Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-05-21
FORTY YEARS AFTER.

FORTY YEARS AFTER.
Long, straight, aid monotonou
stretched the highway connecting tn
scattered hamlets in remote part o
Holland. Shade there was none, the
only trees for miles around being tn,
tall poplars which seemed to LOOK dow
mockingly on the scorched ground
DaZzlingly white and interminabl,
dusty the thread seemed to stretch be
fore the dark blue eyes of young mar
who had been trudgihg along alone 70
several hours, and who at last gladl,
took advantage OF the slight shade cas-
by q pile of stones to throw himself
upon the ground by the roadside anC
stretch his tired limbs as luXuriousiy a.
the unfavoraDle circumstances would
allow.
There was nothing at first sight tC
distinguish this xayfarer from many
Others who passed over the same high
way-freQuently students from small
university town not far diStant-but &
close observer might have detected a
light in the tired eyes looking over the
dusty landscape which twenty years OF
life do not often kindle, telling ol
strength and pOwer-the light before
which men involuntarlly bow down a.
showing leader and ruler among them
Only a few moments he gaZed dream
ly over the unintereStlng country, then
sought rest in another way. Drawing
from his pocket the pieces of flute, he
quickly joined them together, and was
soon filling the air with strains of music
soft, low, tender and penSive, as suited
his own WEAKNESS and the langour of
the Sultry summer day. Despite the
energy, determination, and strength
marked in every feature of his face,
this young man could be none other
than Il musician, for neither the inborn
genius was wanting nor the evidence OF
most careful and patient training.
He had long forgotten that he was
tired and hungry, that the road before
hin WAS at least three inches deep with
dust, and the sun pouring down rays
which seemed fairly TO scorch every
thing they touched, when he was startled
IN the midst Of an ImpasSIOned dRdante of
BeethOyen's, by a strange choking sound
behind HIN, something between a sob
and sigh. Turning, he found, stand
ing few steps from him. young girl
with cIaSped hands and bent bead-a
glrl with hair fair as fax and eyes blue as
t0rget-me-nOts growing In the field close
by.
The young man was on his feet In an
Instant, WEAKNESS forgotten in the pre-
az tarT hut kn
half-saucy compliment he was about to
utter died on his lips as he saw a tear
stealing slowly down the delicately-
rounded cheek of the girl, who seemed
little more than child.
''Ah, my child" )" he cried, with quick
sympathy, unwittingly speaking in Ger
man-hlS mOeher-tongue-'you are in
trouble! Can help you %
No, sir, said the girl softly i'll the
same language, raising her head and
gazing at the young man with an inno-
cent awe and reverence which touched
him deeply. . L don't know what it is;
but Your muSic-I can't tell if it is
gladness or sOrrow. As | heard you
play, the tears would come"
Are YOU so fond of music then,
child!" asked the young man, delighted.
Il dent THINK l was before, SIR
the girl answered simply. but 1
haven't heard that kind of music"
Won't you sit down here foI mo-
ment! will play again if you wish;
out first you must tell me your name"
The girl took place beside her COM
ianl0n quietly and unhesitatingly.
Ny name is Greta. And yours?n
Mine? Hum! Fritz, of course.
And you-aTe you an angel dropped
from some passing cloud, or a fairy
ilsen from the earth, to appear 50 sud-
denly before me? l notwithstanding
at her bewildered air" where did you
come iIOm :''
l have been to the Chapel of Our
Lady mDorf Sessin to count my beads"
She answered slowly; land then.
And then 2" asked Fritz, looking
admlrIngly at the lovely innocent eyes
gazing dreamily into the distance, while
he earessingly drew through his hands
one OF the long flaxen braids falling
over the Eirl's shoulders and below her
waist
And then | went into the wood
over ths7e, and have been there ever
slnce.n
Doing what ?p Fritz persisted.
gathering flowers to adorn your soft
pretty hair?n
>. Dong nothing but lie on the grass
Htenlng to the brook trickling by, and
watching the clouds sail past, and hear
ING What the birds sing to each other
Ior understand almost all they say.
An' Sir, It IS so quiet and peaceful and
o,ty there L hope, when L die, they
VIII Dury me there under the trees, close
" the water. Nowhere else could 1
Test so well,r
"onderingly F,itz gazed at this girl,
- widely different from the rustic beau
1es NJ; iie had met before on the high roads. |
;mllhcut !" a thought of the gay badinage
~ which lie usually INDUCED Oh such
oeCdSiOnS, he almost reverently took |
~ CLe oi the unresisting hands loosely |
Very gently
tb;.ay NY child, you are too young yet to
ran ,nlnk OF death. A great many happy
ats fSats VIII pass, hope. before you lie
foe fe beside the brook. Shall l play |
'0L You again ?n
n, oace y. more the sweet strains 1oated |
psr.aS,. ule .Sliltry air while Greta, with |
sbi,e; a llps and wide-open, almost wor-
man.u mrp.lug eyes which never left the young |
brsa,ss Lace, listened as if fearing by any
ytsatl ytsl or motion TO break the spell |
,AAg over her. At last Fritz started |
and A. meet, tieet, put his flute into his pocket,
mss soSslng ba k his brown hair with
iapgb,ryss a,y shake of the head, exclaimed
but sn I1.e !t say shall shock you, Greta;
~ 'ne same, am getting abomin-