan, when he
could not have the girl he wanted, de-
termined to take it out Of the Moham-
medan oppressor.
The instruction had not spread to
that immediate district. 1t was quiet,
Industrious village, and though the in
habitants bore no love to the Turks,
none Of them were inclined to take part
in what they considered q hopeless
struggle, which could only result in
drawing swift vengeance upon their
heads. But Stephan knew as well
where to apply for information as the
lovelorn British swain knows where the
recruiting sergeant is TO be found, and
he went direct to the house of the papa,
or priest.
A girl Of about ten came to the door,
and Ted the way into a small inner
apartment, where Stephan opened his
heart to the papa, concluding with an
expression Of his determination to de-
vote himself to the cause of his country,
and asking for directions where TO find
the headquarters Of the insurgents.
IL can not dissuade you, my son"
said the papa, eff you feel yourself
called upon to take part in this effort
to free the land from the heather OPP
pressor. 1t is holy cause, and one
not 50 hopeless as many deem it.
Other countries are ready to join in IL,
and little success will embolden Servia
to declare war against the Turk. And
there Is another and stronger Power,
who's. sympathy is with the Christian,
and whose secret aid may be depended
upon. Russia, the land TO which our
Church is dearest, will not stand quite
idly by. And, above all, God will pro-
tect those who fight in His own cause.
But il is necessary to be prudent, and
| let no one know Of your intention. or