Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-29
WHOLE NO. 1916.

4
previous, aud be made answer oni,
indltferently, while staring at a cIun
+. sy ny trying to crawl over the Gel
ing When she asked him TO han
down her sun hat, which some on
had hung out of her reach. he cam
near thrusting i. through the one,
window in his awkward ATTEMPT /
place it within the grasp OF her tw,
pretty hands, which he persisted !,
not seeing. | was mortified at hi
literal Interpretation of my words
but she seemed in no wise discon
certed. Indeed, should have fell
relieved had she showed some feel.
ing IN the matter, after all nv self
imposed trouble to secure her wei.
fare.
SO 1t went on day after day. JACK
=paihnhg,so rne plohas artist { VINO.
by the way, was named Blondid) in,
formed US. But what he painted
was a mystery. Ii surely was no.
Gretta. She wore the prettiest wood
flowers and the brightest ribbons
and the jauntiest hats, to the dis
traction of the other artists, out moi
SO much as a passing glance did her
appearance elicit from him. She
might have been q frowzy headed
kitchen girl, for all the notice he
took OF her. II puzzled me to see
her laughing and happy, as though
such q cavalier as he had never ey
listed. Sometimes reproached my
self tor meddling in an affair where
there had evidently been not the
slightest ground for interference; and
| wondered if Mr.. Bertholet was not
secretly ridiculing me for my ground
less fears. ] began to rejoice that
the bright which I had
certainly enjoyed very much-was
drawing to close and looked for.
ward to the time when l could resign
Gretta to her fond mother with the
assurance that | had brought home
her darling heart-whole.
Miss Bloeksom had met her fate
and it hor city relatives were desir.
Gus OF disowning her on account of
the rustic proclivities of her sutton, /
did rot feel called upon to intorpose
'Elick' was always Alexander to
her, and his abundant strength was
an uDfailipg source of comfort to
one of her delicate organization.
'Elek' himself was in a dream of
bliss. That one so sensitive, so
ethereal. should bestow the wealth
of her affection upon him, filled him
with rapture and amazs. The Ian.
guage Of her melancholy eyes was
to him like the opening of new
volume the somewhat m0urnful
tones of her voice were 10 his en-
rsptured ears like strains blown
from the strings of an Eolian harp /;
the voluminous draperies in which
she delighted to array her scant
figure, were to his bewildered sight
like fabrics from Indian looms, and
fit only for the decking of royalty.
Under the sweetly mysterious pow
err CT love, HI became resplendont in
ncck-tie Of intricate pattern and
colors, and q coat with swallow
tails. His resonant voice shouted,
'Corn-eorn-sweet corn!' 10 the
early morning hours, aud dropped
to tender cadence as evening came
softly on, and he wandered with
the lady oil bis choice through cyl.
van shades.
White frosts were nightly settling
down over the land. st. Dingee
would seen be deserted-our happy
summer in Bohemia but thing of
the past. Already great packing
ooxes we're piled on the veranda !;
active preparations were every
where being made for removal.
Gretta and l were busy brushing
up our travelling hats when Jack
Bsrthelst came up the steps. He
was cumming "When the SloallowS
Homepard Fly" and we let him 90
or for several bars without Interrupt
sion. He had seated himself on 8
camp-stool near my packing box
and presently he spoke in a low
tone:
Have | been good oil summer,
motherday p
very goodP | answered, laughing
at his bsyish earnsstnoss, and look.
ing across at Gretta. Bat sho was
Strengthening q wing in her hot,
and paid no attentian.
Good enough to have q favor
grantedP'
Certainly! two or three-if i. is
10 my power to grant them
Then may ! come and see you
some time in the city2' (Jack's
home and ours were in tho same
great city at the end Of tbs railroad. }
liked the frank young fellow
very much, and of course | assonted
cordially to bis request. / re-
member | urged him to como soon
after our return, and we would talk
over together our life az st Dingee,
and the happy incidents of cur mer-
ry season.
And now for a second favor he
said, trife nervousy this time, |
thought. Pm packing up to-day,
like the rest; but there's little
keepsake Of the summer I've been
at work at; would you and-the
young lady-Iike to see it?'
You may be sure | was eager to
see the picture of which | had heard
vague hints, and we ell three wen.
down to the 'den.' Boxes in every
state Of engagement blocked up
the available spaces but III one
corner rough easel stood bolt up
right, holding The "keepsake" we
had come to see. Jack reached in
with few long strides over the
boxes, removed its screen, aud
turn it into the strongest light. |
gave one surprised glance, sad sat
down quite disconnected on o
broken stool propped against the
wall. Bat Gre!ta kaelt before it %
childish delight, and gszsd at it,
speechless, spell.bound, letting i;
carry her back 10 thu day Of our
arrival ia The grand cid Bohemian
forest. 1t was true 10 life in every
color and tone-s vivid representa-.
| ton of that June afternoon when
we woke up from the dusty cars,