The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-17
FORTY YEARS AFTER.

Ions SIldlBnt, anu hIO1otoiIOuf
stretched the highway connecting the
scattered hamlets in a remote part OF
Holland. Shade there was none, the
only trees for miles around being the
tall poplars which seemed to look down
mockingly on the scOTched ground
Dazzlingly white and interminably
dusty the thread seemed to stretch be-
fore the dark blue eyes of a young man
who had been trudging along alone fol-
several hours, and who at last gladly
took advantage of the slight shade cast
by a pile of stones to throw himself
upon the ground by the roadside and
stretch his tired limbs as luXurlously as
the ~unfavoraDle circumstances would
allow.
There was nothing at first sight to
distinguish this wayfarer from many
others who passed over tue same high
way-frequently students from a small
university town not far distant-but a
close observer might have detected a
light in the tired eyes looking over the
dusty landscape which twenty years of
life do not often kindle, telling of
strength and power-the light before
which men Involuntary bow down as
showing a leader and ruler among them.
Only a few moments he gazed dream
fly over the uninteresting country, then
sought rest in another way. Drawing
from his pocket the pieces of a flute, he
quickly joined them together, and was
soon filling the air with strains of music
soft, low, tender and ~pensiye, as suited
his own WEAKNESS and the langour of
the sultry summer day. Despite the
energy, determination, and strength
marked in every feature Of his face,
this young man could be none other
than a musician, for neither the Unborn
genius was wanting nor the evidence OF
most careful and patient training.
He had long forgotten that he was
tired and hungry, that the road before
him was at least three inches deep with
dust, and the sun pouring down rays
which seemed fairly to scOrch every
thing they touched, when he was startled
in the midst of an impasslOned dnddate0 OF
Beethoven's, by a strange choking sound
behind HIM, something between a sol
and a sigh. Turning, he found, stand
ing a few steps from him, a young girl
with clasped hands and bent head-a
girl with hair fair as fax and eyes blue as
forget-me-nots growing in tue field close
by.
The young mar was on his feet In an
instant, WEAKNESS forgotten in the pre-
sence of so fair a companion; but the
half. saucy compliment he was about to
utter died on his lips as he saw a tear
stealing slowly down the delicately-
rounded cheek of the girl, who seemed
little more than a child.
"Ah, my child" he cried, with quick
sympathy, unwittingly speaking in Ger
man-his moeher-tongue-''yOu are in
trouble Can l help you 2"
"No, sir" said the girl softly in the
same language, raising her head and
gazing at the young mar with an limo.
cent W and reverence which touched
him deeply. 81 don't know what it is;
but your music-I can't tell if it is
gladness or sorrow. AS l heard you
play, the tears would come"
Are you so fond of music then,
child?" asked the young man, delighted.
81 don't think i was before, SIR
the girl answered simply. But l
haven't heard that kind of music"
"Won't you sit down here for a mo-
ment? l will play again if you wish;
but first you must tell me your name"
The girl took a place beside her COM
panion quietly and unhesitatingly.
MY name is Greta. And yours?"
Mine? HUM Fritz, Of course.
And you-are you en- angel dropped
from some passing cloud, or a fairy
risen from the earth, to appear SO sud
denly before me? | mean'-laughing
at her bewildered air" where did you
come from ?1
Il have been to the Chapel of Oul
Lady inDorf Sessin to count my beads
she answered slowly land then.
"And then ?" asked Fritz, looking
admiringly at the lovely innocent eye;
gazing dreamily into the distance while
he caressingly drew through his hands
one of the long Aaxen braids falling
over the girls shoulders and below hel
waist.
"And then l went into the WOOD
v there, and have been there evel
since"
doing what ?" Fritz persisted.
Gathering flowers to adorn your soft
pretty hair ?"
Doing nothing but lie on the grass
listening to the brook trickling by, and
watching the clouds sail past, and hear
ing what the birds sing to each other
for l understand almost all they say,
All, sir, it Is so quiet and peaceful ant
lovely there! l hope, when l die, they
will bury me there underline trees, CLOSE
by the water. Nowhere else could ]
rest so WELL"
WonCeringly Fritz gazed at this girl
so widely different from the rustic beau
ties he had met before on the high roads
Without a thought of the gay badinagI
in which he usually INDUCED on sucl
occasions, he almost r~everently tool
one of the unTesisting hands loosel.
clasped on the girls knees, as he SAT-
very gently
my child, you are too young yet t
think of death. A great many happ
years will pass, 1 hope, before you Ii