Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-25
The Last Love.


Prussia, and an accomplished dancer
and swordsman. He had, however
accommodated himself to the compare
lively sleepy valley in which he lived
and needed q waking up. His father
with an old crony and partner, Han,
Hoferdahl, had made and meDded
watches in the old, dingy shop, where
their fathers had filed and hammered
before them. Their life was about az
unvaryiDg as the ticking of the fat.
faced timepiece behind the cobwebs in
the show window.
Il chsnced that various ripples we're
beginning to come into the valley to
disturb the course of nature. 1t was
Yumored that the king was preparing
for war, and such young men as Viii.
helm would be needed for the army.
Besides this, old Hans had caught the
emigration fever to America, and had
sold whatever be had to sell, except his
big pipe. his flute, and his daughter
Christine. He sold his share in his
shop to Wilhelm's father. Christine
vept at the departure, for the old village
had been very dear to her, and her
mothers grave WAS there. The effect
on Wilhelm was such that he rubbed
his great black eyes, and could scarcely
realize that the whole thing was else
than . dream. Pretty soon, however,
Wilhelm took note Of . gloomy differ
ence in the ways of his father. The
old man came to neglect his pipe, his
beer and his work, and the neighbors
said that Hans Hoferdahl had broken
his old friends heart by going away.
The poor old man very soon died.
To wilhelm, after his fathers death.
The shop and everything in it became
distasteful. He tried 10 work, but the
verv ticking Of the watches was insult.
3eRably oppressive. and the absence Of
the sw0 Ola men rendered confinement
10 the place insupportable. Wilhelm
himself made sale OF both house and
shop, and whom the sales were ell COM
pletsd, and the transfers duly made, he
stood in the moonlight one evening,
and gazing 1t the home no longer his,
soliloQuizsd thus:
II think / could almost break my
heart, for I did love that house. But 1
couldn't stay there with the empty
places. There were too many voices
there that didn't speak. Alasl what
ahxll ! do nowp"
His question was answered for him.
Napoleon had determined, in his old
age, that he must fight the Germans,
and the king had made his call for
troops. Wilhelm was sure he loved his
Vaderland," and 80 was ready to leave
the sleepy old village, bat notwith-
standing sadness, for he had been 80
long in that locality, that it was not
surprising he had learned to love it.
There followed swift marching, com
fortress camping, and Q good deal of
very hard fighting. Being big and
strong and brave, and every day grow.
ing more and more intelligent, Wilhelm
himself won elory-that is, three or
four slight wounds, . medal, promo
lion, the compliments Of his command
ing .fticer and the envy Of his COM
1ades. The war was brief, and before
. great while he found himself his own
master again, though still within the
scope end control Of army regulations,
for NO German Of Wilhelm 3 age is ever
beyond them, aud he said to himself:
swell, / loved the army. know I
could love glory with all my heart. 1
think it must have been growing .
good deal during this war. There is
more room in it than I knew Of, and yet
il always full. Twill 60 and take look
n the old village, and the house and
the shop, and will listen to sec il can
hear Christine's voice; il I don't hear
her, what thenf Well, I think will
just ask my heart about it."
All this time, old Hans Hoferdshl
had known very little Of what had
taken place in the village they had left
behind them. They had written home
to their old neighbors, but very little
information had come back 10 them.
They had heard Of old Ecsburger's
death, and of Wilheln's enlistment in
the war, and that was nearly sll. Hans
had not landed on tho shores of the
new world pauper, and tried to settle
down as Q man of property and sub
stance, and be happy.
"If poor old Ecsburger was with
me-" he said to Christine, IL would
be go happy"
Christine said very little, but her
bright American home became dreary