The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-02-09

cheeks aglow and her honest, earnest eyes
sparkling in most unusual manner. She
must have run all the way from the station,
for even after laying aside her cloak and
satchel, the words came with a broken,
fainting effort:
"Here | am, Herr Professoa, and here |
stay! l have come on the express train an
hour earlier. II could not stay longer,
because-because- and how has everything
gone on ?-and nothing has happened TO
your
Something ike ray of light flashed
over his face.
1But what was the Wild Man ?" he
asked in low voice.
Nothing at all of him y she cried in a
tone of unmistakable resolve; II have
nothing whatever to say against him, he is
strong and brave, and nice spoken enough,
and l have had hard struggle with my
brother; but will mott will not, because
[ can not y
A great contentment filled his eyes as
Ir.laoked at her, watching the effort she
sss 'sss,l.iag to control her excited feelings,
;snds he felt his oRapheart throbbing strange
f..es lnlt he weuld not ,ssd Just yet.
,'a a. y; slime; said DE seahs paa ssinaat
consent
"You ask me why!" she cried almost
angrily 1You know full well Herr Pro
fessor. can not because l will not go
away from you, let what may be my future J"
sGood SOUL" he said, ''can you believe
that l will permit such sacrifice p
"But it is no sacrifice !'' she exclaimed.
''It would be the greatest sacrifice should
l 60"
''Good p he said, with long deep breath.
''You shall remain and as to your future,
will this very day arrange all that |
have neither relations nor friends, Christine,
nearer to me than you-I have thought of
all this beforehand since it is probable
that 1 will die before you, l will see the
notary tomorrow and arrange all. You
will see, Christine, that | can provide for
your future that you"
"Hold, Professor p she interrupted, pas
sionately off you speak another word
like that I will indeed run away, and it is
not vet too late for the Wild Man p
"What vexes you, Christine ?" he asked
very gently ''you are nothing but foolish
child"
But the "foolish child stormed vehe-
mently. ''No, no; it is abhorrent! y she
cried. "Have L nothing to think of but
such things as that? What is my future
to me You shall know that all | desire
is to serve you, with no such thought as
YOU imagine [ will stay near you till you
are gone, and the dear God will not then
leave me desolate."
A light brighter than ever illuminated
his countenance, and over it all flashed
once more that glimmering resolve with
which he had returned from his walk.
He grasped her hand with a sudden emo
ton, and pressed it so long and tight that
Christine looked at him wonderingly and
doubtfully, shaking her head.
81 would heed your protest, said he, a
strange excitement discernible in his voice (;
'but there is yet another way in which you
might become my heir-a simple way
He paused, and she gazed at him grave
ly. Il pray you, professor, say not an
other word !" she said, ''else | must really
~
But be did not permit her to finish, for
he asked abruptly:
elbow old is the Wild Man p
"Forty-nine," she answered,
'Forty-nine !" he cried. 'Just my age.
And now look at me, Christine can l COM
-. Ill ,,,,4b Al VV;lJ Mar 0N
''But, Herr Professor" she cried with a
nervous little laugh, "what has that"
"What has that to do with it-you
would ask? Only this, Christine, that l
would say 1 have an older claim on you
than he, and would offer myself as COM
petitor with him. Yes, my true and faith
full Christine, here is my hand if it please
you, take it-but do not laugh-there will
be time enough to jest when all is settled.
Be earnest now, and tell me-
But she has hastily thrown her apron
over her face, and out of this ample hiding
place came the half-whispered words:
"Oh, Professor, Herr Professor am
smothered with shame-it is not possible
-
"Why is it not possible p he cried, seiz-
ing her hand and clasping it close within
his own. II know all you are thinking
about, Christine-of our sentiments
principles. It is true we can no longer
boast of these, but can we not exchange
them for something better-the resolve to
be true to one another instead of to them ?
And as for the time of life in which we
have both grown foolish-as for that
he continued half reamily-"there comes
to me, Christine, sweet mclnory Of long
ago. We once had winter so mild and
gentle that the violets bloomed in Decem-
ber, only think of it, Christine, violets in
December. 1t was spring in winter, and
that which has come to our hearts to-day
is likewise nothing less than spring-time
in winter.
The tears were in her earnest eyes, and
he felt now strong, earnest pressure on
the hand that held hers.
"Spring in winter" she murmured half
aloud, ''can such thing be?'
Need we carry this little history farther
Suffice it to say that the violets had indeed
bloomed in the winter of life; and they
shed their fragrance through all the after
wears over the two hearts that were soon
made one.
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