Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-20
GRETTYS TRUST.

Otu Won nhuben sat on n stone ABOUT nAil
way up the Gulderhorn. Far above and on
each side Of him rose the eternal hills, their
ice clad peaks at the present moment rosy
pink with the suns parting rays. But up
from the green valleys grsy-blue shadows
were creeping and driving the pink away.
Far beneath him we're hills and valleys, a
village and lake, and a streamlet meauder.
ing through q dark pine wood. Very beauti.
full, all Of it. But it's beauty was entirely
lost upon Won Hauseu 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 scenery than did any OF
those bats that, like birds Of evil omen, went
sweeping past him and past him, and round
aud round his head,
Virtue always triumphant" !" he was say
ing-"Pah mere sentiment, mere moon
shine"
The fact is, Won Hsuseu had been to the
play Ia the village down yonder only the
evening before. He had spent no less sum
than twenty bstzen on those strolling actors.
Not for any pleasure 1t was likely to give him
bad he gone, but Gretty, the prettiest girl in
all the village, had asked him to take her.
She could not 20 alone, she said, and Rudolf
would hardly return from misunderstanding
for days to come.
Virtue always triumphant Yes, that is
what che said. Pah ! money is. Ha ha !
And have that Oh my worthy but pow
erty-stIuck Rudolf, you may return when you
please Gretty will marry Won Hansen. Old /?
Eh Who calls me old 2"
He took snuff IS be spoke from an old
horn, sending the powder home with his fin-
ger point, and it must be confessed that he
looked anything but handsome as be did so,
for he wrinked his brows and twinkled his
and 1aared Eka ~
"Old? Let me see; 10 last birthday.
Merely in my prime. Ten years more and
I'll be only so twenty, and I'll be but 30 !;
then l may grow old. Eagles renew their
age. Why shouldn't-Ahal !" he screamed
''yonder is an eagle :"
He started up as be spoke, and with eyes
turned skyward and finger pointing up, be-
gan totteripR forward step by step, toward
destruction. A precipice fully 900 feet
deep lay at his feet. He was on the brink of
1.-THE next step would have been his last.
But rough hand seized him by the coat
collar, pulling it up till his head sank within,
like monks in his cowl but dragging the
old man back at the same time.
Tired of your sinful life, old bird ?" said
the newcomer, rough but good natured
on back, a morsel OF leather stuck iauutiy
in his hat-just to show the village maidens,
he used to say, that Bernezell was still
bachelor.
"Old bird :" growled Won Hausen, reseat
ing himself on his stone. "who are you
calling an old bird ? You're as bad as any
one else. Humph!"
"well, Isay," said Bernezsll, "this is graf
itude. What are you going to give me for
saving your neck, eh ?"
Meek? What? Oh, yes, to be sure
Well go down to the village, and I'll pay for
a pot of lager"
"a pot of lagerl" cried the other laugh
ing. rs that all the value you put upon
your-Ha hal haI'
''Value put upon my ha-ha-ha? What
dye meant You're euncommonly like fool ~
well, well, perhaps l am but say,
friend, you're in fine temper tonight. ANY
one been vexing you ?"
The old man grew all smiles and leers in a
moment. His face lighted up like a vither-
ed melon with the afternoon sun on it.
mol" he chuckled, taking another pinch,
and digging his friend in the ribs. "On-
the-coDtrary. Was at the play last night
with Gretty. Hal hA Hol hol She
doesn't mourn long for her hunter. And look
here, she's going to marry me-"
Marry you'll"
"Ay, she promised-that is, she will prom
Use when ask her. But now come along
down and have the lager. Keep your hands
to yourself. Do you think want your as
sistance to get up2"
Il beg thousand pardons, old bill mean
you merry young grouse, you Here, 1 say
hold on don't leave me behind. Why, you
go bounding along like a young stag"
Young on the legs, eh ?"
~ should think you are"
They we're seated very shortly in the viii
lage tavern. They hadn't taken long to go
down hill
And now" said Won Hausen, "Tm going
to unfold my plans. But here, let us have
another pint"
"What can the old heron mean ?" mutter-
ed Bernezell to himself, "by such reckless
iberality Something is in the wind know
The gray hawk doesn't whistle till he's Just
going to swoop."
"Wen," said Won Hausen, land how is
trade, eh ? Got good bags lately ?"
Hardly any luck at all, sighed the other I;
I'm stiff with Jumping, and haven't bag
ged buck for FIVE days"
Wouldn't mind having spell of pleas
ure, dare say ?-couple of months in France,
now2 Come, come, you're not drinking.
Wen have another pint. Money was made
to spend. Drink and be merry. you young
dog, you, / say"
When quite unfolded, Won Hausen's plans
we're somewhat as follows: Bernezell was to
meet Rudolf in the hills aud prevent his re-
turn for a couple of months at least He
was on no account to come near the village
for that time, nor see Gretty, to whom he
was betrothed. The ''old bird" as Berne-
zell called him, was to pay all expenses, but
the young man must be kept in Paris, in the
uAdst of gayety, aud must never for mo-
ment be allowed to think of home Nor
must he write, or when he did his letters
we're 10 be destroyed.
Suppose" said Bernezell, "he misses his
foothold among the mountains and tumbles
into q orevasse 2"
The old man positively rubbed his hands
and cackled with delight.
Capital capital capital" !" was all he
could say. "Ha! hal ha Capital! Vir-
tue is always triumphant in the end He I!
hel"
Bernezell smiled in his face as he said
"0t all the old sinners that ever lived"
"Eh eh2 What's that ?" cried Won Hau-
sen, who had not heard him.
81 said you were right merry old soul, ="
shouted Bernezell.
'Ha hal Yes, merry, but not so old,
you know"
That very night this missrly Won Hausen
COuutou Out 70 DoFuclell Ouo DJ ono tue pA6coh
of gold for the ohamois- hunter was TO start
early next day.
81 declare" said Won Hansen, sit is like
buying a wife. Precious expensive affair.
But can trust you"
"Certainly. Virtue you know. is always"
go on go on !" cried Van Hausen.
"Good night. Go home and sleep"
go home and sleep indeed, said BeTne-
zell to himself, as be trudged OF with his
gun on his shoulder. Yes but not before
I've seen Gretty."
Once clear of the village he took his way
hillward up the glen. High up in the middle
of the mountain lights were gleaming-it was
now dark they came from the windows OF
Grettys cottage. A very humble hut it was,
though very pretty and rustic Gretty lived
here with her mother, tended the goats and
looked after the dairy, for the old woman
seldom left her chair all day.
Gretty ran TO meet Bernezell, aud took both
his rough hands in her own wee white ones
Was he not friend of her lover'ep She led
him in and the old woman nodded smiling