The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-11-22

I
friend of her lover? She led him in
and the old woman nodded, smiling,
at stool near the bright, cheerful
fire of wood.
Gretty had just dressed for the
evening, and very simple, but neat,
was her attire. She was slight and
delicate in form, with sparkling eyes
and an eager, pretty face.
1 She asked fifty questions of Berne-
zell, nearly all on the same subject;
and when the chamois hunter bade
the mother good night at last and
I went away he beckoned Gretty to
4 follow.
"He has something to tell me-"
said Gretty to herself, her fair face
flushing with anxiety.
4 Very humble are the heroes of this
little tale, but in Gretty's eyes her
Rudolf was by no means humble
| No young man in all theglen was so
tall, fresh and rosy, so stalwart and
strong as Rudolf, goat-herder
though he was. None had so beau
tiful voice, so white brow, such
glossy hair. None could bound from
crag to crag or climb the mountain
steep, ak in hand, so bravely as he
did, and his wild glou-glou at sun
rise or sunset could be heard ring
ing high DER hill and glen and re-
echoed, too, from peak to peak. And
Gretty, simple lassie, loved him so
dearly and devotedly.
There was a scimitar moon shin
, ing through the pine-tree tops and
. the stars were all out, so there was
light enough to see the footpath that
. led to the well. Here was a seat
Y and Bernezell did not say a word,
= anxious though Gretty was, until he
e got there. The truth is that this
s honest chamois hunter hardly knew
what to say or how much he dare in
d fairness tell the girl.
$ Probably he ought to have thrown
the miser's money in his face, and
d stigmatizing him as villain, refused
q to have anything to do with his
e plans and schemes. But" he
thought, "if l do, my friends life is
If not worth Il days purchase. Muir
IF der has been committed among
e, these mountains before an assassin
IL is easily hired. No, I'll take til,
Ie cash, and III keep Rudolf away fol
n time l shall not spend the none,
,llIam a, Kees s.-sig-y, r-vncauer hundred, in
though r nave brother in Pari
l. who will be glad to see us. And tn,
5: gold I'll send as n gift to Gretty'
le mother when her daughter is mar
a ried. She will not know where i
IS came from, and it will keep her il
/ comfort for years"
o "Gretty, my little sister" he sale
d when they were seated by the well
S "you won't see nor hear from you
g lover for two whole months. He i,
c well, and will be we'll He and
II are going together. 1t will be 70,
# your good-at least for yourmother's
n l cannot tell you more. Nay,
s. pray you do not ask. My mouth i,
sealed. You'll be true?"
e There were tears and prayers ant
e entreaties, yet Bernezell remained al
: firm as the rocks that lowered above
them but when he left next day tc
S seek his friend in the hills he car
ried with him Il lock of bonnie hail
s in tiny parcel, and beside it the
(! blue ribbon that had bound it.
: Rudolf was rejoiced at the idea O.
going to Paris, but couldn't he 90 tc
c see Gretty first? No, there was moi
an hour to lose. He must come al
r once or stay.
"Then I'll CO." said the young
/ man. Il can trust Gretty."
| "Gou may, indeed"
"And what deal I'll have to tell
her when do get back p
"Yes," said Bernewell, laughing.
, So away they went together oven
the hills.
1 Old Won Hausen was friend OF
!, Gretty's mother, Gretty's fatherand
r he had been inseparables. He came
t to the cottage now every day. He
read to the old lady and talked
t much with the daughter, His uni
: vesal themes were money and pov-
erty the pleasures the former could
) bring, the misery entailed by the
latter, He broached the subject
: nearest his heart first to the mother,
| and, strange or not strange, he gain
ed her consent to marry Gretty.--
Meanwhile weeks flew by, and there
was no word from Rudolf. Weeks
and month, and then two. Oh
what could have become of him !?
Was he false ? Impossiblel
But terrible storm with slight
shock of earthquake took place, and
all Gretty's goats appeared to have
stampeded during the night. At all