Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-06-16


standing under the hanging-lamp read
ing Letter.
"That must he Bertha" said Ira
verse, his artists eye instantly attract
ed. Let us see what she is like"
"Any letters yet, Frau Hansing?"
he inquired, peering into the room; and
the girl turned around quickly, dis
playing lovely, piquant. brunette
face. with dark eyes and delicate
cherry-red lips. al i4sses lii,19
"Frau lansing is out" she said,
modestly.
81 beg your pardon. You are the
Fraulein BerthaY said Traverse, re-
solved, as it seemed, to make her ac-
quaintance, and at the same time lift
ing his hat with grac full courtesy.
eyes" she answered, with some sur
prise and also a certain reserve.
| EXCUSE me; but knew you were
expected. And since the Frau Han
sing is absent, will the Fraule:n be
good enough to give me my letters, if
there are any?"
lhad passed up the stairs, and it was
fully FIVE minutes before my friend
Joined me. n......a.. y
"What charming little creature is
our landlady's daughter" he said, quite
enthusiastically. "Such lovely features,
and so much expression! And then
one can see that she has been Lrought
up with cultured and refined people.
Really, there is something about her
quite magnetic"
SO indeed it appeared, judging from
the frequency with which, on the fol-
lowing day, my friend journeyed up
and down the stairs, at first anxious to
receive lettHrs and then on some
newly-discovered business which ne
cessitated frequent inquiries at the
door of Frau Hansings rooms. More
than once, in passing this door, I
beheld him seated on our Iandlady'sl
horsehair sofa, engaged in an animated
conversation with Bertha.
"Do you know" said he, with the
air Of one communicat ng an important
discovery, that the Fraulein is as in
telligent and accomplished as she is
beautiful? What pity that she is
only our landla'ly's daughter J"
Thus the week passed. For myself, l
only saw Bertha in the evenings. She
certainly was charming girl, refined
and ladylike, though dressing in a
simple bourgeoise style, and engaging,
as we had opportunity of observing, in
occupations not above her station
such as knitting stockings for her
mother and assisting the old lady in
household duties, even to cooking and
cleaning. That she did not do this at
the chateau she acknowledged. Her
business there was to walk out with
and read to the old madame, even to
sing and play for her; and she played
uncommonly well, as we had Oppor-
tunity for observing.
at is unfortunate" l remarked,
"that the girl has been educate d above
her station. She is superior to marry
ing common bourgeoise, and is not
yet fitted for higher rank by reason of
her fam ly."
"That is true" said Traverse, slow
ly. "Now, for instance, if were to
think of marrying Bertha, charming
and lady.ike though she is, my whole
family would be down upon me; and,
in fact" he add d, hesitatingly, al
don't think could bring myself to take
such a step. l shall require good birth
in the -wo nan whom marry"
"1hen hadn't you better break off at
once with the Fraulein b rtha? 1t
seems to me that you are carrying this
matter too far not to give it a serious
ending"
"She is going away in a day or two"
he answered, rather d lefully.
And she did go. We saw her back
into the stage VIII ch was to take her
back to Rud sheim and Madame Es-
tori, and, judging from her bright face
and laughing adieux, she carritd away
a b art as whole as she had brought to
Neureide. But With my friend it was
different, and from the hour Of her de-
parture be became restless and dissat-
listed. We consequently soon resumed
our pilgrimage up the Rhine. stopping
here and there wherever wefOund any
thing specially picturesque or interest
ing to afford a subject for our amateur
pencils.
It was on September 1 that we
reached Bonn. Leaving my friend at
a hotel, l lost no me in making my
way TO the Cha.eau Rotherberg, about
two English miles from the town,
where l had the great delight Of being
erected by Julia. looking fairer and
sweetm, [ thought. than l had ev'r
before seen her. Madame EstOrf also
accorded me most kindly welcome,
and on learning that / was accom-
panied By a friend. Insisted upon our
hoth dining with her on the following