The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-10-12

hIm from the cnurcn; aooye MS neau
hung the pictured compassionate face
of the Mother of Sorrows. But Will
helm did not open his earS-did not lift
his head. Franz never mentioned
Gretchen. And II had not courage
to ask when the betrothal ceremony
would take place"
Still the organ pealed on. To Will
helms excited fancy it seemed like
the sound of marriage muSic-the
music which would one day sound for
the bridal of Franz and Gretchen.
.'Gretchenr' he cried. ''My Crotch
EN- y, how can bear it?'
Presently he grew quieter. What a
coward l ann be thought. THE
Englishman spoke of moral victory; he
meant, | suppose, victory over self.
Acb! that is hard victOry-the harder
perhaps, because no one knows and no
one praises. But can bear my pain
/ can, and / will"
There came 4 touch on his arm.
Looking up he saw. to bis intense sur
prise, that Gretchen was kneeling be-
side him; her face was lifted to his;
tears were in her bright eyes.
Wilhelm tried TO raise, but the de-
tanning touch was still upon his arm,
That it should have needed thisr'
the girl exclaimed paSsionately; ''that
il should have needed thy suffering
thy brave surrender of all thy heart
held deareSt-to teach me how entirely
loved thee"
"Gretchenr
The girl rose. She stood before
! Wilhelm, more beautiful than he had
ever seen her;a newly revealed tender.
ness transferring her face.
when first heard of Franz's dis
| tinctiOn," she said. Il rejOicrd: bui,
when the syhole village blszed mp a.
the tidings. | learned almost to hate,
him in my jealousy. For thought. of,
thee. And it seemed 10 me q drawer
AMI greater taing to bear pain and
loss. unnoticed and accomplishing, for
cOuntry's sake, than in the heat and
rush of battle to do some deed of des-
perate valor which should besrewarded
by lifetime of praise .g.-.- =
Wilhelm had risen. too. He looked
wonderingly into Gretchen 5 face. He
could not as yet grasp the whole
meaning of her words 1.-The charm OF her
presence dazzled and confused him.
''My heror' The girl canght his
right hand and held it to her breast, TO
R 1"Te ipi sn S "oE feayn ed thy 9S
realize the vanity and frivolity of my
,H1t liiffif,rII haFe leaEpsIiII 70 pFi77e thee
nrIhmifiou >reslchesd ME- fhis morning.
| am here to. answer it in person. If
nv love lrfs Inv value for thee STILL,
take it, for'-Gretehen's voice sank to
= whisBer--t'it is, thine .;..,,.u
h'Wfihelnftindetst6odh6w. The blood
mounted TO his fae4. his lips trembled,
Hush, Gretchen" he said. in a
strange, unsteady voice. Il can not
accept the sacrifice. must not let thy
pity blind thee to
..Pity-who dares pity theeI l am
not pitiful, but proud-proud of thy
f0rtitude. and thy patience But If
thou hast pity for me, and for my
MANY faultS-if thou carest for me
| still" > :.
Gretchen's voice broke. Wilhelm's
arm stole round her, her head rested
against his shoulder. he bent down
But in the midst of his rejoicing pain.
full remembrance occurred to him.
der arme Franz he exclaimed, with
a blank face o.
-"Franzi Don't be troubled for him. ~
said Gretchens reasSuring voice.
Franz is great man now--an officer.
He has passed out of our station
yours and mine. He will make new
friends and acquire new tastes. One
day he will pay his addresses to lady
| i'm his present rank Of life. Then he
will be -thankfnl-never doubt that he
will be thankfnl-that an insignificant
4 village maiden had diseernment enough
in the days of his new advancement to
decline 10 become his wife,
When Frau Bauer returned from the
Lust Gsrten she found guest at her
house, in the person of Gretchen Kell-
Rer. The girl remained for supper,
and amply proved her appreciation of
the excellence -ptthe- potato salad:
When the meal wss oSeg Wilhelm con-
Quoted her across the street TO her
home at the Fayorit Backerei. How
long q time the lovers consumed in
traversing the few yards, or how many
words they found to exchange upon the
way, it is not the business of this his
tory to inquire. As they were stand
ing together at the threshold Of Herr
Keilner's shop the. Englishman came
up at his swinging pace. He recog-
niZed his old acguaintance,s the Frau
leiH, and dotted his hat in salutation-
He saw Wilhelm, too, and took in at
once the change in. the young mans
| expression. The once sad fsce-was one
broad, beaming smile. .--is. go 2
> eS-or' exclaimed the EAglishn6sn
he had caught the German style of
ejaculation. Now, at last, unless I
: am very much mistaken, my friend.
the soldier, has uncontrovertibiy anf
consciously won peaceful victory
not Miltonic one, by-the,by-a VIC.
tory in love" .-.-.-.. 49,. :