River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04


bank notes, but only on condition that
YOU do not leave this house until /
fetch YOU from it. Walterl a bedroom
for this gentleman. You require rest
Herr Schmidt. Good night. To-mor-
row you will see me again.
III.
In one of the narrow and ilI.lighted
streets of Sachsenhausen, in an attic OF
lofty and unsightly house, sat blonde
about 20 years of age, busily employ
ed with her needle. The furniture of
the room was clean and tasteful. The
girls whole dress would not have
brought many kleutzers, bat every
article fitted her well as if it had cost
hundreds. Her fair locks shaded a
fa3e frightened by pair OF eyes OF
hevenIy blue. The spirit OF oder,
modesty and cleanliness reigned in
everything around her. Her features
we've delicate, like those of one noble
born: her eyes betrayed sleepiness and
anxiety, and ever and anon deep sigh
rose from the maiden's breast. Sud
denly steps were heard on the staircase,
and her face lighted up with JOY. She
! listened, and doubt seem to shadow her
brow. Then came a'knock at the door,
which made her tremble so much that
she almost wanted the courage to say
Come In" A young man, shabbily
! dressed, entered the room and made
/ los and awkward bow.
beg pardon, miss, said he; docs
Herr Schmidt live here?
8 Yes, sir; what is your pleasure -"
/ g Are you his daughter, Bertha?'
/ 81 am"
Then it is you that l seek, 1 am
from your father"
| For heavens sake, where is he +?
/ Something must have happened-he
has stayed away all night"
| 1.-THE misfortune is not very great"
/ Oh my poor, poor, father! what
shall hear?"
| The young man seemed to observe
these visible marks Of anxiety with
great interest. He SAID:
Do not be frightened; it is nothing
of great Importance. Your father met
last night an old acquaintance, who in
vited him to tavern. They had sup
per together, but when the landlord
came for his bill your fathers friend
had decamped, and left him to pay the
score. He had not sufficient money
for this, and now the host will not let
him GO until he is paid, and declares
that unless he gets his money he will
send him to prison."
"To prison!' exclaimed the girl.
"Can you tell me how much the bill
amounts to?"
"Three forms and q half"
con God!' sighed the girl. "Al
have does not amount to more than l
form, but will go at once to Madam
Berg and beg of her to advance me the
mOi.ey."
Who is Madam Berg?"
The milliner for whom | work"
But if Madam Berg does not adj
vance the mOney-what then?"
The girl burst into tears.
al am afraid she will refuse, l al
ready owe her l form, and she is very
hard"
For what purpose did you borrow
the money you owe ner?"
The girl hesitated to reply.
You may trust me-"
Well, my father is very weak, and
requires Strengthening. borrowed the
money to get quarter of fowl for
MIN"
Under these circumstances | fear
Madame Berg will not give you any.
possess nothing. Have you any valu-
ables more? Here is l florin, but that
is all upon which we could raise some
money"
Bertha considered .or moment.
81 have nothing, said she at length,
" but my poor mothers prayer-book
On her death-bed she entreated me not
to part with 1t, and there is nothing in
the world | hold more sacred than her
memory and the promise / gave her;
but sill, for my fathers sake, | must
not hesitate" With trembling hand
she took the book down from the shelf.
so, SIR" she said, during many
sleepless night have been accustomed
to enter the secret thoughts of my heart
on the blank leaves at the end of the
book. / hope no one will ever know
whose writings they are; you will
promise me that?"
Certainly, Bertha. l viii take care
that your secrets are notprofaned. But
now get ready, that We may CO."
While she left the room to put on her
bonnet and shall, Karl Trait flor the
young IIldll wis uO OiHCI tlldu OIlI uGIOJ
glanced over the writing in the book
and his eyes filled with tears of emotion
and delight as he read the outpourings
of a pure and pi0us heart; and when
they had left the house together, and
she was walking beside him with dig
nifty of which she seemed entirely I'M
conscious, he cast upon her looks of re-
spect and admiration.
They first went to Madame Berg, who
did not give the advance required, but
assured the young man that Bertha was
an angel. Certainly this praise Mr.
Trait valued higher than the money he
had asked for. They pawned the book
and the required sum was made no.
Bertha was overjoyed.
"But if you spend all the money to.
day. remarked the young man, ION
wha, will you live tomorrow
IL do not know, but | trust in God.
shall work the whole night through"
When they went to the tavern, the
youpg man went first to prepare old
Mr.. Schmidt for the part he wished him
to act; then he fetched Bertha. 1t is
impossible to describe the JOY he felt
when he saw the young girl throw her
sell ttltO llGI kdltiCI tIlN uiIlI
to her heart.
She paid the bill and triumphantly !
led him home. Trait accompanied
them and said he had few more kreut-
zers in his pocket; she had better go
and get something to eat. 1t was late
before Trait went home that night; but
the leap from the Main bridge was no
more thought of. He came to the
house every evening in order, as he said,
to share with them his scanty earnings.
About fortnight later. as he was 60
ing sway one evening, he said to Ber
tina; "Will you become my wife: am
only poor clerk, bubI am honest and
upright"
Bertha blushed and cast her eyes to
the ground.
a few days after the young couple,
sim ply bat respectfully attired, and ac
conIpanied by Herr Schmidt, went to
church, where they were married in a
quiet way. When they came out, man
and wife, an elegant carriage was stand
ing at the door, and a footman in rich
livery let down the step.
Come" said the happy husband to
the bewildered wife, who looked at him
with amazement.
Before she could utter a word ho
,,-,-- so,foI =, fL,o