West-Jersey pioneer., 1877-01-18
[COntinusd from last week. ]
GERMELSHAUSEN.
(FRoM THE GERMAN OF GERsTACKER.

GERMELSHAUSEN.
; (FRoM THE GERMAN OF GERsTACKER)
At ten o'clock came a pause in the dance
and the musicians. who must have hat
lungs of iron, marched ahead of the youn.
people into the supper-rOom. There ever,
thing went merrily; the wine flowed freely
and Arnold, who could not very well be be
hind the rest, was realizing what void the
evenings dissipation would leave in hi.
slender purse. But Gertrude sat close by
him. They drank from the same glass
and could he long find room for any such
anxiety? Besides, what if her Heinrich
should come to. morrow?
The first stroke of eleven sounded, and
again the boisterous jollity of the drinkers
was hushed; again the breathless listening
to each long, heavy tone. A strange dread
| fell upon him-he hardly knew of what
and a thought of his mother at home stole
into his heart. He took up his glass slowly,
| and emptied it to the health of the loved
ones far away
At the eleventh stroke the guests sprang
up from the table for the dance to begin
anew, and all hurried back to the hall.
ITO whom did you drink that last time ?''
said Gertrude, as she laid her hand upon
his arm again.
Arnold hesitated Perhaps Gertrude
would laugh at him if be told her. But no;
she had prayed fervently at her own moth
ers grave, and in a low voice he answered.
''To my mother
Gertrude said not a word, and went up
the stairs with him in silence But she
laughed nur1, and before uegrnnIng the
next dance, she asked.
''Do you love your mother SO dearly ?''
more than my life.''
"And does she love you ?''
'Does not mother always love her
child :"
"And what would she do if you did not
come home to her?'
'Poor mother" said Arnold, cher heart
would break
''The dance is beginning again." exclaim-
ed Gertrude, quickly. ''Come, we must
not lose a moment"
And, wilder than ever, the dance went
on. The young men, warmed with the
strong wine, frolicked and shouted and fair
ly screamed, until the noise threatened to
drown the music. Arnold no longer felt
happy in the confusion, and Gertrude too
had become silent and serious. But with
the others the fun only seemed to increase,
and in pause of the dance the magistrate
came up, gave the young fellow hearty
slap on the back, and said, laughing.
That's right, Herr Painter; let your legs
move lively this evening. We've time
enough to rest Nay, nay, little girl. what
are you pulling such a long face about Is
that fit for the dance, do you think? Come;
move lively. It's beginning again. Imust
60 and hunt up my old woman and have
the last turn with her. Get into place.
Come; the musicians are putting out their
cheeks again" And, with shout, he
went off, elbowing through the noisy crowd.
Arnold had thrown his arm around Ger
trude for the dance just beginning, when
she suddenly freed herself, grasped his arm,
and whispered, softly.
"Come ~
Arnold had no time to ask where, she
urged him so hurriedly and secretly to the
door of the hall.
"Where are you going?" two of her
friends called out.
"Oh, I'm coming right back" she ans
wered, shortly; and in few seconds she
and Arnold stood outside in the cool even
ing air.
"Where are you going, Gertrude? ?''
"Come ~ Again she grasped his arm, and
led him through the village to her fathers
house, where she stepped in, returning with
bundle.
"What are you going to do ?' Arnold ask
ed, astonished.
''Come" was all she answered, and walk
ed with him past all the houses, until they
had left the outer walls of tho village be-
hind. They had been following the broad,
hard, Travelled street, but now Gertrude
turned off to the left, and went up little
hill, from which one could easily look down
on the brightly lighted windows of the tav-
ern. Here she stood still, held out her
hand to Arnold, and said, with feeling.
Correct your mother for me, and farewell. -
Gertrude - cried Arnold, astonished
and perplexed, Twill you send me from you
so, and in the night? Have said word
to offend you?''
'No, Arnold" said the girl, calling him
for the first time by his name; ''but just
because-because love you, you must CO."
'But will not leave you, still less in this
way, to go back to the village all alone in
the dark You do not know how dear you
| are to me, how in these few hours have
given you all my heart. You do not know
| how
"Hush Say no more" said Gertrude, in
terrupting him. "We will take no farewell.
When you have heard the clock strike twelve
it can lack hardly ten minutes now-come
back to the door of the tavern. will wait
| for you there"
"And meanwhile 2''
'sStay here on this spot. Promise me that
| you will not move step to the right nor
eft until it shall have done striking twelve. +"