Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-25
HANS AND GRETCHEN .

In the sunniest coraer of the angular
little porch that poktd 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 Vater.and
clothes its soldiers, and the grasp of a
rough muscua' arm round very tender
little waist, toll the story of appropria-
ton that had its first instance in the gar
den of E len. Hans, however, was now
new to the world and wanting in exper-
lence, like our primitive forefatl er when
he lost his rib only to regain it in such a
delicious fashion, nor did ne, like Othello,
know much
'of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents 10y foo and field,
OF halrbrea lths 'scaprs j. the emminent
deadly breach"
Yet he had learned something of the
W. rid .'YOnd the shadow of his native
hills during the time when Prussia push
ed her way to Paris, and the very heart
OF beautiful France was crushed under
the feet of the alien host Hans had pom
dereI we'll upon the SuhjactOf humanity.
its aims and is, ues. and, ikemanya greater
mind, his had grown confused with all
tho VI x, and various problems whose
meaning no man knows. Now she ha''
come back from the rush and whirl of a
{ reat CITY, and'for weeks had been enjoy
ing the perfect tEaLquility that 'reigned
in the atmosphere fOt his native village
He drank it in great draughts, and would
fam keep it to himself fOrever-keepit to
himself, as he meant TO keep Gretchen,
fair and pure and innocent, unbreathed up
on and unsulled by any tempests of emo
ton, by any faint of sin.
So far all had gone we'll. Bile eyed
Gretchen had shown no longing t, know
of the world beyond the handicapped
hills where heaven touched earth each
morning, and sanct:fed the place thereof
neither did she trouble hers Elf about the
thoughts and fancies that wound them.
selves in and out under Hans heavy
brows. 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 l am
lost in thought. All sorts of things &C
round in my head. Only be cheerful
now, be happy that there is so much thou
knowest not"
Then Gretchen would reply: "Wha
thou thinkestI ought not to know, will
never ask"
Tonight there was to be q parting
Business called Hans to remote corner
OF the VdteriaDd, and Gretchen was to bt
left alone. Thus it was very tearfu
pair of blue eyes that lifted themselves II
his when the time came for the last kiss
and the small lips trembled as the,
touched his own.
Gretchen sands by the gate Of the OLE
Wirthshaus a one. The shadow of th
porch do not fall upon her, aud the re
treating form of the young soldier seem
to take away with it the protecting at
mosphere Of great love. The sunshin
falls upon the waving masses of COLDER
hair, f r Hans has Withdrawn the disfig
urlng cap 20 that he might caress them
the blue eyes that follow him are teartu
with emotion, and the graceful figur
that leans against the gate vibrates wit
tue passionate SORROW of child.
"Mon D Gu! Angeliquel La petite
She is beauti al.
"Where, MADAME" pipes the shril
s@vs,ce of French lads,a. maid. The tw
yoice5 proceed from the depths of
travelling carriage that is making it
way up the road.
s:rhere, by the G tte. All! Angeliqut
if had, had face and figure like tna
/ should not be as ana now. Tbeyswsut
not have said, The gE at singer has 10:
htr fascination, and her voice its power
See how lovely she is, even though sh
weeps-and the fair color j i her cheeks
All! it is the health, the beautiful healt
that the best of all! TIE last is spoke
in the fretfut to les of an invalid. "Bl
what is she crying fore Pc ito sotte! I
cry like that when she has the beauty
an angel and the strength Of youn
deer. Wnat is the place, Angelique2--
Wirthshaus? Did the old shed ever hal
visitor wonder2 1t does not look s
Let US stop. must stop somewher
SD nd a month-ugh l--among the
odious mountains, Sd says monsieur
ducteur. Why, thew are like the gray
only there IS chance te squirm. Sti
they say must make my choice betwe'
the two. If. the people are as refin'
looking-as the girl, shall. at least ha
some one 10 speakF TO-, And then
town 10 avithinaIn HAIRS ride. There