Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-06-25
BY THE BALTIC.


Life here is much the same year by year"
"And thou wouldst not fret. Lieschen, IL
did not come for fifty years!"
He spoke as though he scarcely knew
whether to jest or be in earnest, and stood
| watching her with wistful, doubtful smile.
She Was making buttermlk cheeses at the
dresser by the scullery window, and he was
| lef< ing in over the window-sill, with a pipe
| smonlderng in one hand, while the other
! kept breaking off little twigs and leaves of
the roses that c!ambercd all round the win
| dow, and made a pretty frame to his SUD-
| burnt face and broad shoulders
Lieschen laughed at his question, as she
shaped the little white cheeses all speclled
over with caraway seeds, and did not
! look rp.
"You would he about 100 years old, then,
Gustav, should think" was the only remark
she made
"No, come Lieschen, that is cruel of you.
] am only 3S-moro than twice your age, it
is true, hut not nearly 50. And it is some
thing to have a fine farm and a good, new
house and the only carriage on Rugen, even
| If your husband is old enough to know white
| from black"
"Yes, know" said Lieschen Indifferent J
''but there is plenty Of time yet"
Gustav Baier bit his lip and frowned I'M
easily us be looked at her.
"Thoa dost not care, Lieschen, its plain TO
see" he said bitterly. Il think thou hast no
heart at all, for all thine eyes are so sweet
and thy ways SO gentle. Thou'rt some mer-
maiden from he sea here, and one day wilt
vanish like the foam. L. it not SOP
Il didn't make myself" retorted the girl
petulantly, "and / never asked you TO come
and fall in love with Inc. IL you're not salts
fed"-she drew the gold betrothal ring from
her finger-"here's your ring. Give IT to
somebody that has a heart for you."
"Come, come We mustn't quarrel be said
| peac ably, replacing the ring aai drawing
| her on to his knee as he sat on tbs dresser.
81 shall not be satisfied TIL that ring is ON the
ether hand and you come away home with
me. Give me a kiss now and say you love
mc.r
Iieschen hung her head and her big brown
eyes filed with tears.
"Wbat, cryingp he demonstrated, taking
her chin in his great rough hand, and turn
| ing her unwilling face round toward him.
Thunder and lightning, why, 50 she isl
| You spoil those eyes, my pretty one. What's
it all about, Art not happy, Lieschen"
Eyes, quite" she said, with gulp. IF
you would let me alone, Gustav, am youra
now-what more do You want! You say l
have 10 heart; | can't give You what
haven't got"
"Why, that's true Give me kiss instead,
then," said he magnanimousy-"en for
| fifty years, in case do not see You again"
stupid old Gustavl' cried the girl. laugh
ing and struggling. There, that VIII dc!
| Put me down. Gustav"
Goodbye, dearest" he said at last, putting
| her down. take care of her for me, nurse.
don't think it will be fifty years before
come again." be added, turning to Lieschen
| as he went out; though to me, at least, it
will seem twice as long"
Perhaps the wistful look ia his eyes, or the
sadness that crept into his voice as he said
these last words, touched the girl-perhaps
she loved him after all; anyhow, before he
had crossed the threshold, she ran after him
and slipped her hand into his.
Il 60 as far as the gate with you, Gustav"
she said; aud they walked away down tie
yard together.
"Look at my young ducks, Gustav; aren't
they growing fasts and the chickens too!
And look at those lazy geese; they do moth
ing but feed and sleep. Do you know, l
brought them all up, every one Of them"
"Ay. thou'rt brave housewife, Liescher;
and if thou lowest thy father now, and serv-
ost him SO well, doubt not thou'lt love me
| when the time comes. Adieu, Her2lebchen!
BE good ard happy, and don't forget me-
ehf"
NO, You dear good Gustav! A!ieu! Come
soon again. And SO they parted.
''Gustav says have II, heart, nurse, said
Lieschen, sitting on the old woman's knee
aud stroking her whto hair; "and | think
he is right How do we get heartf
Herr Gustav should rejoice that thou
hast none" said the old nurse, looking
thoughtfully into the bright young face with
her dina eyes: DIT comes by sutrering-suf-
fering and sorrow and trial, and weeping and
loving-loving brings it all. They say
heart is like the steel in iron; tits there. but
you cannot have it till it has gone through tie
| irib,e fires and been beaten on the anvil.
| The good God save theo from finding thine;
| for truly think 'twouli be thy death, my
little flower"
"Gustav is very gcol TO me-" muTmured
| Lieschen, slowly turning the ring on h"r
finger. ii think do love him; he is so tall
and broad and strong-he could XII me with
one hand, nurse, ! do think.
"Behutcl What nonsense the child does
TALK" exclaimed the nurse But see she
said. pointing to the window, KS not that thy
Gustav come back again, Run, child, and
see what brings him.
| Lieschen ran out into the yard, and stopped
suddenly short petrifiei with Gear at the sight
| that met her eyes.
Bring him in-so-gently," Gustav was
| saving; and two faim-servants followed him,
! bearing between them the apparently lifeless
| body OF a young mantle head fallen back,
tie eyes closed the lips parted, The hands
! hanging Imply down, the clothes stained
| here and there with blood
"There has been duel said Gustav, "un-
! less il was darker WORK. We found him III
.hc wood up yonder, bleeding to death.
Where can we lay him down: The nearer
he better-here, on this sofa
-, anywhJ re--yesr cried Liaschen, brini-
! ,ring over with pity.
And so they laid him down on the sofa in
| the little sitting room, and then Gustav, not
| ..nkindly, but quite IG'esistibly, pat Lieschen
| outside the door.
She stood there with her hands pressed to-
! a~ther every nerve strained to interpret the
,sunds that came from within, half muftie1
~ tie loud beating of her own heart.
Zach, Gottl If only he be not dead" she
,purmured rs the stiffness seemed to grow
i,;olcrable Then there came low Gasping
moan of pain; and she heard Gustav say:
ole is coming to; water now and linen.
Then the old nurse came out hurriedly
| Her eye fell on the girls white face and she
cent her to fetch a bundle of old linen from
die press in the garnet, asquck as might be,
while she herself went for water.
| When Iieschcn came flying back the nurse
| had returned 10 the side of the wounded man
! and ,hc stole in after her with the linen. She
! could hardly reprcSS the cry Of pain and pity
! that rose to her lips when she saw the death
! like pailor OF the face lying back on Gustav 5
| supporting shoulder. bnt She felt that she
/ must lie very quiet if she would rci draw AZ
tenticn to the fact that She had come IN TN
hidden.
| The nurse took the linen from ~ hands
without noticing her at all: and then Gustav,
/ helping with bis disengaCod hand, gently an
fastened and laid open the young man :
coat. disclosing white shirt all SoJ ket with
blood.
cut it--cut IL" said Gustav, im1at!cntly;
there is 10 time 10 lose
"what pity. and the linen 50 fair and
fine" lamentet the nurse, in an Cnisrto1e.
"'rhe lad Is noble, no doubt"
"No doubt echoed Gustav; "bu-, noble or
not. he must die Il we can't stalacA thG
Needing al once. II only had beth hands
| free,r he uu;tercd. exaspeIa;ci at the ITEM
ulous slowncss Ct the old woman This
won't do. and not soul ia the house 10 help
Here. Licschen. You must be useful Come
and hold up his hoad--so. so-up9u your
shoulder Lucky I've seen 50 much Of this
in the war, and know what 20 he AZ. he re
marked 20 himself. And LeiSchen kneit and
took tie heavy, fainting head upon her