The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1880-11-26

borne him company in spite ofthe Kin
1.-THE King!" replied Ludwig, witt
faint smile; "does he keep you from
castle ?"
ale likes not to have strangers intrp
there" she answered, shaking her GOLD
head. my father is careful never to
seen by his Majesty. No one can emf
this great park without permission, t
he loves to e Alone"
"He must be an ass" said Ludwig. :
he objects to the sight of such face
yours"
"Nay," she protested; since you con
from Starnberg, you must know that
is good and beautiful--so beautiful, II
}. father says, that Nuremberg maiden
when he rode through their city, locke
from their windows upon him, and erie
One kiss, and then diep"
He watched her with laughing eyes
sand you have never seen His MAZE
ty?" he asked.
NO" sighed MAJ, "for have bee
at Starnberg but tw:1e in my whole lif
and each time the ing was absent i
Munich. And no4 49, shall neve
90 again, for Hans, the son of my Uncl
Lepp, has asked me to marry, and to-da
my father will tell him that refuse hi
offer"
Herr Ludwig. the musician, locke,
greatly amused.
81 would" he saId, that the Kim
could hear your voice. for he is an arden
lover of music. And what is the matter
with Hans, that you send him that answer
pretty Marie.
She looked unspeakably lovely as she
stood plating anew her llng, rich hair.
He is dolt," she said-~'fit only tC
drive the swine. He thinks only of the
coldens | shall have for dowry. Bah
! will listen to no sweetheart like Hans
| can read the books, which he cannot
L know many things which he is too
stupid to learn. l can mock the song of
every bird that sings. Listen, nOwW
She flung back her coquettish head,
and over Ter lips rippled such storm of
marvellous trills and cries and calls. per
fecJ In their mimicry, yet more exquisite
than feathered throat ever uttered-such
a hurly-bul Y of ravishing notes.-the
merry mingling of lark and thrush and
nightingale-the wall of hr-woods in the
wind, the plaint of torrants-that Herr
Ludwig held bis very breath as he listened.
| The passionate soul of music burning in
his own breast leaned to mis- lips in cry
of irfepressibe delight.
"WonderfnlP he cried, and seemed
for moment ready to snatch to his em-
| brace the red young mouth, with all its
sweet utterance; but Marie drew back,
| crimson to her temples, and at that mo-
ment Gretchen brought in the supper,
and the three sat down together at the
forester's board.
Ludwig ate with the keen appetite of
youth. The rain made merry music on
the roof The turf fire burned brightly.
Marie poured the goats milk, and watch
ed the guest through long, sly lashes.
So also. did old Gretchen.
"a handsome youth" she thought,
"an1, Holy Mother hC seems right fond
of the knncklcurSt and the black bread.
He has eyes for this pert child's beauty,
too"
Before the meal was over, the thunder
began to grow fainter above the noun
tains.
Marie sprang up from the board, and,
10! through torn am ragged clouds |
slender white moon was .wading, and a |
streak of watery lieht, slipped from its |
curved rim and strettaaea ghostiy anu
long Ts rsrSss sfor'h 'f Is Marie
"And must be gone," sighed Ludwig,
starting as if from dream.
"But you do not know the way" she
said, in perplexity. "Gret tchen or must
go with you as far as the aarnberg road"
"Gretchen he answered-"no, no
Youth and age cannot keep pace together.
will have no guide but you"
She yielded to his tender, smiling look,
made ready and they set forth. The air
was heavy with forest SCENTS, beaten by
the rain from tree and oloomy thicket
The moonlight fell in patches along the
path. In silence Marie crossed the green
opening and descended steep track un-
til they came to the torrent. Then she
stopped-she started back.
"Look ah, look |" she cried, and point
ed to the fall, now terrific thing OF foam
and thunder and shattering spray. roar
ing under and over the solitary hr-tree
which spanned the chasn from bank TO
bank. Upon this frghtful bridge the
forester's daughter leaped fearless'y.
"Dare you follow ~ she asked TO Herr
Ludwig.
He answered, with a light laugh
"Ay-lead on"
Betwixt their combined weight ana
the jar of the water below, the falien Tree
swayed and shook and groaned dreariiy.
Marie, who looked like some spirit porn
of the foam, beckoned him on oul tne
bark of the fir was wet and worn wi.h
the ceaseless dash Of the torrent. Miu-
way across it his unaccUstomed toot slp-
ped suddenly. He flung out ms arms,
caught treacherous bough that peht
like a reed TO his hand, and fell, ana
went over with a slifed cry. Ihere,
above the frighlful chasm, he hung sus-
pended, enormously lcug, holding ol'y
to that slim, swaying branch.
"Merciful Cod" shrieked Marie, ana
turned back, quick as thought, upon the
dripping trunk, and, lea 1lng low, ilke an
Undine in the flying spray, seized MN
by the shoulders. "Hod fast = sne cri
ed, straining with all her generous young
strength; hold fast for your ne on'
Mother of mercy, help ne now
him upward within reach of the wet |
trunk. Supported by her strong young |
arms, he Crashed it convulsively, and up |
heaving his body TO It's slippery leng h,
crawled slowly along 1t to the opposite
bank.
"Ah," shuddered Marie, drawing
broken breath, that was narrow escape!
Fritz, the goatherd lost his life in this
very place but year ago"
He stood painting and pale with his
struggle, and drenched 70 the skin.
But for you | might have shared his
fate" said he How shall thank you"
81 want no thanks" said NJ lrie, with |
toss of her head. "Is it likely ! would
stand and let you drown before my eyes r
With that they continued on their way |
till they reached the Starnberg road.
Follow this" said Marie, "and pres |
emily vou will come to the meadows, |
where the peasants cut turf Should you |
meet an old man dressed in green, you |
will know he is my father. He Will point |
you out the village and the lake, with
the Kings steamer thereon; and SO,
f4rewell!"
"Farewellp answered Herr Ludwig, |
regarding her steadiastly, but not at
tempting to touch So much as her hand. |
Farewell, Marie we shall meet again"
"Ah, nor she sighed; you viii soon
forget mep
"Neverr he answered, and waved his
white hand, and, like some magnificent
dream, plunged into the forest, ana dis-
appeared from her gaze.
When Max. the forester, returned 10
his dwelling that night, I've found Marie
sitting pensively in the chimney-corner,
her blonde plaits streaming down hsr
bosom, the freight paving on her pale
face.
"Ah," she cried, siarting quickly up,
"did YOU meet him IN the way, my fitherF
And Old Gretchen aided. Herr Ludwig,
naster-a strolIing player from Starn6erg'
hope he will not come here again
Good faith, not Y answered the Tor
ester; Il have seen neither man nor
be ST since left the castle. Your Uncle
I -. =; -. ,-s.,,sA ,,,,- girl because