Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-12
URSULA'S MATE.

L
about 40 was trudging homeward at
about 10 o'clock at night His name was
Peter Schneider, and he had been sup
ping with rich old aunt, but kept So
Der. The darkness was profound on his
route, and the wind made melancholy
moaning In the tops of the trees. His
courage melted away as he stole along
the haunted pathway, and all at once, as
the wind subsidized little, to his mex
pressible terror, he became distinctly
aware of the sound Of a footstep close at
hand. Soon he was satisfied that some
one was by his side, and his tongue Glove
to the roof of his mouth After great ex-
ertion he managed to ask who his COM
panion was.
Ct am deserter," he replied in tone
hardly human.
Peter trembled, but having got his
hand against the trunk of tree, he halt
ed suddenly, stepped behind it, and then
blurted out:
"A deserter from where? deserter
from what? p
GA deserter from hell" was the an
swer, In a fierce, coarse voice.
Peters heart jumped. He strived to
noiselessly get away from his companion.
But it was in vain, and they were close
together until they emerged from the
forest, just as the moon broke through
the clouds, and were nearing Meitzberg
Peters associate was tall and broad
shouldered, and wore a dirty old uni
form. There was a straight red scar
along his cheek, from his nose to his ear
The soldier stared savagely at Peter, and
said:
"Look We, comrade, speak the truth,
for I'd shoot you through the head as
soon as a wink. Is it true that Ursula
Hunwitz has married Michael Straus?
Answer quick %
Eyes, yes; it is true. They were mar
ried week ago."
IS 1t is four years and half" said the
grenadier, +" since I shouldered this mus
ket and parted with Ursula Hunwitz on
this very spot. Here we two swore to be
true, each to the other, till this hour
You know me well; I'm Hans Wouvec-
man"
He pulled out from his breast little
cloth bag, with another of silk in it, and
within that long lock of golden hair.
g There it is" he cried, 81 kept it
ever since; it has been with me in battle
and bivouac. Curse itr He thrust it
back quickly, and continued: 81 have
seven musket wounds, and have led the
life of dog. I've slept in the mud, and
been half starved. [ bore an-what
cared for bullets. What do you think
/ deserted for? [ came to see Ursula,
and to shoot her through the heart. But
I'll let her live, and think of what she
has done. She'll have her punishment
time enough
Peter Schmiedlee was uncomfortable
indeed, looking upon him as a mailman.
The soldier then, with threats and
pleadings, told him he would soon part
with his frelock, and he demanded that
he (Peter) should take it and show the
letters q. H., and tell what he had told,
to Ursula Hunwitz, or, as he vehemently
added, ''Straus, Ursula Stratus, curse
them both! She has been the ruin, BODY
and soul, of Hans Wouverman.
Peter promised to do his bidding, and
Immediately after Hans dropped his
musket to the ground, drew his sword.
and, catching it in both hands by the
blade, drove the point with fierce stab
into his breast, staggered back step or
two, and fell over the bank into the lake.
with a loud splash. Peter uttered
howl of terror He endeavored to note
where the unhappy musketeer had dis
appeared, but all In vain. A chill of
terror stole over him. He picked up the
musket and fastened to the town, and
late as it was, determined to unburden
himself Of Hans commission. He per-
suaded the Herr Pastor, after narrating
the affair, to go with him to rich Farmer
Straus' house Both wife and husband
were surprised at their entrance, all the
more SO as Peter held In his hand the
musket.
What's that for?" said the farmer.
Peter started. and when he had shown
the initials scratched upon the stock of
the gun, and narrated Wouverman's
story, Ursula exclaimed, with scornfuu
toss of her head What pack ofliesl''
Farmer Stratus scratched his head slowly,
and finally was willing to regard the
dead man as out of his mind.
cit don't vex me, he said, "but [
want to be sure he did kill himself; a
rascally deserter is so full of tricks; they'd
stop at nothing"
As it was growing late, Herr Pastor
and Peter Schneider took their leave.
night had some uncomfortable and rath-
er sharp talk over Peters old revelations,
and early the next morning the rich man
went off in huff, to one of his farms,
several leagues distant. Frau Ursula
went to see Herr Pastor, and told him
how she had been upbraided by her hus-
band, and declared that there was not
the color of truth in Schmeidler's story.
Herr Pastor said that there was complete
evidence that one part of Peters nara
tive had proved true, for the body of the
musketeer, with the sword still stuck
through his ribs, had been got out of the
lake and identified, only half an hour
ago, and the two little bags, containing
the described lock of HAIR, had also been
found.
g It's no lock of mine, said Ursula.
The story of drunken Peter would have
had no effect, Herr Pastor, if you had
not come with the rascal under your