The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-19
GRETTY'S TRUST.

Old Won Hansen sat on stone abou
half way up the Gulderhorn. Far abov
on each side of him rose the eterna
hills, their ice clad peaks of the presen
moment rosy-pink with the suns part
ing rays. But up from the green val
leys gray blue shadows were creepin.
and driving the pink away.
Far beneath him were hills and val
leys, village and lake, and stream
let meandering through dark pine
wood. Very beautiful, all of it. Bu
its beauty was entirely 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 and
past him, and round and round his
head.
Virtue always triumphant" he was
saying-"Pah! mere sentiment, mere
mOonshine."
The fact is, Won Housen had been to
the play in the village down Wonder
only the evening before. He had spent
no less a sum than twenty blatzen on
those strolling actors. Not for any
pleasure it was likely to give him, had
he gone, but Grettie, the prettiest GIRL
in all the village, had asked him to
take her. She could not 90 alone, she
said, and Rudolf would hardly return
from chamois hunting for days to come.
Virtue always triumphant? Yes.
that is what she said. Pah! naonev is
Ha! ha! And l have that. Oh! nv
worthy but poverty struck Rudolf, YOU
may return when you please; Gretty
will marry Won Hansen. Oldp Ehp
Who calls me old?
He took snuff as he spoke, from an
old horn, sending the powder home
with his finger point, and it must be
confessed he looked anything but hand
some as he did So for he wrinkled his
brows and twinkled his eyes, and leered
like an aged baboon.
''OldP Let me see; seventy last BIRTH |
day. Merely in my prime. Ten years
more and I'll be only eighty, twenty, |
and II be but ninety; then / may grow
old. Eagles renew their ages. Why
shouldn t-AhaI' he screamed, s.yon-
der is an eagle!'
He started up as he spoke, and with
eyes turned skywards and fingers point
ing up, began lettering forward step
by step towards-destructio A pre-
cipice fully five hundred feet deep Law
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 until his head sank I
within, like monks in his cowl, but ,
dragging that man back at the same !
time
Tired of your sinful life, old bird?'' t
SAID the newcomer, rough but good v
natured chamois-hunter, with Gun in t
hand and bag on back, morsel of fea- I
Their stuck jauntily in his hat, Just to S
show the village maidens, he used to u
say, that Bernezelr was still bachelor. C
"Old bird!' growled Van Hansen, s
reseating himself on his stone. "Who e
are you calling an old bird? You're as
bad as any one else. Humphr' n
We'll, say" said Bernezell, this ii
is gratitude! What are you going to a
give me for saving your neck, ehP" SC
"Neckp Whatp Oh, yes, to be sure. m
Wen go down to the village, and I'll p,
pay for pot of lager" a,
"A pot of lager!'' cried the other, So
laughing. SIS that all the value YOU c;
put upon your-Ha! ha! har' I'll
value i put upon my ha ha hal tn
W W nat dye mean? You're uncommonly W
like foolr' n
well, well, perhaps am; but say, w
riend' you're in fine temper tonight. wi
Any one been veXing you?' it
The old man grew all smiles and
GERS In moment. His face lighted up wi
ike withered melon with the after .sv
loon sun on it. fo,
mol" he chuckled, taking another wi
,lnch, and digging his friend in the ge
lbs. "Oh-the-contrary. Was at the lea
,lay, last night with Getty. Ha! hap vol
10! no! She dosn't mourn long for the ash
marry me.'' :
Marry you?" tire
LAY, she promised-that is, she will as
romlse when ! ask her. But now bu,
ONE along down and have the lager. frit
-eep your hands to yourself. Do You |,
pP" no,
81 beg thousand pardons, old bill +
ean you merry young grouse, youi goi
ere, say, hold on; don't leave me See
hind. Why, you go bounding along hor
re young stag" sta,
Young on the legs, eh?' :;
II should think you are 81
They were seated very shortly in the :.
llage tavern. They hadn't taken long :.
go down the hill. VIII,
And now," said Won Hausen, Pm =.
ing to unfold my plans. But here, S
s have another pint" hill,
What can the old heron mean" O
Uttered Bernezell to himself, ''by such Gre
,kless liberality? Something in the bee,
nd, know. The grey hawk doesn't tage
lstle IN he is gong to swoop. old
well, SAID van Hausen, chow is dau
dc, EN-! Got any bags latelyP" mon
Hardly any luck at all, " sighed the form
er. 'I'm stiff with jumping, and bv 4