Morris tribune., 1880-10-21

thing within me, Marguerite, conuuers
myself. 1t is hope springing within nv
breast. 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
! seal it with this kiss"
Hans had gone, and Marguerite was
left alone. She lived now in one little
room, high up many stalrs-up which
she toiled YEARLY in the evening 3 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 his 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
out She slept with them under her pill
low by night, and they sank and fell
with every pulsatien 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 were weeks, aye, months, when
she heard nothing, and the child's figure
grew thin and her cheeks pale, while eve.
~ night she would run breathlessly ur
to her room, only to find the table va.
cant, and that the postman had had nc
errand for her.
But one evening, when she had almost
given up hope-when the great dread
lest Hans should be i'll, dying or dead
remorselessly Swallowed her pathway
the silent messenger smiled her a wei
come. She burst into passion of tear
ere she broke the seal. 1t seemed as
though the joy must kill her.
But at last she unfolded the sheet, ant
something white and futter1ng fell t.
the ground. She stopped to pick it up.
What did it mean2 1t was little sill
with some figures in one corner. The,
represented the exact amount she hat
given Hans. Bewildered she turned t
the letter. Its first words explained:
81 pay you my debt. Think, my httl
love, what it cost US; yet I earned it
earned it, Marguerite, on the very nigh
of my debut. I have sung and peopl
have listened. Ihave looked about upo
all the faces-on all the young and beau
tifGl women, with their eyes fixed upo
me-but nothing inspired me. Then
thought of you, ana looking straight in
to space I forgot them all, darling. Their
was your sweet, pale face floating in tn
air, your blue eyes looking, not as then
looked, but down into my soul, and
sang to you, darling-to you. The flow
ers ralned at my feet. Great ladies tor
the roses from their breasts; but I woul
have given them all, darling, for one lii
tie wild blossom your hand had plucke(
They say I will be rich and famous
cannot tell-the world is tickle. The vi
lage banker will cash your order. Br
you need not buy back the little home.
am coming for you soon, to bring you
cage better worthy my mountain bird
Again and again Marguerite read an
re-read the precious words. What care
she for money! Ithad made Hans grea
|
"Going back to your native village
you, who have the world at your feeti
sighed one of Florences most famou
beauties, as she looked into the youn
singers eyes.
Six months had passed since he ha
paid his debt to Marguerite, and still b
fingered. He had spent thrice thu
amount, since then, on trinket to elias
some fair lady's arm. Did he, in holt
ing 1t so lightly, forget that it had ono
been a girls ala Why, then, did Il
! sigh which the lady uttered, find r
> spouse in his own breast9
cit is duty which calls me.''
n "Duty!" she murmured. care yo
! sure it is not mistaken duty2 All 70,
! life has changed, Herr Werter. If,
its early time, you pledged it to son
rustic maiden, think-could she fill i
+ measure now9"
The beauty's voice trembled. The COZ
, softness of her flesh pressed light
, against his burning palm.
Sand if 1 give her up,' he said, "wh
then? You will be mine?"
! "But the eyes" she uttered was hushe
: by the madness of his kisses.
II And Marguerite watched and waite
He was coming; therefore, he did M
d write.
r "He IS great now, Marguerite; he hi
! forgotten you,'' the gossips said, viii
+ she turned her back upon them, in Il
hottest wrath her gentle spirit had ev
f known, that they dared thus malign hi1
1t was the second anniversary of Il
! day which was to have celebrated h
wedding, when they burst into b
n room.
4 "Ha, ha!' they said, "did we not t
, you 500" pointing as they spoke to Il
5 paragraph in the paper, which announce
the betrothal of Herr Werter and Il
greatest beauty in all Florence.
8 "Leave me-" she said, at last, whe
: hey looked to see what she would {
: 81 wish to be alone.''
But one of kinder heart, after SON
: hours had passed, stole back into Il
e darkened room.
!, The child lay tossing in delirious fevt
e and the physician, when called, shoe
e his head.
The strain had been too great, he sal
I She must die.
: On the third day after, as the watche
e sat about the bed, step sounded on t
v stairs. A man stained with the dust
d travel, burst impetuously into the room
Il "MargueriteF' he exclaimed-"Ms
It guerite!" Then he stopped, and gat
= cred the import of the scene before hi
81 did but falter," he cried, falling
q his knees beside her bedside. 81 car
" back, my wild German daisy, to tell y
SO. Oh, Marguerite, is it thus pay 4
j. debt2''
l, Then, as though that voice would pc
y citrate even the mist of fever, the bl
,eyes opened, wonderful, ecstatic Zig
is in their depths.
d "Hans," she whispered-"Han Fl
is give me for the doubt which killed me
le And with the words-a dagger. thrl
le in his own remorseful heart-the spa
g of life fickered and went out.
le Marguerite was dead. She who b
g lived for him, died for him. They fou
!" the paper he had sent her among