Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-07-25
Hans AND GRETCHEN.

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@iHiANs AANSD GRETCHEN:
In tho sunniest corner Of the angular
little porch that poked itself out from the
side Of the old Wirthshaus in such curl
GUS and irrelevant manner, sat Hans and
Gretchen. The yellow head of the girl
inclined suspiciously near to the honest
blue uniform in which the Vaterland
clothesg its, soldiers, and the grasp of d
tough muscular arm round very tender
little waist, told the story, of appropria-
ton that had its, first instance in the gar
den of Eden. Hans, however, was now
new to the world and wanting in exper-
fence, like our primitive forefather when
he lost his rib only, to regain it in such a
delicious fashion, nor did nc, like Othello,
know much 81
"of most disastrous chances,
OF moving accidents by fool and field,
OF hair.breadths: 'scapes T. the emminent
deadly breach"
world hcyond the shadow of his native
hills during the time when Prussia push
ed her way to Paris, and the very heart
Of beautiful Fra1ee was crushed under
the feet Of the alien host, Hans had pom
derea'well upon The subject Of humanity,
its aims and is ues. and, like manga greater
mind, his had grown confused with all
tho vexcd and various problems whose
meaning no man knows. Now he had
come back from the rush and whirl of a
great city, and for weeks had been en- Joy
Ing the perfect tranquility that reigned
II the atmosphere of his native village.
He dratik it in great draughts, and would
fain keepi it to himself forever-keepit to
himself, as he iiieant to keep Gretchen,
fair and pure and innocent, unbreathed up
on and unsullied by any tempests of emo
ton, by any faint of sin.
So far all had gone we'll. Blue eyed
Gretchen had shown no longing t.. know
of the world beyond the cloud capped
hills where heaven touched earth each
morning, and sanctitied the place thereof;
neither did she trouble herself about the
thoughts and fancies that wound them
selves in and out under Hans heavy
btows. sometimes when he gazed at
nothing with thoughtful and troubled
expression, and the maiden asked him
why, he would answer:
''Good child thou must never ask, and
never wilt know by experience how
crookedly and confusedly every thing
goes on in this world Thou must not
always be questioning me when I am
lost in thought. All sorts of things 20
round in my head. Only be cheerful
now, be happy that there is so much thou
knowest not
Then Gretchen would reply: 'What
thou thinkestI ought not to know, I will
never ask"
Tonight there was to be parting.
Business called Hans to remote corner
OF the Vaterland, and Gretchen was to be
left alone. Thus it was very fearful
pair of blue eyes that lifted themselves to
his when the time came for the last kiss,
and the small lips trembled as thew
touched his own.
Gretchen stands by the gate of the old
Wirthshaus acne. The shadow of the
porch does not fall upon her, aud the re-
treating form Of the young soldier seems
to take away with! it the protecting at
mosphere Of great love. The sunshine
falls upon, the waving masses of golden
hair, for Hans has withdrawn the dis6g-
uring cap so that he might caress them
the blue eyes that follow him are fearful
with emotion, and the graceful figure
that leans against the gate yibrates with
the passionate sorrow OF child. -.
"Mon. Dieu! Angeliquei La petite
She is beauti I'll.
"Where, MADAME pipes the. shril]
voice of a French lady's maid. The two
voices proceed from the depths of a
travelling carriage that is making its
way up the road.
There, by the gate. All! Angeiique
it I had, had a face and figure like that
I should not be as I am now. They would
not have said, The great singer has lost
her fascination, and her voice its power.
See how lovely she is, even thoug Oh she
weeps-and the fair color in her cheeks
All! it IS the health, the beautiful health
that is. the best ofsall!' TIE last is spoken
in the fretful TOTES of an invalid. '"Bu,
what is she crying for? Pc tic sotte! to
cry like that when she has the beauty of
an angel and the strength Of a young
deer: What is the place, Angelique?-
Wjrthshaus? Did the old shed ever have
a visitor I wonder9 It does not hook so
Let us stop. l must stop somewhere
spend q :month-ugh !-among these
odious mountains, 50 says monsieur le
docteur.; Why, they are like the; grave
only there Is chance to squirm. Still
they say must make my choice between
the two. If the people are as refined
looking as the girl, T shall at least have
some one to speak to-. And then thu
town is within an hours ride. There w
may find a little life---if ] am ever wei
enough +oIive asain;" and the sentence
concludes witha sigh. u =.
Gretchen's sorrow ends in hustle and
commotion most wonderful and unusual
The young French lady desires rooms q
tho old inn for herself and maid. Sucf
an almost unprecedented demand affect.
the household like the awakening kiss O
his princsSin the fairy tale. Old Vate
schohfeld is startled from a RIP Val
Winkle-like snooze; Chr slime, the faith
full old servant, who administers house
hold affairs-for it is many wears sine
Gretchen has known aught of moth
love- comes bustling forward, filled vie
wQIder ands amaze; Marthe, her somntl
lent assistant, calls upon the saints t,
peqtectshes against such break in th,
regular order Of thigs...s azEs} Es*s.& 9.
OILY zGretehenf ii delighted. J He
eyes rest upon the grafile, ssincompre
hensible face that peers from the Carr
ape Windows, Faddst6e Strong vonna arm
assist the inyalA 70 seach her own spot
less chamber. Here she is laid. world
wosasand utterly weary; her sheadfspress