The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-04
THE DROP OF DEW.
CHAPTER I,

Visitors to the ancient City of Klop
stag will be attracted by the eleganr
hve-sided bay window, more spacious
than many a b~ed-chamber. 1t is bull
of heavy stone on a level with the
second story, supported by a stout pc.
destal which rested on the ground. Un.
der the sashes were five panels, daintily
sculptured in high relief, and worn by
the rain until only the soul of the figures
seems left in their refined and spiritual
outlines. Above them are lucent panes
in aqua marine, the windows termina.
ting in Gothic arches.
The house is even older than the
window. 1t was formerly a chapel OF
parsonage, but subsequently, owned by
the famous artist, Herr Flamensbeck.
In the window, a few years since, sat
ayoung man talking with the painters
daughter.
.sKatrina, dearest, it is cruel. 1 will
not obey. 1t is senseless. 1t is the
same as denying me forever. That is
what it means"
Perhaps so," whispered the tall,
graceful Katrina, with glorious, star
like eyes, a head poised like Juno's
upon full, sloping shoulders, a mouth
betraying vivacity, refinement and beau
tiful. glowing health of body and soul
in the red and finely curved lips. Per
haps So" she said; ''but what can 1 do,
dear Max? I cannot make of you what
he asks; I cannot force him to think
you what he says you must be. I love
you, dear Max; always will love you;
n L believe that you can work and
study until you satisfy his caprice"
~ will for your sake dearest Katrina,
pledge my whole soul to the task.
though | grow faint at the thought of
accomplishing it. He is now the great
est painter in the land. He inherited
his art from his father. When only ten
years old he could handle his brush bet
ter than most men. He has been at it
forty years, and now he demands that
the young man, for only youth should
be welded to such a beauty"-she let
him kiss her hand in return for his COM
pliment-''that the young man who
marrles you shall know his art as well as
he himself has learned it. 1 say that it
is impossible; and he means by it that
youshall never marry"
"And what do you mean. my be-
loved?" she asked.
Il mean you SHALL" he said, passion
ately. 81 will go away and absent my
self Tor years" After a pause he added:
me-"
He smote his hands together, arose
and paced the room. His face wasradi-
n with his purpose, and there lurked a
mlrthful hopefulness around his eyes
which was very contagious and made
Katrina smile.
"Ah, me-" she said, you'll be so sue
cessful and so great that you'll scorn the
gift even after you have won it, like the
knight who pickedup the glove when his
lady threw it into the arena where the
lions were. He would not have a love
that was willing to demand SO much of
him."
His only reply was a kiss upon her
forehead. He arose to go.
81 must say farewell, ny darling.
Three years from to-day I will meet you
in this window and ask you if you still
love me, and if you wish I should make
good my claim to your hand before your
father"
She faltered and turned pale at the
thought of the long separation. She
could not bear to face it.
go, stayr' she cried. 'sStaY and defy
a harsh father. No, no., I do not mean
that. Go and come back to me! But
not quite yet; not quite yetr'
She chung to him; he folded her in his
arms, kissed her ~passionately and was
gone, almost before she, stunned with
poignant grief at the cruel separation,
realized that he was not IN the room, nor
she in his dear embrace.
CHAPTER II.
The three years were nearly gone.
Katrina had waited and longed and
faithfully loved, as she thought. But
she had not been tried. There came to
Klopstag a splendid artist, Herr Wolf
gang Mailer. Fifty years had whitened
his hair and beard, but only heightened
the warm, youthful color in his cheeks,
like dollhouse roses midst December
SHOWS. His fame was almost equal to
that of Katrina's father. He had heard
of her beauty and of her fathers Jealous
desire to ~perpetuate his genius in his
posterity by marrying her to q great
artist since a male heir to his artistic
talent was denied him. The sutton was
gallant and witty end in every way an
attractive lover.
Herr Flamensbeck," said he, 81 un-
derstand you propose . very trying test
to him who aspires to be your son-in-
law. But I will accept it. If 1 fail I
shall lose only what I do not now pos
sess; if Igain 1 shall gain what is we'll
a severer trial than this"
You know the conditions" said the
cOnceited, gruff, old painter. It is