The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-21

nCDOQy, This lLtle marguerite, OUT tney
say he loves herr and they will think it
strange that you should love me from
your great height. But you won't for
get-to do that, Hans-ever, ever-will
you, my love?''
"Never, until my voice forgets it's mu-
sic. would pray God tn still it forever,
could my heart prove SO false. Some
thing within me, Marguerite, conquers
myself. It is hope springing within my
breast. I will take your money, little
one, a sacred debt. Wait for me two
years, traulein. Then will return to
give you rich payment I swear it. and
I seal it with this kiss.
Hans had gone, and Marguerite was
left alone. She lived now in one little
room, high up many STAIRS up which
she toiled YEARLY in the evening s gloom.
There were no more restful walks under
the stars now. She might have had low
ers, like other girls; but no, Hans must
find her without reproach on bis return.
All day she had to labor from early dawn,
even for the shelter now hers. Sometimes
she was hungry, sometimes cold, but all
mattered not to her. It was for Hans
sake.
The winters icy breath but fastened
the springs blossoms, and their first fra
GRANGE would herald the incoming sum-
mer, which would make the year COM
plete since Hans had left, and then there
would only be another year to wait.
AT long distances apart, letters came.
Oh how eagerly Marguerite spelled them
outl She slept with them under her pill
low by night, and they sank and tell
with every pulsation of her heart by day.
Labor grew light. She even forgot her
loneliness, for they told her that step by
step Hans was nearing his goal.
There We're weeks, aye, months, when
she heard nothing, and the child figure
grew thin and her cheeks pale, while eve
~ night she would run breathlessly up
to her room, only to find the table va
cant, and that the postman had had no
Grand for her. l. Is.
/ But one evening, when she had almost
given up hope-when the great dread
lest Hans should be i'll, dying or dead,
remorselessly shadowed her pathway
the silent,messenger smiled her a well
come. She burst into passion of tears
ere she broke the seal. It seemed as
| though the Joy must kill her.
But at last she unfolded the sheet, and
something white and futterng fell to
the ground. She stopped to pick it up.
What did it mean3 It was little slip
with some figures in. one corner. They
represented the exact amount she had
gwen Hans. BeWildered she turned to
the letter. It's first words explained:
II pay you my debt. Think, my little
love, what it cost US; yet I earned it
earned it, Marguerite, on the very night
of my debut. I have sung and people
have listened. Ihave looked about upon
all the faces-on all the young and beau
tifcl women, with their eyes fixed upon
me-but nothing inspired me. Then /
thought of you, an looking straight in
to space forgot them all, darling. There
was your sweet, pale tace floating in the
air, your blue eyes looking, not as theirs
looked, but down into my soul, and I
sang to you, darling-to you. The flow
ers ralneu at my feet. Great ladies tore
| the roses from their breasts; but would
have given them all, darling, for one lit
tie wild blossom your hand had plucked
They say will be rich and famous
cannot tell-the world is tickle. The viii
lage banker will cash your order. But
you need not buy back the little home. !
am coming for You soon, to bring you to
a cage better worthy my mountain bird.''
Again and again Marguerite read and
re-read the precious words. What cared
she for money! 1thad made Hans great
4 4 X II
'Going back to your native village
you. who have the world at your feet?''
sighed one of Florenceis most famous
beauties, as she looked into the young
singers eyes. =
Six months had passed since he had
paid his debt to Marguerite, and still he
fingered. He had spent thrice that
amount, since then, on a trinket to clasp
some fair 'ady's arm. Did he, in hold
ing 1t so lightly, forget that it had once
been a girl's all? Why, then, did the
sigh which the lady uttered, find a re-
Spouse in his own breast2
at is duty which calls me.''
| s'Dutyl' she murmured. 'tAre you
sure it is not mistaken duty2 All your
life has changed, Herr Werter. If, in
it's early time, you pledged it to some
rustic maiden, think-coula she fill its
measure now?''
! The beauty's voice trembled. The cool
softness Of her flesh pressed lightly
against his burning palm.
"And if give her up,'' he said, "wha,
then? You will be mine2"
''But the yves" she uttered was hushed
by the madness Of his kisses.
| And Marguerite watched and waited
He was coming; therefore, he did not
write.
| "He IS great now, Marguerite, he has
forgotten YOU" the gossips said, while
she turned her back upon them, in the
hottest wrath her gentle spirit had eve,
known, that they dared thus malign him
/ It was the second anniversary of the
day which was to have celebrated he1
wedding, when they burst into he,
room.
1 'sHa, ha!'' they said, "did we not tel
! you 500" pointing as they spoke to the
paragraph in the paper, which announced
the betrothal of Herr Werter. and the
/ greatest beauty in all Florence.
HLeave me,'' she said, at last, wher