Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-28

very German in type, with ireckied,
rather. fiat face, flaxcn hair, and gray
eyes. His countenance this afternoon
! wore on expression Of such transparent
dissatisfaction that IL could not fail to
attract the Professors attention.
"Isanything the matter, Herr MAXI
he asked, good humorcdly.
swell, yes something is the mat
ter. Are you going to the school
houseyr
81 am giving myself that pleasure"
~ started to walk there, too, but
have changed my mind and turned
back. There is some disagreesble
news which I should be obliged to tell
if I saw my aunt. Frau Mittnacht, and
have come to the conclusion that 1t
would be easier to write than to tell by
word OF mouth"
What is the disagrecable news, IT
one may ask?" The Professor, i'm
peded in his progress, made hali-in-
voluntary movement Of the hand TO-
ward a pocket containing a meer-
schaum.
"well, to tell the truth ''--the young
mans voice sank lower; he struck at a
stone with his cane" I'm turned out
OF Freitag's Office"
"In--deed The Professor raised
his eyebrows and pursed up his lips
his tone was half sympathetic, hall
vaguely condemnatory. WhyY
"Old Freitag chooses to complain OF
my unpunctuality. / won't deny,
with an amusing assumption OF frank
ness, " that hare been bit late on
one or two mornings, but "-resuming
his onslaught on the Stone it's hard
TO lose ones situation for so small
fault, and without word of warning.
OF course / have no redress, and the
worst Of the matter is that old Freitag
won't give me line of recommendation
TO another firm. Under the circum-
stances | don't see where | can find
employment. And '-dolefully-"em-
ployment means for me the necessary
means of livelihood"
Hum--that's bad !" The Profess
sor had lighted his meerschaum he
took it from his mouth, and looked
down on the young man, through OBJ
scuriDg smoke. Things do seem I'M
propitious, but we must hope for the
best, " he said with his kind smile.
There was no answer, unless shrug
Of the shoulders could be so called.
"Can l DO anything for your"
"Well, there's just something. AS
you are going to Frau Mittnacht's, |
should be very much obliged if you
would break to her the news of my dis
missal; she would take it better from
YOU, for whom she has so high a re-
! gard, than from me. And you would
be very kind, sir. fin a pleading
tone" you would just remark, in my
vindication, that you have heard old
Freitag spoken of as hard master. lie
does bear that character, as you must
know Herr Professor"
"Yes, | believe that he does. Twill
lay as much stress as possible upon this
harshness, in speaking to the Frau
Tante. No doubt she will regret your
treatment at his hands. But, after all,
it is of the Herr Pastor and his dis
pleasure that one thinks most in a case
like this
The "Herr Pastor" was Max's
father, minister of Lutheran church
in Ahnstadt.
The young man colored. "Why. |
don't know" he said, hesitatingly. ~
think that care most about the opinion
in which | am held at the school-house,
by-ny--aunt, and--and-by Fraulein
Kirby
Fraulein Kirby. a new name was
introduced into the discussion. The
Professor looked up quickly; there was
a change upon his face. A swift suspi-
cion entered his mind with flash; in a
moment it found egress through his lips,
:" Are you by chance engaged to Miss
Kirby" he asked abruptly.
The young man hesitated. "No, we
are not exactly engaged" he said,
falling back on his old occupation of
'but we have cared for each other,
and, as | believe. understood each
other, these two years and more. Till
lately | was not in a position to bind
myself or the Fraulein. But last
quarter my salary was raised, and my
prospects began to brighten. Then |
) resolved that on this day-the Frau
lein's fcte day. would speak out ;
would formally propose for her hand
and now" An angry gesticulation
= supplied the completion Of the SEN
: tence.
There was a short pause. " You
: believe the Fraulein would-would
have accepted you? " the Professor
said at last in suppressed voice.
II have reason to hope So"
Again there was silence. No word
, of congratulation or commiseration &C.
, Cured to Max's companion.
i must be going back to Ahnstadt,
said the young man at length. GOOD
| evening, Herr Professor, and thank you
, for your interest"
2 :" Bite, Sehr."
= Max's eyes turned wistfully toward
' the woodenho already visible among
t the trees. " You will find friends at my
: aunt's, )" he remarked, land my cousin
5 Bertha Weisse, a cousin whom | have
f not yet seen, will probably be there
i She was to arrive last night on visi
b, from Stuttgart. Good evening again.
a "Good evening"
l Of went Max. The Professor stooC
n still to watch his retresting figure;
: change had come over him; the air o
aIacrity with which he had started OF
r his walk had disappeared altogether
G the humming of Volkslied was
/ matter now utterly remote from hi
r thoughts. "What fool ] have been
;, But | never thought Of Max, neve
n once" he muttered, as he moved slow
s ly and mechanically toward his goal
!. His eye fell on the bunch Of violets il
G his hand; rather grim smile crosses
o his lips. "Poor little silent flowers
t he said to himself with sigh.
i At last the Professors destination
s was reached. The school-house was
}. long, low building, with carved door
}, way, surmounted by grinning head
. the front door, standing open, REVEALED