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

some way that she does not understand,
kisses her softly and leaves the room.
r. But such stories as these DC not fill all
the time, and one day .Angelique, who
has grown bitterly jealous of Gretchen,
begins to explain, SOME Of the things that
are wanting in this small world that the
girl deems so perfect spd complete. She
tells of dresses and jewels AID costly
sight, and scenes where gay cavaliers at
tend ladies clothed in elmine and lace.
Then she suggests: Look at the sunset
if you want to see how the silks simmer
and shine, and at the dew-drops if you
want to know the sparkle of diamonds
Or, if madame would let you-but she
is too ill-too ILL.," and Angellque pauscs
to sigh over the hidden glories that, must
not be revealed. >>" p ~
But madame uverheafs; and a new
athusement, Suggests itself. The depths
of those boxes Contain niiany meraSles OF
the milliner's art and if sunny haired
Gretchen would like to ex plore them, she
snail do so. Then the keys We're brought
out, and the little maiden retires into a
world of wonders cf which she has new
er dreamed. Meanwhile madame sits in
her high-backed easy-chair, and lazily
enjoys the scene.
Breathless with wonder and amaze:
ment, Gretchen pulls out one costly dress
after another, and apropos Of each An
gelique has a story to tell. This one was
worn at a grand concert in Paris; another
was made specially for the great occasion
when Madame la Marquise de B--sent
for her mistress at an evening party; a
third appeared before her Majesty the
Empress Eugenie-"Before your rough
soldiers overran our glcIious capital,
adds madame, smiling; and Gretchen
bushes, remembering who was among
the host. For each toilet there are jew
els, some more costly thai others, but all
suited in hue and radiance to the cos
tunes they must accompany. At last
Gretchen catches the trick of matching
tile une to the other, and great is her
pleasure whon madame tells her she is
right. finally, Gretchen pulls out eeep
blue silk, and as it lies against her fair
SKIN, madame calls out:
There you have your own color, little
Gretchen. You shall have it, petite, to
make yourself bodice for holidays.
See, its glory has deiarted; and behold,
kere is mark where your own Prince
set his foot upon the train. All!
that was in days when I was younger
than am now, or his Highness had not
cothe so close to admire me-"
Gretchen laughs gayly. "The jewels,
madame! What jewels did you wear?''
Diamonds, perhaps. have but one
sapphire;;" and madame shivers slightly.
"And here it is,' cries the girl, pull
ing forth g great blue jewel set in a ring
so heavy that it slips from her little flu
gers.
But madame is i'll, apparently. "Put
it down, my child,'' she cries; and once
more the strange spasm seizes her
Leave NE now, and take the dress with
you"
After this the wonderful boxes were
never opened again. Madame is cold and
strt nge and silent, and one day the lum-
bering carriage bears them all away from
the little Wlrtshus.
Then the days pass slowly for Gretch.
en-. There is feverishness about hel
life which she hopes will be Gained BY
Hans presence when he comes. Strange
tancies fit across her mind, and she is
not sure but that she is longing for the
great world about which she has promis
ed him never even to ask. In her day
dreams she sees the CLEAN of satin and
simmer of pearls, and wonders in wna
manner of place they are worm, Sht
hears. again Angelique's stories of King
and courts and crowded halls, where
music rings, AMI the air is heavy witt
the breath Of flowers that grow neithe>
on hillside nor plain. Gretchen puts OF
the marvellous blue dress, and then sh,
has tasted of the forbidden fruit, and it
subtitle poison begins to steal through
her veines.
/ At last there comes breath from tina
marvellous world, not flower scented, bu
bitter and omirous as the fierce blasts o
late. autumn: e..
"Send back madame's ring at once, i
you value your safety. Send it, child, O.
you will be branded as theft and cas-
into the nearest prison. You do no
know its history. God grant you neve
may! Why did you bring ruin on you
head by touching Jewel she will 10
live without?"
The note is written in Angeliquet
scratchy hand; and as Gretchen reads
her eyes grow wild with sheer amaze
ment. A ring!-what ring? The onl,
one she knows Of is the slender little cir
Get that Hans put on her tiny finger
What has madame to do. with that2 |
is, her own, her very own, part Of herself
and in her bewilderment she kisses
convulsively, as though she and it wer
in danger. Then she thinks of the grea
blue jewel that matched the blue dress
But it was carried away weeks ago in tn
great casket bound with brass and doubl
| bolted, where all the treasures were be
slowed. She kuows nothing of it-noth
ing; and yet she is called upon to give
up! The blue eyes grow strained an
| startled; then one by one the tears fal
and old Christine, sIicing plethori
sourst for the midday meal, is frightened
by the sound of smothered sobs.: 500
she has the suffering little one in be
arms; but the faithful soul knows moth
ing of the wonderful exhibition that too
| place in madame:s room. ,.'',''; 81,
''What hast thou to do with rings
Liebchen? Thou knowest naught of sue
things, save Hans's little folly"
Then Gretchen tells the story, and
troubled and indignant look comes int
| the old, servants. eyes = Grave Vate
Schonfeld is called from his pipe, an
great lines Of trouble marks the smoot
curves OF his face. It is too ,wonderft
for them all, and soon the sturdy Writ
takes the great stick and brings the goo
priest to Gretchen's side: ~ At last q no,
il written back, denying all 5knowledg
| Of the ring, and the holy father testif:
to the Innocence Of the poor little lam!
whom he has known and loved since II
the baptismal waters touched her bro,
within few hours Of her birth. =
I Gretchen sits down to wait, for VIII,
she does not know. ,Christin new,
leaves her side; the With sits no long
in the little porch with pipe and mu
but PAGES restlessly3 back and for,
]. | throu!gn' the little house; and the GOO
! priest comes every day. and at partir
LAYS his hands on Gretchen,s. fair hes
| with a tender blessing 81 II lis aail We,
ofran of,3 and snrr0yufi1{ <l,;a +o,..sh