Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-31
And, as she spoke. she strove to thrust

" Marguerite !''-she shrank from the sternness of his tone-"how did you get the gold?"
 Honestly P she answered, proudly. '" The gold was to have been my dowry the noies-I-I sold the cottage for those"
 e You did this for me, and you think so meanly of me as that would accept such sacrifce?" ?"
 His voice quivered as he spoke.
 "Hans, was to have been your wife, she whispered. "Who had the right, if not I? Oh, shall be so proud-so proud, some day, when you come back for your little Marguerite and I shall be tue wife of the great singerl They will point at me and say, Yes, he married this little nobody, this little Marguer- ite, but they say he loves her, and they will think 1t strange that you should love me from your great height. But you won't forget to do that, Hans-ever, ever-will you, my love?'
 "Never, until my voice forgets its music. would pray God to still it for ever, could my heart prove so false. Something within me, Marguerite, con- quers myself. It is hope springing within my breast. I will take your money, little one. a sacred debt. Wait for me two years, fraulein. Then will return to give you richest 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 wearily in. the evenings gloom. There were no more restful walks under the stars now. She might have had lovers, 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 humble 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 hastened the springs blossoms, and their first fragrance would herald the incoming summer, which would make the year complete 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 ont She slept with them under her pillow by night, and they sank and fell with every pulsation of her heart by day. Labor grew light. She even for got her loneliness, for they told her that step by step Hans was nearing his goal
 Then there were weeks-aye, months when she heard nothing, and the child's figure grew thin and her cheeks pale, while every night she would run breathlessly up to her room, only to find the table vacant and that the post man had had no errand for her.
 But one evening, when she had al- most given up hope-when the great dread lest Hans should be i'll, dying or dead remorselessly shadowed her path way-the silent messenger smiled her a welcome She burst into passion of tears ere sue broke the seal. It seemed as though the joy must kill her.
 But at last she unfolded the sheet, when souething white and huttering fell to the ground. She stopped to pick it up.
 What did it mean? It was little slip, with some figures in one corner. They represented the exact amount she had given Hans. Bewildered, she turned to the letter. Its hrst words explained ::
 I pay you my debt Think, my little love, what it cost us, yet earned it-ear9ed it, Marguf rite, on the very night of my debA I have sung, and people have listened. looked about among all the faces-on all the young and beautiful women, with their eyes fixed upon me-5ut nothing inspired me. Then 1 though: of you, and, looking straight into space. forget them all darling. There was 7 UT sweet, pale face floating in the ar, your blue eyes looking. not as theirs looaed, but down into my soul, and sang to you, darling ito you. The flowers rained st my feet Great ladies tore the roses from their breasts 1; but would have given them all, darling. for one little wild blossom your hand had pucked. They say will be ri h and famous. 1 cannot tell-the world is tickle. The village banker will cash your order. But you need not buy b ok the little home. I am coming for you -oon, to bring you to cage better worthy my mountain bird.
 Again and again Marguerite read and reread the precious words. What cared s for the money? It had made Hans great.
 
 "Going back to your native village you, who have the world at your feet p sighed one of Florence's 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 the amount since then on trinket to clasp some fair lady's arm. Did he, in hold ing it so lightly, forget that once it had been a girls all? Why, then, did the >igh the lady uttered find a response in his own breast?
 ''It Is duty which calls me. ;"
 "DutyT she murmured. " Are you sure 1t is not mistaken duty? All your life has changed, Herr Werter If, in its early time, you pledged it to some rustic maiden, think-could she fill it's measure now ?"
 The beauty's voice trembled The cool softness of her flesh pressed lightly against his burning palm.
 "And if I give her up," he said, "what then? You will be mine ?"
 But the "Yes" she uttered was hushed by the madness of his Ri ,ses.
 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, eyhile she turned her back upon them, in the hottest wrath her gentle spirit had aver known, that they dared thus ma hgn him.
 It was the second anniversary of the day which was to have celebrated her wedding, when they burst into her TO om.
 "Ha, ha !" they said, "did we not ell you so?" pointing, as they spoke, to the paragraph in the paper. which announced the betrothal of Herr Werter and the greatest beauty in all Florence.
 "Leave me" she said at last. when they looked to see what she would do. "I wish to be alone"
 But one of kinder heart, after some hours had passed, stole back into the darkened room.
 The child lay tossing in dalirious fe- yer, and the physician, when called, shook his head.
 The strain had been too great, he said. She must die l