Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-18
BY THE BALTIC.


year by year."
And thou wouldst not fret, LiescheD,
if 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 a wistful doubtful
smile. She was making buttermilk cheeses
at the dresser by the scullery window
and he was leaning in over the window.
sill, with pipe smoldering in one hand
while the other kept breaking off little
twigs and leaves OF the roses that clam
bered all round the window, and made a
pretty frame to his sunburned face and
broad shoulders.
Lieschen laughed at his question, as she
shaped the little white cheeses all speckled
over with caraway seeds and did not looB
up.
You would be about a hundred year:
old then, Gustav, l should think" was the
only remark she made.
"NOW, come. Lieschen, that is cruel OF
you. l am only thirty-eigh thar
twice your age, it is true, but not nearly
fifty. And it is something to have a fine
farm and good new house, and the only
carriage on Rugen, even if your husband
is old enough to know white from black. >
"Yes, 1 know said Lieschen, inditfer
emily; "but there is plenty Of time yet.''
Gustav Baier bit his lip and frOWneC
uneaSllN as ne looked at her.
''Thou dOst not care, Lieschen. It's plain
to see," he said, bitterly. Il think thou
hast no heart at all, fer all thine eyes are
so sweet and thy ways 50 gentle. ThOU'rl
some mermaiden from the sea here, and
one day wilt vanish like the foam. Is il
not SOP"
Il didn't make MYSELF retorted the
girl petulantly, "and L never asked you "a
come and fall in love with ne. II you're
not satisfed'--she drew the gold betrothal
ring from her fnger-''here's your ring.
Give it to somebody that has heart Tor
YOU"
He left the window abruptly and she
glanced up, flushed and frightened, not
knowing what he meant to do. The next
minute he came in at the door from the
yard. and went up tC the table where she
stood with the ring in her open hand
"COme, come, we mustn't quarrel" he
said peaceably, replacing the ring and
drawing her on to his knee as he sat on
the dresser. Il shall not be satisfied till
that ring is on the other hand and YOU
have come away home with me. Give me
kiss now and say YOU love me-"
Lieschen hung her head and her big
brown eyes filled with tears.
"What. cryingw he demonstrated, TAX
ing her chin in his great rough hand and
turning her unwilling face round toward
him. Thunder and lightning, why. so
she is! You spoil those eyes, my pretty
one. WHAT'S it all about? Art not happy.
LieschenE'
YES, quite,'' she said, with q guIp. ''if
you would let me alone, Gustav. | am
yours nOw-wLat more do you want?
You say l have no heart; can't give you
what | haven't got"
"Why, that's true. Give me kisses in
stead, then" said he, magnanimously-
enough for fifty years, in case do not
see thee again"
stupid old Gustav" cried the girl,
laughing and struggling. "Ihere, that
will do! Put me down, Gustav"
''Achl See, now, these lovers, these
lOFers~ cried an old shrill voice in the
doorway. Tears and smiles and kisses.
kisses and smiles and teaTsl So runs the
world away and the old folk are forgot
ten"
''Lieschen counts me one of the old folk,
nurse" remarked Gustav, pausing to
speak, but holding his prisoner helpless
the while in his great strong arms.
Tut, tut, child! Not many maidens of
sixteen can boast such a fine brave lover
as thine, with his broad farm and his
grand new house and stealing, and every
thing heart can desire. Not but what
thou canst bring him linen enough to
stock the house, were it twice the size il
is; but he mad no need to seek out a sim
pie child like thee to be his BRIDE"
80 L tell him, nurse. l didn't want
him Oh, Gustav" Her speech was
smothered in his great red beard.
Goodbye. dearest!" he said at last.
putting her down. Take care of her for
me nurse. ! don't think 1t viii be fifty
years before I come asc@iiu," he added,
turning 10 Lieschen as he Went out,
Though to me, at least, it will seem tNIce
as long"
Perhaps the wistful look in 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.
s.rl1 90 as far as the gate with you, Gus
tav," she said; and they walked away
down the yard together.
Look at my young ducks, Gustav;
aren't they growing fast? and the chick
ems. too! And look at those lazy geese;
they do nothing but feed and sleep. DO
YOU know, | brought them all up, every
one of them"
SAY, thou'rt brave housewife, Lies
chen, and if thou lowest thy father now,
and servest him so well, DOUBT not thou'lt
love me when the time comes. Adieu,
HerzHebcheni Be good and happy, and
don't forget mech"
NO, you dear, good Gustav! Adieu!
Come soon againW And so they parted.
Nurse" said Lieschen, re-entering the
sculIerv, show do people come to have
hearts?'
"Du lteber Hfmmel! What does the
child mean? Hearts? Why, they are
born sop exclaimed the old woman, TAX
ing off her spectacles, the better to see
her young questoner. "What art thou
chattering about?'
s'Gustav says | have no heart, nurse"
she replied, sitting on the old woman's
knee and strOking her white hair, land l
think he is right. How do we get a
heart 2"
Herr Gustav should rejoice that thou
hast none" said the old nurse, looking
tboughtfully into the bright yOurg face
with her dim eyes; lit comes by suffer
ing-suffering and sorrow and trial, and
weeping and loving-lOving brings it all.
They say a heart is like the steel III iron !;
tits there, but you cannot have it till it
has gone through the terrible fires and
been beaten on the anvil. The good God
save thee from finding thine; tor truly l
think 'twOuld be thy death, my little How
er."
"Gustav is very good to me, ;" murmured
LiescheD, slowly turning the ring on her
finger. i think l do love him; he is so
tall and broad and strOng-he could kill
me with one hand, nurse, l do think"
''Behute What nonsense the child does
talk" exclaimed the nurse. But see"
she said, pointing to the window, lis not
that thy Gustav come back again? Run,
child. and see what brings him."
Lieschen ran out into the yard, but
stopped suddenly short, petritied with fear
at the sight that met her eyes.
"Bring him in-so-gently," Gustav
was saying; and two farm servants fol-
lowed him, bearing between them the APP
parently lifeless body Of young man
the head fallen back, the eyes closed, the
lips parted, the hands hanging Imply
down, the clothes stained here and there
with blood.
"Run away, child, run away! IT'S no
sight for thee" Gustav called out, when
he saw her standing there white and
frightened. I'VE want the nurse"
Then he turned to the old woman. who
had come out, and explained rapidly
Lieschen, instead Of running away, lis
tening eagerly to every word.
There has been a duel-unless it was
darker work. We found him in the wood
up yOnder, bleeding to death. Where can
we lay MIN down! The nearer the b ttel
here, on this sOfap'
60, anywhere-yesp cried Lieschen
trimming over with pity.
And so they laid him down on the sofa
in the little sitting-rOOm, and then Gustav
not unkindly, but quite unresIstibly, put
Lieschen outside the door.
bo ctooI tbara with bnr ha pdC raraGC n6