Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-29
4 SPANISH STORY.

The ancient city OF Aalborg, in Jut-
land Zone of the Danish isles), boasts of
a commod1ous plan, and supplied with
everything 10 make its inmates as com
Portable as though dwelling in homes of
their own. 1t is supported by an endow-
ment fund which covers all expenses.
1t was erected by a wealthy young mer-
chant, in 1923; and although tine storms
of more than two centuries have beat
upon its walls, it IS still standing, and in
good condition.
1t is one of the show places of Aalborg
and story Is connected with 1t which
never fails to interest visitors.
Thinking ii may prove equally enter
tanning to those of my readers who may
never visit the quaint old city where
the incidents occurred, VIII relate it.
Imagine a city with three sparkling
streams of water running though 1t, and
with houses whose balconies and WIN
dows seem to be bursting into blossom.
SO many of them are filed with plants
and Aaiborg is at once before yon.
The home of pretty Mette Jenson was
quaint, picturesque old building, which
would catch the eye of a tourist, from
its oddity. even in that time of incoa-
gruous architecture. 1t was surmount-
ed by high, peaked roof, and embraced
by q wide, open gallery, which of late,
at certain hour. had grown to be much
frequented by the young mistress OF the
household, for Mette was motherless, and
now that she had grown into fine girl
of sixteen, had been accounted of suffi-
cient good Judgment to be entrusted
with the keys Of the store room, from
which she dispensed each morning the
amount of provisions needed for daily
use.
She was a very discreet maiden. and
her head had not been turned by the
adIairinS looks which were sure TO be
leveled at her whenever she appeared IN
the busy thoroughfare of the old city.
But when the time drew near for the
handsome young merchant 70 pass on
his way to business, Mette Was sure to
be where she could exchange a smile
and nod with HIM. And Jens, upon his
part, was quite engrossed with the
charming picture Mette presented as
she stood with one dainty mittened
hand resting upon the balustrade, dress
ed in her trim Go,Tgeoise costume of
braided velvet jacket, scarlet pettlcoat
aud high heeled shoes-with her hair
gathered into two heavy braids, and
hanging down her back almost TO the
hem of her skirts.
Jens was not OF the bOarge0isc class;
but it il no unusual thing for caste-pre-
judices to be brldged over by the power
of maidenly charms-and as he had fall
len an unresisting captive in the train of
the capricious boy-god who likes nothing
better than to send his shafts into the
most unexpected places, he reasoned
very senslbly that what had been done
once might be again.
Upon the morning In which our story
opens, Jens had paused for a moment
as he said his gay good morning to
Mette aid had toss d bunch of flowers
to her They missed the grasp of her
eager, outstretched hands, and fell upon
the floor OF the balcony and as she
stopped to pick up the fragrant trea-
sures another parsonage appeared upon
the scene, looking from one to the other
of the preoccupied young people with
lll-pleased eyes. 1t was Knud Jensen,
the grabbed, miserly old man upon
whose hearthstone had, strange to say,
bIossomed so far human f1o wer as the
girl who stood confused and blushlag
before him.
'.Knowest thou not" he said harshly,
that it Ill beseems modest maid to
handy words with every gay gallant that
passes her fathers house? Oh with thee
to thy room, where / soon will follow
ami give thee lesson thou wilt long
remember"
Mette's cheeks rivaled the red carna-
tions in her lovers bouquet AS her father
spoke, and she fled from the spot IN dire
distress and shame at being thus ad-
dressed before the young merchant
Jens stood for moment looking IN
dignantly IL tue direction IN which she
had disappeared. Then with sudden
impulse he turned toward the old man.
who, leaning upon his stick, regarded
him with sa1donic smile upon his thin
lips. Jens was too shrewd a tactlclan
to ipjure the cause he had to plead, by
letting his hot anger bubble up to the
surface ana
So he dofied his velvet cap with re-
spectful gesture, and bowed his head IN
low obeIsaBce.
MAY l crave speech with you for
few moments? 1 will not detaln You
long" he asked.
Knud looked at him In silent surprise.
What could the young merchant wan.
of him?-he who dealt IN the eholcest
fabrics OF the loom, snrely did not need
to price his (Knud's) last cargo OF saitea
fish. 1t did once enter his mind tnat
Jens coveted a far richer treasure, Tor
the old man looked upon Mette as a
mere child; and when he found that
Jens had come to him with a proposal
of marriage for his daughter, he was NOT
C .rtain that he was in his right senses
At last he said grufiy:
"A fine husband you'd make ior my
girl! Why, man, are you crazy
Ear from it" answered Jens, snbdu.
ing a strong inclination to laugh at
Kinds surprise. 81 was never clearer