The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-18

Win MS gun on his shoulder. Yes:
I puI not before I've seen Grettv.''
once clear of the village. he took his
way hiliwards up the glen. HIGH up
~ me middle Of the mountain lights
"eie sieaming-it was now dark: thew
came from the windows of Grettv's
co''age' A very humble hut il was
,hough 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 A''''
Gretty ran to meet Bernezeu. and
took both his rough hands in her own
wee white ones. Was he not a friend
of her lover's9 She led him in. and
the old woman nodded. smiling. at a
stool near the bright, cheerful fire of
wood
Gretty had just dressed for the even
ing. and, very simple, but neat. was
her attire. She was slight and delicate
in form, with sparkling ewes and an
eager. pretty face.
She asked fifty questions of Bernezel.
nearly all on the same subject; and
when the chamois-hunter babe the
mother goodnight ut last, and went
away. he beckoned Grettv to follow.
He has something to tell me-" said
Gretty TO herself, her fair face flushing
with anxiety.
Very humble are the heroes of this
little tale. but in Grctty's eyes her Ru-
dolf was by no means humble. No
young man in all the glen was so tall,
fresh. and rosy. so stalwart and strong.
rs Rudolf, goat-herd though he was.
None had 50 beautiful voice. so white
brow, such glossy hair. None could
bound from crag TO crag or climb the
mountain steep axe in hand, so brave
ly As he did, and his wild glou-glou at
sunrise or sunset could be heard ring
ing high DER hill and glen, and re-
echoed, too. from peak to peak. And
Gretty, simple laSSie. loved him SO dear
" and devotedly.
There was sCimitar moon shining
through the pine tree-tops, and the
stars were all out, so there was light
enough to see the footpath that led 10
the wei. Here was a seat, and Berne-
zell did not say a word, anxious though
Gretty was, until he got there. The
truth is that this honest chamois-hunter
hardly knew what 10 say. or how much
he dare in fairness tell the girl
Probably he ought TO have thrown
the miser'S money in his face. and stig-
matizing him as a villain refused to
have anything to do with his plans and
schemes. But, he thought, ''if [
do, my friends life is not worth n DAYS
purchase. Murder has been committed
among these mountains before; an as
sassin Is easily hired. No, III take the
cash, and I'll keep Rudolf away for a
time. | shall not spend the Honev,
though | have brother in Paris who
VIII be glad to see us And the gold
ri send as a gift to Gretty's mother,
wheE her daughter is married. She
wi not know where it came from. and
it viii keep her in comfort for yeal 5 "
''Gretty, my little sister, he said.
zen they were seated by the well.
YOU won't see nor hear from your
lover for two whole months. He IS
well. and viii be well. He and l going
together. 1t viii be for your good-at
least. for your mothers. ! cannot tell
YOU more. Nav, | pray YOU do not
ask. My mouth is sealed You'll be
true2n
There We're taars and prayers and
entreaties, vet Bcrnezell remained as
them: but when he left next day TO
seek his friend in the hills, he carried
with him lock OF bonnie hair in tiny
parcel, and beside ii the blue ribbon
that had bound it.
Rudolf was reioiced az the idea of GO
ing to Paris. but couldn't he go to see
Gretty tirstP No. there was not an
hour 10 lose. He must come at once
to stay.
Then I'll go. said the young man.
81 can trust Gretty.
You may indeed.
And what deal I'll have to tell her
when | DO get back,
*'Yes, said Bernezell, laughing.
SO away they went together over the
hills.
Oh Won Hausen was friend of
Gretty's mother. Gretty's father and
he had been inseparables. He came to
the cottage now every day. He read
to the old lady, and talked much with
the daughter. His universal themes
were money and poverty; the pleasures
the former could bring, the misery en-
tailed by the latter
He broached the subject nearest his
heart first to the mother, and, strange
or not strange. he gained her consent
to marry Gretty.
Meanwhile weeks flew by, and there
was no word from Rudolf. Weeks and
a month, and then two. O, what could
have become of him? Was he false?
Impossible!
Bnt a terrible storm with a slight
shock of earthquake took place, and
all Gretty's goats appeared to have
stampeded during the night. At all
events, the doors were found open, and
the goats had fallen or been cast over a
precipice near the cottage. Near that
dear old well where she had phghted
her troth she must now sit and weep.
Ahi it was the mournful tale of Auld
Robin Gray repeating itself. For
Gretty's
Mother she fen siek;''
poverty stared them in the face, and
they were beholden to the charity of
Won Hausen, the miser.
BY night as well as by day Gretty
toiIed hard with her knitting needles.
Work was the only consolation, the
only relief, She could find. And her
face grew wan, and dark circles APP
peared about her wan face, and dark
circles appeared about her beautiful
eyes. What can be harder to bear than
grief and poverty. too9
Many months went by, and still no
lover returned
Won Hausen had heard he was dead ;
that did not add to Gretty's grief.
Some one else heard he was married ;
this was worse, but she bore it.
Meanwhile where were the truants?
Bernezell had found his brother all
ing, and at the end of a month medi-
cal men had prescribed a voyage to
Madeira. They would just get back
within five weeks, then they would both
return to the dear little cot among the
Swiss mountains, and Rudolf would
marry his Gretty. Here at Madeira,
BernezelIs S brother died.
I'VE are wealthy now, alasr' said
Bernezell, ''and Wen 20 shares"
The steamer that was TO have taken
them TO France was week behind time
One day, "Yonder she is,'' shouted
Rudolf, and of they both went, and
were bundled on board. The ship
STAYED but an hour, then steamed away
again, bound for the distant Cape.
They had toarded the sorong boatl
There came day when in the little
cot among the hills Gretty sat weeping
by her mothers bedside. and near her
stood Won Hausen. The doctor had
just gone. Nothing, he had said, ex-
cept a change could save the patients
life
Now, Gretty, my child, now or
neveri' cried the old man. ..Be my
wife. Give me the right to save your
mothers life. Gretty, be mine"
Gretty's mother did not speak, but
''She gazed in Gretty's face TIL her heart was
Ike to break"
Gretty stood up fearless now, but
with sad, pale face. She took her
mothers hand