Stevens County tribune., 1879-02-20

| o! hcr 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 1t,
he said. ''It shall be your song and
mine, Gretchen, and will sing it to no
one else"
What long and lonesome days those
were that came after Franz went away
| 1t 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 wears came anu went. No more
lovers came 10 WOO. They knew that her
heart was over the sea with Franz. Once
in while she heard from him. He was
waiting, like hersilf.
By and by her father died, and then
Gretchen was free to go 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 60 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 knew2 Stranger things
happened every Lday in this world CT
ours
But she would seek for him. She left
her home and crossed the sea to the
| Lo H. Ie,1 - u
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 Ministries.
He seemed to have dropped out Of ex-
istepce. He had gone down in the great
whirlpool callea life, and she was alone,
she feared.
But she was not the woman to give up
her search and sit down hopelessly. mo
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 thithcr-eaSt
and west, and north ana south. She lis
}, tened to the violirs in many an orchestra,
n hoping to hear his among them. She
1 did not care to see the players. That
e was not necessary. She would recognize
t the voice Of his instrument when she
b heard it. Bat she listened in vain.
So year went by and at the end of ii
IS she found herself in great inland city,
)! with money almost gone and courage
d sinking lew. How was her quest to be
b kept up longer? She could work. but
r when she worked her search could not go
n on
d "Oh, my Franz?' she said sorrowfully
" as she leaned upon the window sill tha
G night and listened 10 the roar of life a!
it surged to and fro in the streets below
!" her. 1t may be we have been near eact
;" other, and yet are never to meet again
l. 1t may be thou art dead. But thou has
70 not forgotten me, wherever thou art"
le So beautiful and strong is loving wo
u mans faith!
By and by the babel of life grew still
n As she leaned out in the moonlit air, thu
"a impulse came to her to sing. An, it haG
Is been long since she cared to do that
D And she sapg-sang the little song Fran
ID bad made for her. Soft and low, at first
n, with a quiver in it, as if her sorrow
ie haunted its notes and could not be shaker
2 off; then, as the momory of the old time
IN came back, and she thought of Franz
W playing under the shadows of the pines
a and seemed to hear bis violin again
Is speaking to her like voice from Heave1
d and falling like balm upon the unres
le of her life, her song grew clearer ant
er sweeter, and the night was like a grea
soul that listens In its stiffness.
D. The song ended. Then from window
N high up in the great tenement-house op
st posite, came the sound of a violin.
n was like voice that cries out in glad
y ness that is almost unutterable- gladnes
IN so deep that it is half pain. The long
II tremulous tones came floating to her OF
he the wind, and a voice in each chorc
h seemed calling, while over and above tn,
I'd voice of melody wound itself like
at vine that Is full of beautiful flowers.
ly "Ob, my Franz p cried Gretchen, whil
er her face was pale with sudden ioV! "Oh
y my Franz have found thee! That is tn,
er voice speaking to me. Thou hast no
le forgotten thy song, and now thou ar
le answering it,
a Down the long stairs and across thu
tc street she few like bird that hears it
re mate. Up the stairs of the house il
which Franz dwelt her feet climbed
le swiftly. Love lent her wings. and he
L. body seemed light as her heart He
c, soul kept crying, "Frauz, have foune
S thee at last"
"Gretchen, is it thou?" 1t was Franz
g voice, in the language of the fatherland
g. that spoke when her feet were at tn,
RS door.
W cit is thy Gretchen" she cried, ant
1t then he saw her at the doorway, witt
the light of woman's love shining in he
y face, and he dropped the violin, stretched
out his hands toward her with a raptur
T too deep for words in his poor pale face
"Oh, my Franzr' and then her arm
were about his neck, her tears and kisse
i mingled on his face.
at 81 had thought that must die withou
N seeing thee again." he said. "But i
:" seemed as if could not 1t will not b.
to so hard now since thou art here to holt
Of my hand"
Ie Thou must not say that, nav Franz,
ot she said, and her eyes were so full O
L teais that she could no longer see hi
Ae face. "Thou must live for me-"
It IF could" he whispered. "But
IF fear it cannot be. Even love like thin,
is not strong enough to conquer death.
le "Bring me my violin," he said. Anc
she brought it and raised him up in bed
" | SO fhQt ha eould ,>lar n 4o,Ialoa Al,