River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-01-14
"KATHRINA."

"KATHRINA."
One evening, in the far-Off Father
land, as she leaned over the gate and
waited for the coming of the red
checked and flaXen-haired Fritz, she
shyly whispered to herself,
'.In a little time we shall be married.
I My mother will live with us. and Fritz
will whistle and win sing all day long
in our happiness. All! Fritz!So, jolly!
So honest! So truthful! Was ever
another boy like him?''
Her heart beat faster Is she heard
the echo of his wooden shoes on the
hard path, and She threw open the gate
and ran halfway down to meet him.
"What! Are you i'll, Fritz"
NO"
I'm trouble?'
'No."
"But something has happened?'
He led her to the bench under the
old pear tree, and with his arm about
her he explained that he was going
away across the oceanic America.
He could make little money in Ger
many could make a fortune in
America. The idea desperation griev-
ed him more than he could tell, but it
. would not be for long, In a couple of
years-in three at most-he would
come back to claim his bride. And
so he talked and argued and pleaded,
and with her heart almost choking her,
and her eyes so full of tears that she
could not see his face in the moon light,
Katrina whispered,
You shall go, and shall wait for
you. I shall wait two years-three
-fve-forever. ! believe in you as in
my God. "
In week Fritz was on his way, and
if Katrina's blue eyes were never clear
of tears, his heart was never free from
pain.
BY and by letter came from him
then another and another; and for q
year Katrina was happy. He had
found work, and was doing well. He
loved her with all his soul--he would
work and save, and return to her.
And the days made weeks, and the
weeks made months of the second
year The letters did not come so
often. and there was somethingi in their
tenor which provoked anxiety.
'Ah! but he is so busy, and perhaps
he is very tired Katrina 5 old mother
would say. Fritz is faithful and true
be PATIENT
When the weeks were running into
months of the third year. Katrina was
an orphan. Letters from Fritz now
came only at such long intervals
that her soul was sick with the waiting
and hoping. He still claimed to love
her, and he still hoped to return for
her, but he had been ill-was out of
wOrk-had met with q loss-always
something to put the time farther
away.
"Why not?f she suddenly asked
herself one evening, as she sat under
the same pear tree. ut is a hard task
poor Fritz has taken upon himself. l
will tighten his labors. He cannot
come TO me, but | will go TO him. Let
the world talk. We love each other
we are to be man and wife"
a month later Katrina was walking
the streets of the city in which her
Fritz was living. She did not know
his abiding place, but she would walk
and walk she would inquire of every
kind-faced man-she would find Fritz.
He would be so glad, and they would
be so happy; and the thought of it
brought such smiles to her face that
men turned to look and wonder.
One-two-three days of weary and
fruitless search, but she was not dis
Outraged. On the fourth day. as she
wandered up and down, her heart sud-
denly stood still. Out from a side street
came her Fritz. Yes, she would know
him among ten thousand. The same
red cheeks-the same flaXen hair-the
same smile of good-nature.
"Fritz-O Fritz! 1t is lit is your
own, loving Katrina
JOY must have blinded her for the
moment, for she did not see that he
had company-that a woman walked
beside him, and looked up into his
face as only wife can look.
Katrina stood before them. She
looked from one to the other, and her
woman's instinct told her the truth.
Fritz had played her false. He was
married. White-faced, trembling, heart
broken, she looked into his eyes. He
was pale. but firm
Fritz! 0 Fritz she gasped.
Il DO not know yOu!n he replied.
And this is my Fritz my lover my
pledged husband,'
Woman, move out of our path!'
She obeyed Straight before her
was the river. Chrushed and dazed,
and walking as one in her sleep, she
walked on and down to the wharf.
The swift, deep waters were at her
feet
She turned and looked back to tie
spot where she had encountered her
faithless lover.
Poor Fritz-perhaps it was best!'
the poor girl murmured.
Next moment the fierce tide was
bearing her body away, and the heart
which had kept faith so long and trust
ed so well was stilled in death.
''My son, when you go to the city, get
Won q Ricvela soma tight DautS Soma