St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-06
GRETTrS TRUST.
A Romance ofThe Swiss Mountains.

or each side OF him rose the eternal hills,
their ice-clad peaks at the present moment
rosy pink with the suns parting rays. But
up from the green valleys gray-blue shad-
ows were creeping and driving the pink
away.
Far beneath him were hills and valleys, a
village aud lake, aud a streamlet, mean
dering through dark pine wood. Very
beautiful all OF it. But its beauty was entire
" lost upon Won Hansen as he sat there on
his stone thinking aloud. after the manner
Of solitary men who are well up in years. He
cared no more for the scenery than did any
Of those bats that, like birds Of evil omen,
went sweeping past him and past him, and
round and round his head.
Virtue always triumphautl'' he was say
ng-"Pahl Mere sentiment; mere moon
shine"
The fact is Won Hansen had been to the
play in the village down yonder, only the
evening before. He had spent no less 4
sum than twenty batzen on those strolIing
actors. Not for any pleasure it was likely
10 give him had be gone, but Gretty' the
prettiest girl in all the village, had asked
she said an Rudolph would hardly return
from Misunderstanding for days to come.
''Virtue always triumphant. Yes that is
what she said. Pah. money IS. Ha! Ha.
And have that. Oh, my worthy but power
ty-struek friend, Rudolph you may return
when you please; Grett win marry Won Hau-
sen. Oldi Ehl Who calls me oldF'
he took snuff as he spoke from an old
horn, sending the powder home with his fin
ger-point, and it must be confessed he looked
anything but handsome as he did so, for he
wrinkled his brows aud twinkled his eyesand
leered like an aged baboon.
''Gldl Let me see! seventy last birthday
Merely in my prime. Ten years more aud
III be only eirgth; twenty, and I'll be but
ninety; then may grow old. Eagles renew
their ages. Why shouldn't-aha. he SCREENED
''yonder is an eaglen'
He started up as he spoke, and with eyes
turned skywards and finger pointing, began
lettering forward step by step towsrds--dcs
truction. A preeipice fully 500 feet deep lay
al his feet; ne was on the brink of II, the
next step would have been his last.
But a rough hand seized him by the coat
collar, pulling II up till bis head sank within,
like monks in a eoxl, but dragging the old
man back at the same time.
''Tired OF your sinful life, old birdi' said
the newcomer, a rough but gOOd-uatured
chamois hunter, with gun i'm hand and bag
on &C a mOrsel Of feather stuck jauntilly in
his la just 70 show the village maidens, he
USED 10 say, that Bernezel was still bache-
Tor.
sold bird - growled Won Hansen, reseat-
ing himself on his stone. "Who are you call
ing an Old birds Your as bad as any one
else. Humphl"
"Well, say" said Bernezell, ''this is graf
itudel What are you going to give me for
saving your neck, ehi''
''Necki Wbati oh yes. to be sure. Wen
90 down to the village, and III pay for pot
of lager"
ga pot Of lager!" cried the other laughing
as that all the value you put upon your
Hal ha! hal"
"Yalue put upon my ha-ha-hai What
dye mean you're uucommonly like fool =
''Well, well, perhaps am. but say friend
you're in q fine temper tonight. Any one
been yexing youF'
The old man grew all smiles and leers in a
moment. His face lighted up like withered
melon with the afternoon sun on it.
''No,'' be chuckled taking another pinch,
and digging his friend in the ribs. son the
contrary. Was at the play last night Will
Gretty. Hal hal Ho! hol She doesn'
mourn long for her hunter And look here
she's going TO marry me-"
s'Marry you.'
SAY, she promised-that Is, she viii prom
Use when 1 ask her. But now come along
down and have the lager. Keep your hands
to Yourself. Do YOU think ] want your as
sistance 10 get upi''
II beg thousand pardons old bill mean
YOU merry young grouse you'll Here. say,
hold on; don't leave me behind. Why, yoT
20 bounding along like young stag :"
young on the legs, ehin
81 should think you are"
They were seated very shortly after in tn,
village tavern. They hadn't taken long to q
down hill.
''And now" sal d Won Hansen, "Pm 60
ing TO unfold my plans. But here, let u
have another pint.m
''What can the old heron mean =" muttere,
Bernezen to himself, shy such reckless liber
alityl Something in the wind, know. Tin,
gray hawk doesn't whistle til he is just goinj
swoop."
''Wen,n said Won Hansen, land how 4:
trade, ehl Got good bags latelyr'
Hardly any luck at all, 4" sighed the other
''I'm stiff with jumping aud haven't bagget
buck for five days"
'WOuldn't mind having spell of pleasure
dare cay, couple of months in France
now! Come, come, you're not drinking
Wen have another pint Money was mad'
10 spend. Drinkand be merry, you youns
dog, you, l say"
When quite unfolded, Won Hausen's plan
, we're something as follows: Beruezell wa
/ s.. l. IL
5 return for a couple Of months at least. II
was on no account to come near the yillag
, for that time nor see Gretty, to whom he wa
bethrothed. The sold Bird as Berueze
called him, was to pay all expenses, but tn
young man must be kept In Paris in tn
midst of gayety, and must never for a me
r. ment be allowed TO think of home. No
must he write, or when he did his letters wer
10 be destroyed.
Suppose" said BernezelI, she misses hi
foothold among the mountains and tumble
into a crevassctii
! The old man positively rubbed his hand
; and cackled with delight
F: ''Capitali capital eapitall" was all h
!. could say "Hal hal ha! Capital Virtu
is always triumphantin the end. He he =
BerneZell smiled in his face as be said:
"0f all the old sinners that ever lived''--
''Ehl ehl What's thatl' cried Won Hau
} \ sen, who had not heard him.
''Isaid you were right merry old soul,
shouted Bernezel.
''Hal ha! Yes, merry, but,not so old, 70
know"
s That very night this misery Won Hause
counted out 10 Bernezell one BY one th
pieces Of gold, for the chamois-hunter was I
start early next day.
y 81 declare,n said Won Hansen, SIT is lii
buying wife. Precious expensive affai
But | can trust vou.n