Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-21

pout uer rosy lips anu say:
"'I'm sure l don't want him, Christel;
he's bear
swell. you know, bad times came for
poor Germany. The French conquered
us, and the king and beautiful Queen
Louisa had to fly with their children,
and il seemed as though we should all
become French subjects. 1t was bad
time for usin our little town, for the
authorities favored the enemy, and we
were disturbed by sounds of lighting all
around US. All, it was terribly sad! for
all prosperity was at an end, and we
spent our days in misery and anxiety
Poor Lorchen had, too, a specialltrouble
Of her own, for accounts of the wild
doings of the French reached us from all
sides, and it was said that they had q
very rough-and.ready way of courting.
for If German girl took their fancy
they just sent their soldiers to carry her
of, and then took her away with them
to the war. We were constantly hear.
ing of deeds of violence and robbery,
and the laws, being administered by the
French or their adherents, afforded us
no redress or protection whatever.
What could we do? People hid their
valuables as far as they could in hollow
trees, behind walls, or in the ground,
and whenever any Frenchman was
known to be in the neighborhood they
hid their wives and daughters as we'll.
Poor Lorchen had the hardest time OF
all, for her mother was so nervous that
she was alway seeing danger, and she
uei sfad IN fha moor nsr1 syacd;nD xbo
greater part of the day down in the eel.
lar, and many an afternoon spent there
too. keeping her company.
''Look," said I, ON one of these occa-
sions, you can see straight into neigh.
Dor Dernaus garden through this little
window"
.But Lorchen blushed and turned her
head without answering. One Whitson
eve, lovely May day. just like to-day,
q number of the enemy's troops passed
through the town, and of course Lore
had to sit in the cellar and get through
the day as best she might. As soon al
the terrible 'Parlevoughs, as we called
them, had all gone through and out ol
the town gate, the captive was let out,
and what must the silly girl do but &c
to the sitting.room window and lean out
After being in prison so long she en-
joyed the sweet Spring air doubly, and
it amused her to watch what was going
on in the street. But misfortune never
slumbers; and, as it fell out, o young
French officer came past leading his
horse by the bride and looking for 9
blacksmith, as the animal had cast q
shoe. He had no sooner caught sight
Of the lovely little head among the
roses which clustered round the window
than he threw the reins to boy and
dashed up the steps like madman. II
did not take him minute, but Lore was
as quick as he, and slipped back into hel
hidlng-p place. Still, where was the use
Of that, when the Frenchman had seer
her and was bent upon finding her.
Il want to see the pretty demoiselle,
he cried in his broken German and he
insisted upon searching FIRST all the
rooms in the house, then the garrets and
finally the cellar. 1t was useless to say
him nay, for he was master of the situa
ton, and Lorchen's poor mother followed
him down the cellar stairs trembling.
"But, wonder of ali wonders, the nest
was empty, the bird had flown! Find
ing therefore, that his search was vain
the young officer fl w into a rage, ant
snatching up little ivory miniature o.
Lore, dashed out of the house, vowinf
that he would be back next day with .
whole squadron aud stay till the girl wa.
found. As soon as he was gone Lore'i
mother sank down in chair and burs
into tears, feeling utterly bewildered
and altogether at her wits end. Bu
she had not wept long when her neigh
Dor, young Dernau, made his appearance
and, to her extreme surprise, asked he
with all due form and ceremony to ac
cept him as suitor for her daughter
hand.
'Ach Z cried the poor woman, Lor
chen is gone-clean gone; she is not il
her hiding; and if l could find her to
day, where's the use. when to.morroy
that French villain is coming to carr,
her off! I'm a poor, miserable, helples
woman what can l do? Oh, thi
dreadful war;
"But the young man only laughed il
an embarrassed sort Of way, an,
then said:
"'Only trust me mother, if may cal
you SO, and depend upon it l shall b
able to take good care of Lorchen wher
once l have the right. In the cellar
however, she is at the present momenr
though not in yours.'
$50 saying, be led the astonishet
dame into his house and down ever 8,
many stairs, and there sure enough, wa
the captive in his cellar, doubly a can
tive now, and little shamefaced ant
fearful, but still looking very happy a
she fell on her mothers neck and begged
her to give her and Karl a blessing
And so it came to pass that they wer
betrothed in q cellar, and immediatel,
after all sorts Of mysterious preparation
were made in both houses, and at las
the good pastor himself was called in I,
give his advice. At ii O'Clock tha
same night there was enacted one of tn
strangest scenes which our peaceful
sober. going little town ever witnessed
for young couple were married in tn
darkness, id the old chapel, outside tn
Martini gate, and You may imagine m,
utter amazement at being mysteriousl,
sent for at such an hour, and then find
ing myself taken TO the chapel to be on
of the witnesses to my Lore's marriage
the others being her mothsr and Der
nau's most intimate friend. Fritz Ber
ger.
At seemed uncommonly dismal to 4
girl of IL, as I was then, with my hea.
stuffed full, too, of all sorts of tragica
stories. It was a mild, dark night; th,
sky was much overcast; and ever AM
anon distant fash Of lightning ap
nounced that storm was coming up
The feeble glimmer of the two taper
| ON the altar seemed only to make th.
darkness darker, and the flames dick
cred necessarily as the wind cam,
sweeping in 10 gusts, and making tn,
boughs Of the old lime tree rattle agains
| the church widows. II was enough K
make ous shuddsr. child, ! can MI you
The yenxphle "a paetor Hhe had nar