Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-05-12
/. Yes, father" murmured the girl


"Katrine."
And again Katrine came to his side.
{" You are all the child | have, little
one," he said, fondly. "Do you think 1
| would leave my money away from my
| own child-to strangers?"
Katrine stopped down and Kissed him
affectionately.
"There. that will do! Run away or
the dame may see,'' he said, hurriedly.
Then, as katrine turned, he whispered,
"There s many another clergyman be-
sides our own dominic, katrine.'
And met her inquiring glances with
many mysterious words, which only
served to bewilder his daughter as she
once more resumed her work.
For full half an hour Hans puffed
placidly and silently. Then he arose de-
lberately, shook the ashes out of his
pipe, and laid it aside, watched till Dame
Van Elten's back was turned, and as he
passed the table where Katrine stood at
work said softly:
81 shall tell Hermann you will meet
him at the falls this afternoon, as he
asked you to do.''
And he walked quietly away.
s. How did he know that Hermann
asked me?" thought the astonished
girl; +" and what does he mean by there
being other dominies? and by his not
leaving his money to strangers? Has
Hermann beentalking to him?"
She could not answer her own ques-
tons, but there was bright light in her
eye, and a tell-tale blush on her cheek,
| as she worked, that spoke of some un-
wonted excitement.
At last dinner was over, the dishes
washed, and the kitchen in perfect or
| der. katrine now took refuge in her
| own little room, but only long enough to
| re-arrange the heavy coils of her hair,
and to substitute neatly fitting gingham
dress for the loose sack and skirt of the
morning, when, as we have seen, she
took her way toward the Kaaterskill
Falls.
It was but a rude foot-path through
the woods, sometimes passing so near
the edge of precipice that a single
misstep would have sent her crash
ing down hundreds of feet, and
again coming out on a comparatively
level and open spot, whence she could
look off and follow the course of the
beautiful Hudson for miles. Often her
path would be crossed by tiny noun
tain stream, dashing from the rocks
above, and hurrying on to find some
opening through which it might escape
to join the larger streams below. Love-
ly flowers bloomed on every side, yet
katrine passed by, unmindful of their
beauty, though usually she would have
gathered huge bouquets to decorate
every nook and corner of the old farm
house. But now she was busily recall
ing her fathers looks and words of the
morning, and endeavoring to decide
whether she should tell Hermann of
them, when clear, loud whistle reused
her, and moment later she saw Her.
mann approaching her by an opposite
path.
tYour father said you would come"
was his first salutation, ssand hurried
lest should keep you waiting.'
His words seemed so entirely part
of her thoughts that she hesitated no
longer, but hastily recorded the events
of the morning, concluding with:
"What does my father mean, Her
mann?'
He MEANS" replied her lover, as
he drew her to seat beside him on a
messy rock, .that he does not like to
see his child ill-treated, and being afraid
of Dame Van Elten's wrath if he ex-
presses his opinions, he decided that if
we ran Off and got married it would set
tie the question with the least amount of
trouble. But l told him." continued
Hermann, hastily, as he saw shadow
gathering on the bright face beside him,
at the thought of her consent being
taken as a matter of course, 'stbat 1 was
quite sure you would never consent to
such plan, and, for, my own part, if
/ were ever so fortunate as to win YOU,
I should want to be married in our own
church, where all might see how proud
and happy was, and not to sneak away
as if were ashamed"
The young mans eyes flashed and
his face glowed as he spoke, and Katrine
looked lovingly at him, and forgot to
draw away a little hand that he had
taken in his.
81 have been planning how we may
get rid of Tjerck Solpaugh," Hermann
continued. 81 never knew until last
week why your step-mother was so de-
sirous for your marriage with him."
"And what is the reason?" queried
Katrine, eagerly. s. I never could dis
cover.'
"Tjerck had been drinking too much,
and he told the whole story to Charley
Hommei," replied her lover cit APP
pears that he has not paid cent on his
great farm or stock, and, unless he can
raise some money within few weeks
all will be taken away from him, and
that will not suit him after the great
display he has made and the great
stories he has told of his wealth. Your
mothers fortune will be yours on your
marriage, and he has solemnly prom
ised one half of it to Dame Van Elten,
while with the remainder he will make
the first payment on his farm and stock,
and still have little left to live on, till
your fathers death, when he expects to
have entire control of all his property.
Dame Van Elten, as you well know, will
do almost anything for money; and this
is why she SO fayors Solpaugh. If I can
only make some plan to drive him away,
l should much prefer it to your fathers
idea of a secret marriage, though, at the
same time, feel very grateful to your
father for thus showing that he did not
suspect me of trying to secure your for