Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-15

A GERMAN PRIZE STORY.
''IT -.

A
tTbe original of the following is a prize story
written for the Wiener Allgemeine Zeltung.
There were $50 contributions handed III, ana OF
these Mr.. Roberts "It took the first prize, 3oo
forins. The judges were some OF the most en- en-
Gphtened men of German literature-Bauerfeld,
Liable Gross and several others. The author Is
Freiherrn V. Roberts.
Returning from business trip, entered
nv Wife's bOudOir and found her kneellng
before low chai., on which sat boy baby
with large, round and wondering eyes. She
got up and came rustling in her sllken robe
de chambre to meet me. She reached out her
hand and greeted me not more heartily nor
vet more formally than we were accustomed
to greet each other in those days.
''There it is" said my wife, pointing to
the child.
"What?" askedI. But she stopped down
befor the little stranger, held a biscuit to its
upturned face, and, half turning toward me,
HWell, YOU know-did we not read of it in
the newspaper? Don't you remember-the
day before Yesterday? And is 1t not beau
tiful?" !.
Now I did recollect that few nights be-
fore she held Gazette under the light my
student lamp, and, pointing with hnger 70
an advertisement, said to me, "Please read
that" 1t was the well-knOWn appeal, the
cry of despair from a bleeding heart address
ed to ''good people," A child was offered
for ADOPTION to persons well off. "What
would you think of our taking it ?" my
wife had said, and had returned the paper
to her with shrug of my shoulders.
''But, Martha, what have you done"'
cried I, in tone vibrating with anger.
"You have really ="
Certainly, as you see. And then 1t be-
longs to me; 1 myself have settled every
tv to be pitied. l have sworn to take good
care of it; and 50 I will indeed"
She took the little head, with its blonde,
silk curls, between her white hands, and
fondled and caressed it. els it not so, little
one :-you will be loved %
But the somewhat sckly and delicate lit
tie face showed no signs of understanding,
except that out of the heart-shaped little
mouth came one of those SighS that sound so
strangely from children.
I at once gave up all serious objection.
Had we not been accustomed for years to act
independently for each other? Our marriage
was not very happy one, although we had
not married for love. During the noise and
hustle of the crowded Exchange our fathers
had contracted this union. She had to tear
her heart from beloved one, and in mine
had glOwed "passiOn not yet outspoken."
But parental wishes conquered: we chose
to be Obedient children; and so it happened.
At the commencement we We're to each
other a silent reprOach; after which follow
ed declared war, until, finally, we came to
polite but gloomy peace.
To be sure, she was beautiful-she was
good and brightand sparkling. Others call
ed her an angel. And | ? Well, believe
was no monster, either. The analysis show
ed the brightest colors; still, the sun was was
missing. We were six years married ana
had no children. Perhaps had Heaven sent
us them
Well, this child belonged entirely to her.
/ heard later that she had given 81 600, the
price of set of jewels which she had sold
secretly.
"Why did you not tell me of it," 1 said,
half angrily.
because it would have been too late if /
had waited for your return to the city; and,
besides, wanted to have it entirely for my
self; want to call it my own," she said,
poutingly.
MY horses, my dogs; her canaries, her
gold-fishes-I could endure that; but that
she wanted to haveher child tOherself alone,
that was too much for me. The thought OF
it tortured me one, two days long. On the
third day, my wife had gone out in her car
riage; there came a Veied woman and de-
manded entrance. 1t was the mother. Like
a shadow she glided into the room, and with
a half-suppressed sob, begged to see hel
child nee more. She could not part from
him forever without imprinting one more
kiss upon his cheeks. I opened my safe
"take that; they have not given you
enough" Her tears fell down her wal
cheeks; she begged ME not to judge her toe
harshly she had another child,,a cripple
and HELPLESS; she herselfWaS sick and WOult
not live much longer, and what was to be
come of the children? Then she thought
Imyself had to finish the sentence, which ;
violent fit of coughing had interrupted
"Yes, ;" she had thought: 81 will sell tht
healthy one in order that the money may
help the cripple when am dead and gone.
No, she must not be judged harshly W.
rich ones know but little OF the trials ant
temptations of the poor.
When my wife returned gave heran ac
count of the call l had had, adding that
had given the unfortunate one exactly tn
same amount as she had. "And now,
said 1, ''you must see the child belongs tt
both OfuS."
She bit her lips with her little white
teeth.
"It is all the same to me-" she said will
moments reflection; and with that sh'
pressed a tender kiss on the little boy
mouth 1t sounded almost like challenge
"Our childw Iscarcely ever sawit. Ant
the changes that were made in our house
hold for his sake were made entirely with
out me. SOmtimes, after the most inpor
tant things were decided, my consent wa
then asked. eve are obliged to have ;
nurse; l hired one, Anselm." | nodded 81
lently. we must fix up the nursery, tina
room is too warm for the child" / nodded
silently, but heard the sound of the work
men who were already at work in the hall
What could 1 do better? Was it not al
done for our child?
NV wife and did not talk much abOu
the child, and when we did mention il W
used only the name 1t" But this 1T
could be heard through the house at almos
any time of the day.
6Hush! not so much noise! 1t sleeps
It must have it's dinner! 1t should be IL
ken out for drive! 1t has hurt itself!