The Osceola times., 1883-01-20
CHAPTER ii.

with her needle. The furniture of the
room was clean and tasteful The girls
whole dress would not have brought her
many kreutzers, but every article fitted
her as if it had cost hundreds. Her fair
locks shaded face frightened by pair
of eyes of heavenly blue. The spirit of
order, modesty and cleanliness reigned
in everything around her. Her features
were delicate, like those of one noble
born, her eyes betrayed sleeplessncss and
anxiety, and ever and anon a deep sigh
rose from the maiden's breast Suddenly
steps were heard ON the staircase and her
face lighted with joy. She listened and
doubt seemed to shadow her brow when
there came a knock at the door, which
made her tremble so much that she al
most wanted the courage TO say, Come
in" A young man, shabbily dressed,
entered the room and made low and
awkward bow.
81 beg pardon, miss" he said; "docs
Herr Schmidt live here?"
eyes, sir; what is your pleasure ?"
"Are you his daughter Bertha ?"
81 ann
"Then it is you | seek. am from your
father"
"For heavens sake, where is he?
Something must have happened fas
stayed away from home all night"
THE misfortune is not so great"
"Oh, my poor poor father! what shall !
hear"
The young man seemed to observe
these visible remarks of anxiety with
great interest. He said
"Do not be frightened; it is nothing of
great importance. Your father met last
night an old acquaintance, who invited
him to a tavern They had supper to-
gether, and when the landlord came for
the bill your fathers friend had decamped
and left him to pay the score. He had
not sufficient money for this and now the
host will not let him go sntil he is paid,
and declares that unless he gets his mon
ey he will send him to prison"
"To prison ~ exclaimed the girl "Can
you tell me how much the bill comes to?"
"rhrce florins and half"
ooh, God % sighed the girl "All have
does not amount to more than one tlorin,
but | will go at once to Madame Berg and
beg of her to advance me the money"
"Who is Madame Berg"
"The milliner for whom | work"
"But if Madame Berg does not advance
the money-what then"
II am afraid she will refuse. Ialrsady
owe her form, and she is very hard"
"For what purpose did you borrow the
money you owe her|
The girl hesitated to reply.
"You must trust me"
"Well, my father is very weak, and re.
quires strengthening. | borrowed the
money to get aquartcr of fowl for him"
"Undertbesc circumstances fear Mad
ame Berg will not give you any. | poss-
css nothing. Have you any valuables
left upon which we could raise some
money 2'
Bertha considered for moment.
81 have nothing said she, at length,
"but my poor mothers prayer-book. On
her death-bed she entreated me lot to
part with it, and there is nothing in the
world that | hold more sacred than her
memory, and the promise gave her; but
still. for my fathers sake, | must not hes
itate." With trembling hand she took the
book down from the shelf "Oh, SIR she
said, during many a sleepless night |
have been accustomed TO enter the secret
thoughts of my heart on the blank leaves
at the end of the book. | hope no one
you will promise me thatP
Certainly, Bertha. | will take care
! that your secrets are not proianed. But
now get ready that we may go"
When she left the room to put on her
bonnet and shawl Karl Trait for the
young man was no other than our hero
glanced over the writings in the book,
and his eyes filled with tears of emotion
and delight as he read the outporings of
a pure and pious heart; and when they
left the house together, and she was
walking beside him with dignity of
which she seemed unconscious, he cast
upon her looks of respect and admiration.
They went first to Madame Berg, who
did not have the money required, but as-
sured the young man that Bertha was an
angel. Certainly this praise Mr.. Trait
valued higher than the money he asked
for. They pawned the book, and the re
quired sum was made up. Bertha was
oyerioyed.
"But if you spend all the money to.
day" remarked the young man, ION what
will YOU live tomorrow ?'
81 do not know, but | trust in God. |
shall work the whole night through"
When they went to the tavern the
young man went first TO prepare Mr.,
Schmidt for the part he wished him to
act; tEen he fetched Bertha. It's impos-
sihlc to describe the iov he felt when he
saw the young girl throw hcrselfinto her
fathers arms and press him to her heart
She paid the bill and triumphantly led
him home. TRAIT accompanied them and
said he had few kreutzcrs in his pock-
ct; she had better 90 and get something
TO eat. 1t was late before Trait went
home that night, but the leap from the
Main bridge was no moro thought of He
came to the house every evening, he said
to share with them his scanty earnings.
About fortnight after. rs he was going
away one evening, he said to Bertha:
"Will you be my wife? am only
poor clerk but | am honest and upright
Bertha blushcd and cast her ewes to
the ground.
4 few DAYS after the Young couple,
simply but respectfully attircd and ac-
companied by Herr Schmidt, went to the
church, where they We're married in a
quiet way When they came ont man I.
and wife, an elegant carriage was stand |
ing at the door, and footman in rich |
livery let down the stcps.
Come" said the husband to his hewil-
dered wife, who looked at him in amaze
ment.
Before he could utter word the three
were seated in the carriage driving rap