Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20

hear from your lover for two whole months.
He Is well and will be we'll He and are
going together. Ii will be for your good-at
| least for your mothers. I cannot tell you more.
Nay. pray you do not ask. My mouth Is
sealed You'll be true?'
There were tears and prayers and entreaties,
yet Bernezell remained as firm as the rocks that
lowered above them; but when he left next
day to seek his friend in the hills he carried
with him lock Of bonnie hair in tiny parcel,
and beside il the blue ribbon that had bound it.
Rudolf was rejoiced at the idea of going to
Paris. but couldn't he go to see Gretty hrst3
No. there was not an hour to lose. He must
come ut once or stay.
Then I'll CO." said the young man. 1T can
trust Gretty."
You MAJ. indeed"
"And what deal I'll have to tell her when 1
do get back"
Yes" said Bernezell laughing
So away they went together over the hills.
Old Won Hansen was q friend of Gretty g
mother. Grettys father and he had been insep-
arables- He came to the cottage now every
day. He read to the old lady and talked much
with the daughter His universal themes were
money and poverty; 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
gained her consent to marry Gretty. Meanwhile
weeks flew by and there was no word from Rue
dolf. Weeks and month and then two. OH!
what could have become OF him2 Was he false?
impossible.
But terrible storm with a slight shock of
earthquake took place. and all Gretty's goats
appeared to have stampeded during the night.
At all events. the doors We're found open. and
the goats had fallen or been cast over prec-
pice near the cottage. Near that dear old well
where she had plighted her tfoth she now must
sit and weep. All, it was the mournful tale of
Aud Robin Gray repeating itself For Gretty's
''Mother she fell Sck;''
poverty stared them In the face. and they were
behOiden to the charity Of Won Hansen the
miser
By night as well as by day Gretty toiled hard
with her knitting-needles. Work was the only
consolation. the only relief she could find
And her face grew wan. and dark circles ap-
peared about her beautiful eyes. What can be
harder to bear than grief and poverty too?
Many months went by, and still no lover re-
turned Won Hansen had heard he was Dead
that did not add to Gretty's grief Some one
also heard he was married; this was worse. but
she bore it, Meanwhile where were the truantsp
Bernezell had found his brother ailing, and at
the end Of month medical men had prescribed
q voyage to Madeira. They would just get back
within five weeks, then they would both return
to the dear little cot among the Swiss noun
tains. and Rudolf would marry his Grettv
Here at Madeira Bernezelrs brother died.
1--WE are wealthy now, ALAS" said Bernezell,
land We'll go shares"
The steamer that was to take them to France
she ISL shouted Rudolf, and Off they both went
and We're bundled on board. The ship stayed
but an hour. then sailed away again, bound for
the distant Cape. They had boarded the wrong
boat
There came day when in the little cot among
the hills Gretty sat weeping by her mothers
bedside aud near her stood Won Hansen. The
doctor had just gone. Nothing, he had said.
except change could save the patients life
Now, Gretty. my child. now or never! :"
cried the old man. BE my wife. Give me the
right to save your mothers lite Gretty, be
mine"
Gretty's mother did not speak. but
'She gazed in Gretty's face till her heart was like
TO break"
Gretty stood up-tearless now, but with sad
pale face She took her mothers hand.
Give me the right to save your mothers life"
pleaded the mser once again.
''stay!" cried a manly voice. 81 have prior
claim" Next moment, with fond cry and
color in her cheeks once more, Gretty was
pressed to her lovers breast
That day three s-dinkle-dinkle-dang
went the village bells. Not pretty bells at all
indeed. ALWAYS thought they were pot-metal-
but how sweetly they sounded in Gretty's ears
She was going to church to be married. That
ends my story. as marriage ends all stories. Yet
one word: few years after this this the old
miser died and Rudolf found himself his heir.
AS some reparatiOn," said the will for evil
done and medtated."