Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-05-21

for sitting longer over the table; an
4 Fritz. who had for a moment relapse
into thoughtful silence, rose to his fee
5 with half sigh as he glanced at Greta
Then, turning to the landlady, he sal
quietly
at is growing late, Mutter van Tam
and L must leave you. VIII you ALLOW
me to send tomorrow some remem
brance of my pleasant visit and you
Kindness TO me ,as a Solrenir Of Frederic
Prince of Prussia ?"
For an instant the landIady stared
then laughed scornfully
"Ach, sir, you young gent .emen vii
have your jokes Wasn't there ON
here last week WHO told me he wa
King of the Cannibal Islan and mus
have baby's tender loin for his dinner
No, sir, Mutter van Tann hasn't los
her wits yet ~
''Oh, well, nslttter, it's no matter, any
way ~ laughed the young man. .Bu
it's high time l WAS showing YOU dom
intend making off without paying fo
the rGgom.
The landlady looked relieved, while
Fritz thrust his hand into one poke,
after another, finishing his search a
last with an exclamation of most com
ical CONSERVATION.
Upon my wora, could anything b,
more absurd? l haven't a penny any
where about me ~
For an instant Mutter van Tam
gazed speechless /; then, seeing that this
was not intended as joke,
| ssSwipIlar rascal ~, che
'But, m,tter," cried Fritz, almost
choking with laughter.
''Oh, you smooth-tongued, impuden,
scoundrel, 10 deceive and rob a pooI
widow who was fool enough to trust
you! You Prince indeed, you shabby
lying, rascally musician with lever q
penny to bless yourself ~
But, mlater," put in fearful plead.
ing voice, as a soft hand was laid on
the angry woman's arm. 81 am sure he
has lost his purse. He would never
''Greta, you are perfect fool Look
at him He hasn't even the decency
TO pretend to be ashamed of himself,
but stands there laughing, as if il were
the best joke In the world! Oh, the
/ villain-n
Just then the landlady's attention was
diverted by an unusual sight-the view
from the window of very handsome
travelling-carriage and pair of coal
black horses drawing up before the inn,
while an elegantly-dressed gentleman,
before whom the footmen bowed respect
fully, sprang from the carriage, and in
an instant was in the nn-parlor.
THANK Heaven ~ he began, as he
caught sight of Fritz but the young
man interrupted him hastily, speaking
in French and requesting to be addressed
in the same language.
Il knew you were in this neighbor-
hood" the newcomer continued, land
have been looking anxiously for you
since yesterday. There is bad news
from Berlin. Your father is very in
you are summoned to return Immedi-
ately. There is not a moment to be
lost ~
With hurried cry of dismay, the
young man started to his feet, and fol-
lowed closely by his friend, hastened
towards the door. On the threshold he
turned for an instant, with a farewell
glance at Greta, who was gazing at him
with a grief-stricken expression which
he never forgot.
"Adieu, Greta, he said gently, ''un-
til We meet again !"
The next moment the cloud Of dust
in the wake of the swiftly-departing
carriage was all that remained of Mutt
ter van Tann'S guest.
Forty years had passed. All Europe
was ringing with the glory and renown
of the warrior-King of Prussia. The
years which had sprinkled his hair with
silver had, in return, crowned him with
undying laurels, and the proud accla-
nations of grateful people had be-
slowed upon him the surname of
Great"
1t was one of the Kings few hours
of repose, when the ambitious visions
of the soldier and statesman were held
in check by the magic of music, which
up to the day of Frederic's death was
his keenest delight. Silently the great
monarch was lying on sofa in the mu-
sic-room st Sans Souci, listening dream
lily to the strains which his old music
master and friend Quanz was drawing
from the piano, where, at the Kings
desire, he was trying for the first time
collection of Scandinavian VokSlieder.
Motionless the King listened for some
time, then arose, and began slowly pac-
ing up and down the room as he spoke.
''Ah, Quanz, they are all very well !
But l have never heard one of these
songs which touched me so deeply as
one l heard years ago in Holland, but
which, to my regret, has completely
passed from my memory. l think you
have heard me speak of it before 2"
Yes. sire and, if you remember,
careful inquiries were made In Holland
for the inn and the family who lived
there at the time of your trip in that
country, with the hope of finding the
lost melody you so regret. But the inn
had been burnt down years before, and
no one could give any tidings of the
family"
"Yes. yes. Quanz-I know. 1t is
strange how the remembrance Of such
a simple song clings to me, though the
melody has long since so tantaliZingly
escaped my memory. 1 suppose 1 am
SclllLH Olu huo SuiluioL, OAo AAiOhos
Thank you; we will have no more mu-
sic TO day."
The old musician took his leave, and
Frederic stepped through the low win
dow out into the June sur shine, into
the luxur ant leafy beauty Of the gar
dens of Sans Souci. Old Quanz's Volk-
slieder had certainly had a depressing
effect upon the King, for an absent,
half melancholy expression had replaced
the usual sternness Of his face, and the
eagle eyes before whose terrible glance
thousands quailed were dreamy and
soft as he strolled away from the Palace,
sunk In that saddest and vainest Of re-
grets-regret for vanished youth
Half unconsciously, lost in RETROSPECT
ton, he directed his steps down one Of |
the side.alleys at some distance from
the Palace, and, turning an abrupt cor
ner, came suddenly and unobserved
upon a soldier who had thrown himself |
upon a bench, where he was reading a
letter upon which Frederic saw tears
slowly falling.
AT this sight the Kings face grew
hard and stern again and, with low
eripp brows. he stopped before the un.