Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-21

ried Lorchen'a father and mother and
baptized Lorchen herself, gave only q
short address; but it was all the more
impressive for that, and we were all very
much touched by it. When the cere.
hony was over l helped the sobbing
bride to take off her wreath of myrtle
and put on very large hood. which
was part of the peasants costume, such
is used to be worn about here, which
she was going to wear as a disguise.
The poor mother was speechless with
grief, aud seemed quite dazed at the
prospect of losing her beloved daughter.
meanwhile Karl Dernau, who had
also dressed himself like peasant, had
brought q poor, miserable one.horsed
covered cart to the door of the chapel,
and, after the most heartrending
leave-takings, Lorchen was lifted in,
weeping bitterly. The night had grown
pitch.black by this time; the lightning
flashed, and the thunder rolled in the
distance; but under cover of the dark.
ness the pair safely effected their escape
across the neighboring frontier, to where
the French had not yet gained footing.
Lorchen passing for sick peasant girl
who was being taken to some famous
wonder working doctor. As Karl Der
nau drove off on his strange wedding
journey he looked 80 brave and tender
and self.reliant that we who were left
behind felt reliant that our little bird
would be safely hidden in her nest with
him for her protector. Two years
passed, and in the mean time had been
married in regular, ordinary way, in
broad daylight, with bridesmaids and
wedding breakfast, and without any of
the uncanny romance which had at.
tended Lorchen's wedding. Still. who
knows whether the mere fact of our
having taken part together in this ro-
mautic affair did not lead to our own
marriage? Be this as it may, it is quite
certain that the next time Fritz Berger
aud found ourselves inside the little
chapel it was for our own wedding.
"After time things went better in
the town, and as the French were less
favored by these in authority, it was
thought safe for the fugitives 10 come
back; aud, as by the death of his father,
Karl had become the owner o. the
house Lorchen's parents had rented
the very house we are in to.day-they
came and settled here, and her mother
with them, and all lived happily to-
gether. How happy we were to be
together again! And the very first
time we had o quiet hour, Lorchen told
me the story of her betrothal, which
I had never properly understood till
then.
"'You see, Christel,' said she, you
and were very intimate, and you did
know all my secrets-almost; but you
did not know that l had cared for Karl
for long time past. | was ashamed to
confess it either to you or myself. But
when he came to the cellar window that
dreadful day, just when l was in the
greatest danger, and drove it in-I was
too dazed to dare to open it myself-and
when he lifted me up, and before
knew we'll where l was, took me into
the cellar of his own house; well, then l
knew did care for him. and began to
cry. And then he sat down by me and
quietly took hold of my hand, and when
l was able to speak thanked him and
begged his pardon for having made such
fun of him before. You can guess what
followed. Our betrothal was not very
romantic. Christel, for we sat upon an
old sugar chest, and my dress was torn
and dusty, and the air Of the cellar was
damp and musty. But what did we
care for that? There were roses all
around us, and We were in Elysium, and
as for the romance, we had enough be.
fore the day was out to last whole life.
| time.'
"This was Lorchen's confession, and
we both thanked heaven for making us
so happy and bringing us together again.
We were happy, indeed, and this helped
US to bear our daily cares; for we were
ty, and the clouds hung thick and black
over the political sky. There were no
christening feasts when our little ones
were baptised. and, in spite of our real
happiness, good many tears fell upon
the little heads. But at last there was
a change. Suddenly it was as if fresh
wind had begun to blow. No one knew
whence it had come; but il was there,
and we all felt invigorated by it. Lore
md l, too, soon noticed that there was
great deal going on behind the scenes,
which gave us plenty of food for won-
der and conjecture. Wagoners. who
did not look at all like wagoners. were
constantly bringing heavy loads of msr-
chandise to Karl, and my Fritz, who
was q lawyer, and had naturally nothing
to do with such matters, was always
present at the unloading, and helped to
4 - I'll
as 1t was dusk. 1t was quite clear that
there were some secrets which our hus.
bands were keeping from us, aud after
bearing it patiently for awhile, we de-.
termined TO put An end to such an un-
natural state of things:
"Well, we found Il al ont, and learned
that Karl and Fritz were members Of 9
secret league which had brsnches every
vhsre throughout Germany, and was
forned y deliver ths fatherlaad from
&.