The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-19

it before, and she saw in 1t another proof
OF her lovers genius.
! "Oh, it is so beautiful, Franz" she
said. ''The angels must have sung it to
ou."
"You think it is something beautiful
because you love the one that made it,
he said. sit shall be your song and
mine, Gretchen, and I will sing it to no
one else" ...
What long and lonesome days those
were that came after Franz went away
It seemed as if waiting for year of such
ones would make an old woman of her.
And they might have to wait so many
years--but she would be true forever.
Brave, noble little Gretchen!
The years came anu went. No more
lovers came to WOO. They knew that her
heart was over the sea with Franz. Once
in while she heard from him. He was
waiting, like hersilf. ..# E,
By and by her. father died, and then
Gretchen was free to 60 and come as she
pleased. She was free to marry the man
she loved, and she would find him in that
wide new world and make her promise
true.
But where to go she did not know.
When last she heard from him he was
travelling about the country with some
German singers, and he might be east or
west, or north or south. Perhaps--and
when she thought of that her heart seem
ed to stop beating, perhaps he might be
dead. Who knew? Stranger things
happened every day in this world of
ours.
But she would seek for him. She left
her home and crossed the sea to the
shores Franz had sought before her. He
had come to New York. She would be-
gin her search there. And she began it
and ended fru;tlessly. If he had ever
been there they had forgotten him.
Then she went to other cities. Where.
ever she heard Of any German singers,
there Gretchen sought for her lover. But
he was not among the rowing minstrels.
BE seemed to have dropped out of ex-
istence. He had gone down in the great
whirlpool called life, and she was alone,
she feared.
! But she was not the woman to give up
her search and sit down hopelessly. "No
news is good news" they say. So long
as she heard nothing of him she could
hope. And while hope lasted she would
search for him. . ....
So she went hither and tllither--east
and west, and north and south. She lis
tened to the violins in many an orchestra,
| hoping to hear his among them. She
| did not care to see the players. That
was not necessary. She would recognize
the voice of his instrument when she
heard it. But she listened in vain.
So year went by and at the end of it
she found herself in great inland city,
with money almost gone and courage
sinking low. How was her quest to be
kept up longer? She could work, but
when she worked her search could not go
on, -.*#.
sob, my Franz" she said sorrowfullv,
1 as she leaned upon the window-sill that
night and listened TO the roar of life as
it surged to and fro in the streets below
her. : It may be we have been near each
other, and yet are never to meet again.
1t may be thou art dead. But thou hast
not forgotten me, wherever thou art.'
| So beautiful and strong is loving wo-
mans faith!
/ By and by the babel of life grew still.
impulse came to her to sing. All, it had
been long since she cared to do that
And she sang-sang the little song Franz
bad made for her. Soft and low, at first,
with culver in it, as if her sorrow
haunted its notes and could not be shaken
of; then, as the momory of the old times
came back, and she thought OF Franz,
playing under. the shadows of the pines,
and seemed to hear his violin again,
speaking to her like voice from Heaven
and falling like balm upon the unrest
of her life, her song grew clearer and
sweeter, and the night was like great
soul that listens in its stiffness.
The song ended. Then from window
high up in the great tenement-house on
posite, came the sound of violin. It
was like a voice that cries out in glad
ness that is almost unutterable- -gladness
so deep that it is half pain. The long,
tremulous tones came floating to her on
the wind, and voice in each chord
seemed calling, while over and above the
voice of melody wound itself like a
vine that Is full of beautiful flowers.
sob, my Franz! !" cried Gretchen, while
her face was pale with sudden Joy! ooh,
my Franz l have found thee! That is thy
voice speaking to me. Thou hast not
forgotten thy song, and now thou art
answering it."
Down the long stairs and across the
street she flew like bird that hears its
mate. Up the stairs of the house in
which Franz dwelt her feet climbed
swiftly. Love lent her wings, and her
body seemed light as her heart. Her
soul kept crying, ''Franz, I have found
"Gretchen, is it thoug' It was Franzs
voice, in the language of the fatherland,
that spoke when her feet were at the
door. F. E r. @ 81
"It is thy Gretchen" she cried, and
then he saw her at the doorway, with
the light of woman;s love shining in her
face, and he dropped the violin, stretched
out his hands toward her with a rapture
too deep for words in his poor pale face.
ooh, my Franz!' and then her arms
were about his neck, her tears and kisses
mingled on his face
81 had thought that I must die without
| eooinor fhoo ~ h, .tr.l :,