Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-31

to Gretchen-not without a touch of native
poetry-of his love and longing; he had
addressed her boldly as Herzliebchen,
and held her hand imprisoned in his own /;
protestations on her part, had only been
/ few and faint And now it was all over
| the glorious time of his young love and
hope!
Guten Abend," said loud, pleasant
/ voice, speaking with foreign accent. A
customer had entered the shop, and Will
helm sprang to his feet to receive him. 1t
was the Englishman from over the way,
who, now that his days work was over,
was setting about his recreation IN busl-
ness-like. energetic fashion, characteristic
of his countrymen. The Lust Garten, with
its inducement for killing time, had little
charm for him be purposed brushing away
| certain mental cobwebs, which his seden-
tary occupation sometimes allowed to
gather, by long, quick walk into the
country. He would sup at some wayslde
inn, he thought, and return to Weindorf
by moonlight. The fruit at Frau Bauer's
attracted his notice: he stood now, filling
his pockets with pears and green figs, to
eat on the way
The Englishman was a long-limbed, Wig
orous fellow, with plain, intellectual face,
full of animation and vitality; he had
bushy eyebrows, grey eyes, fair hair, and
long brown beard. Halloow he ex-
claimed, lapsing into his own language, as
the young soldier met his eye, in place of
the old woman, whom he had expected.
Then, as q new thought struck him, he
went on--this time in his counterfeit Ger
man" Are you the Weindorf hero of
whom have heard so much these last few
days?
Wilhelm colored. The Englishman had
not long been an inhabitant Of Weindorf,
and, as stranger, his ignorance concern
ing individual villagers could readily be
excused.
mo, sir, have done nothing heroic
nothing at all. The Weindorf hero, as
you call him, is Franz Muller"
Gerviss-that is the name; l heard 1t
from Fraulein Kellner. Wilhelm WINGED.
'Well, Herr Franz showed himself of the
right sort, eh?'
"Of very brave sort, Herr Kunstler."
"And well earned his honors?'
I" Very well-nobly.n
Wilhelm spoke up stoutly, but the latent
sadness of his voice was not lost upon his
nearer. who looked inquiringly down into
the young mans face. The Englishman's
politics were not very clearly defined, but
he called himself radical; at least he
concerning ultimate appeals 10 physical
force. His own theolies-if he had any =
for the settlement of differences between
nations were too advanced for warlike
conservative Germany: he discreetly kept
them to himself The look in the soldiers
face of patiently-borne suffering-suifering
mental as well as physical-touched him.
the more so, as he half-guessed its cause
he laid his hand kindly On the young
mans shoulders.
$50 You are not the Weindorf hero
Well, your chance of achieving heroism is
not over yet"
Not over, sirn' Wilhelm spoke in al
most an injured tone; he glanced down at
his crippled arm.
Assuredly not War doesn't provide
the only opportunity surely for displaying
courage and self-sacrifce, the qualities
which make up heroism. You haven't
read Carlyle on heroes, not likely, even in
a German translation. But Milton says.
You have heard of Milton, by the by"
"Oh, yes, Father Andreas taught me
about him He was a great English poet
nicht?-and he wrote Paradise Lost
Precisely. And Milton said in his SON
net to Cromwell the Englishman trans
lated the lines into rough literal German
Peace has her victories moi less renowned
than war Her victors are intellectual and
moral victors. You may be one of them
why not Now give me my change please
fifteen kreuzers-thanks. Good evening"
The Englisman departed abruptly as he
had come. Wilhelm watched him briskly
mounting the steep street, under the slow
mounting moon. The visitors words had
not proven fruitful of consolation, but the
kindness of their intention was manifest
enough.
II was Gretchen who told the English
man about Franz" Wilhelm reflected as he
made his way through the shop to his sit
ting-room.
A shadow came between him and the
light Lifting his eyes, he saw Franz
standing before him, with difiident look
on his handsome, bronzed face.
Wilhelm gave the newcomer military
salute You here, Herr Lieutenant ~ he
exclaimed. =" There-I have actually re-
membered to call you by your title. l
feared that it would be difficult to remem-
Der at first"
Il don't want you to remember re-
sponded Franz.
AT least, | can't forget-no one who
knows you will ever forget how you won
your title. You must let me thank you,
Franz'-the familiar name slipped out,
and Wilhelm did not recall it-'for the
honor which you have brought upon the
regiment"
The young officer responded briefly He
had not come here for a tribute of thanks
or praise; its reception troubled him. He
looked down upon his comrades face
blanched and saddened by illness and i'm
prisonment, and words in which to convey
his sympathy were difficult to be found.
His emotions'-as an American author
l. cal unto -to,y, n1 n
chamber of his heart, remote from the por-
tails of speech; - he feared now to appear
impertinent or patronizing.
What are you going to do with
your future?" he blurted out at last. His
bluntness went straighter to his compan
ions heart than any elaborate expression
of sympathy could have gone.
There will be no great change. Father
Andreas was here this morning; he says
that ! am to keep my old position as sacris-
tan, with boy to do the heavy work Ny
wages will be reduced, but an army pension
is to be given me, and will make up the
deficiency. And when Granny gives up the
business-she talks of retiring soon-I am
to succeed to the stock in trade
Franz drew forward chair, and seated
himself, but his conversational huency did
not increase. " How familiar the place
looks One forgets that he has been away,
he said at length, glancing round the little
room, with its well-worn table and chairs,
with the print of the Madonna, with the
bowl of potato salad set ready for supper
on the old armoire.
Yes, one forgets-sometimes The
response was not emphatic.
viii you smoke, Herr Lieutenant ?"
No, thanks. ] must rising, with
start, betokening selfreminder-"b be going
on to the Lust Garden; the Herr Major is
expecting me. only looked in for little
moment on my way. Good evening"
Good evening. Thank you for your
visit"
"Ich bite"
When Franz was gone, Wilhelm flung
himself upon his bench, and buried his
face in the cushions. His self-composure
had been perfect while his visitor was
present, but now that he was alone, the
contrast between his own lot and that of
Franz occurred to him, with fresh sense
of pain He was tired and weak, and the
suddenness of the interview had unnamed
him. The sound OF sacred music and of
singing voices was borne in upon him from
the church above his head hung the pict-
ured compassionate face of the Mother of
Sorrows. But Wilhelm did not open his
ears-did not lift his head. Franz never
mentioned Gretchen, And II had not
courage to ask when the betrothal cere-
mony would take place"
Still the organ pealed on. To WilhelTl's