St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-26
GRETTrS TRUST.
A Romance of the Swiss Mountains.

each side Of him rose the eternal hills, their
Ice-clad peaks at the present moment rosy
pink with the SUMS parting rays. But up
from the green valleys gray blue shadows
we're creeping and driving the pink away.
Far beneath him were hills and valleys,
village and lake, and streamlet mean
aering through a dark pine wood. Very
beautiful, all of it. But its beauty was en-
hrely lost upon Won Hansen as he sat there
Oh his stone thinking aloud, after the man
ner Of solitary men who are well up in years.
He cared no more for the scenery than did
any OF those ba Is that, like birds Of evil
omen, went sweeping past him aud past him
and round and round his head.
''Virtue always triump hantl'' he was say
Ing-"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 sum
than twenty bstzen on those strolling actors.
Not for any pleasure it was likely to give him
had he gone, but Gretty, the prettiest girl in
all the village, had asked him to take her.
She could not go alone, she said, and Rudolf
would hardly return from chamois hunting
for days to come.
s'Virtue always triumphant Yes, that is
what she said. Pahl money is. Hal hal
And have that. OH my worthy but pow
erty struck friend Rudolf, you may return
when you please; Gretty will marry Won
Hansen. Oldl Eth? Who calls me old?'
lie took snuff as he spoke from an old
horn, sending the powder home with his
hnger-point, and it must be confessed he
looked anything but handsome as he did so,
for he wrinkled his brows and twinkled his
eyes and leered like an aged baboon.
sod? Let me see; seventy last birthday.
Merely in my prime. Ten years more and
III be only eighty; twenty, and I'll be but
ninety; then may grow old. Eagles renew
their ages. Why shouldn't-ahal' he
screamed, ''Yonder is an eagler
He started up as he spoke, and with eY es
turned skyward and finger pointing up, be-
gan lettering forward step by step towards
destruction. A precipice fully 500 feet deep
lay at his feet; he was on the brink Of it
the next step would have been his last.
But rough hand seized him by the coat
collar, pulling it up till his head sank within,
like monks in a cOwl, but dragging the
old man back at the same time.
''Tired of your sinful life, old bird7" said
the new conner, rough but good natured
chamois hunter, with gun in hand and bag
on back, a morsel of feather stuck iauntily
in his hat, just to show the village maidens,
he used to say, that Bernezell was still a
bachelor.
''Old birdp' growled Won Husen, reseAt-
ing himself on his stone. ''Who are you
calling an old birds You're as bad as any
one else. HumpI''
''Well say" said Bernzel, "this is
gratitudel what are you going to give me
fer saving your neck, eha''
''Necks What! Oh, yes, to be sure.
Well go down TO the village, and I'll pay for
pot of lager.''
"a pot of lagerl" cried the other, laugh
ing. SIS that all the value you put upon
your-- Ha! hal hal
''Value put upon nay ha-ha-hai What
dye means You're uncommonly like a
foolp'
"Well, well, perhaps 1 am; but 1 say,
friend, you're in temper tonight. Any
one been vexing your"
The old man grew all smiles and leers in
moment. His face lighted up like withered
melon with the afternoon sun on IL.
"Now he chuckled, taking another pinch,
and digging his friend in the ribs. "On-
the contrary. Was at the play last night
with Gretty. Hsl ha hol ho She doesn't
mourn long for her hunter. And look here,
she's going to marry me.'
''Marry youl''
LAY, she promised-that is, she win pro-
mise when l ask her. But now come along
down and have the lager. Keep your hands
to yourself. Do you think want your assist
Rnce to get up7''
81 beg thousand pardons, old bl-I mean
you merry young grouse, you! Here, say,
hold on; don't leave me behind. Why, you
go bounding along like a young stage
young on the legs, chg
81 should think you are"
They were seated very shortly in the viii
lage tavern. They hadn't taken long to go
down hill
''And now," said Won Hansen, ''rm go
Ing to unfold my plans. But here, let us
have another pint"
''What can the old heron mean" NUT
tered Bernezel to himself, "by such reckless
hberalityl Something in the wind, know.
The gray hawk doesn't whistle till he is Just
going to swoop."
''Well," said Won Hansen, sand how is
''Hardy any luck at all, - signed the other,
'I'm stiff with jumping and l haven't
bagged buck for five days"
wouldn't mind having a spell of pleas
ure, dare say! couple of months in France,
nows Come, come, you're not drinking.
Well have another pint Money was made
TO spend. Drink and be merry, you young
dog, you, say"
When quite unfolded, Won Hausen's plans
were something as follows: Bernezell was TO
meet Rudolf in the hills and prevent his re-
turn for couple of months at least. He was
on no account to come near the village for
that time nor see Gretty, to whom he was
betrothed. The sold Bird" as Bernezell
called him, was to pay all expenses, but the
young man must be kept in Paris in the
midst of gayety, and must never for a mo-
meut be allowed to think of home Nor
must he write, or when he did his letters were
10 be destroyed.
Suppose" said Bernezell, che misses bis
foothold among the mountains and tumbles
into a crevasse2'
The old man positively rubbed his hands
and cackled with delight.
"Capitall capital lcapitalp' was all he could
say. "Hal hal hai Capital Virtue is always
triumphant in the end. Hell Hep
Pernezell smiled in his face as he said:
'Of all the old sinners thatever lived"-
sch! En-? What's thatl" cried Won Hansen,
who had not heard him.
81 said you were right merry old SOUL
shouted Bernezell.
''Hal ha! Yes, merry, but not so old, you
know
That very night this misery Won Hansen
counted out to Bernezell one by one the
pieces OF gold, for the chamois hunter was TO
start early next day.
81 declare" said Won Hansen, SIT is like
buying wife. Precious expensive affair;