Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-30


Then Yeri, raising his glass, cried: ITO
the health OF our good and venerable Judge
Zacharias," and all drank to the toast.
Abr thought the judge, what happl-
ness it ould be to live here with Charlotte
for companion, at four steps from the
river, where one could throw in line
from time to time and follow the chase
with father-in-law Yeri Forester, raising
the echoes round about. Ali what an ex-
istence!"
When the clock struck II he rose. How
young and fresh he felt With what ardor
he would have placed kiss on Charlottes
little hand only he must not yet. He
must wait.
sit is time for sleep, Master YER. said
he. Good night and many thanks for
your hospitality"
And to see him mount the high steps of
the stairs one would have said he was but
twenty years old. But those twenty years
lasted only quarter of an hour, and, once
in bed, with the covers drawn up to his
chin, and a handkerchief knotted around
his head, he said to himself:
Sleep, Zacharias; you are very tired
You have great need of sleep"
At o'clock the next morning he awoke,
considerably chagrined at having slept so
late after having boosted the evening before
of his early rising, and coming down the
steep stair he found only Dame Christina
awaiting him, the forester having gone
about his business in the wood, and Char
lotte to haymaking. So, after hasty
breakfast, and thanking Christina again
for her kindness, he took the way back to
the city. a good deal disturbed as to how
Therese would receive him, but still cher
ishing the thousand illusions which had
Matched in his soul like a late brood of
linnets.
l will not try to paint the reception
which the worthy housekeeper gave him
her reproaches, her rage even. She had
not shut her eyes the whole night; she had
imagined him drowned in the river; she
had sent ten people TO look for him, etc.
Monsieur Seller heard these complaints
with the same calmness with which he had
formerly listened to the metaphors of an
advocate pleading lost cause-he heard,
but said nothing.
By the beginning of autumn he had
fall into such habit of being at the forest
ers house that one would have found him
oftener there than at home, and Yeri found
himself much embarrassed to refuse the
presents which the worthy magistrate
begged him to accept in return for his daily
hospitality. He would shake his head
sometimes and say to his wife:
Il never knew a better Judge, a more
learned and respectable man than Monsieur
Seller, but believe he is out of his mind.
Only the other day he wanted to help me
build the hut for the titmouse, and then he
must also help Charlotte turn the hay,
while all the peasants laughed at him.
This is not proper, Christina; but do not
dare to speak to him, he is so much above
u.s."
Let him alone" answered Christina.
With little milk and honey this good
Zacharias is content. BE likes to be with
us, it is so simple here, and then he likes
| to talk to our little daughter. Who knows
bnt what he may adopt her, and when he
dies she would be remembered in his will
The forester shrugged his shoulders. His
natural sense made him divine some mys-
terry, but he did not go to the length of sus-
pecting the folly of the old Judge. One
fine morning he saw descending the mount
ain a wagon laden with three barrels OF
Rikevir wine. This was of all the presents
| he had received the most acceptable 10 I eri
Forester, for of all things he liked glass
of good wine. And when he had tasted
the wine he could not help crying out
1.-The good Zacharias is the best man in
the world. Go. Charlotte, and make for
him bouquet of the finest roses and jas
mines in the garden, and when he comes
give it to him yourself. God, what wine
| What fire -
Zacharias followed close upon the heels
of his present, and felt himself more than
repaid by the flowers which Charlotte has
tened TO give him, while the forester said
cordially:
You must take supper with Us and taste
your wine, Monsieur Seller. My wife is
right to call you our benefactor."
Zacharias, seated at the table in the open
air, his fishing pole against the wall, Char
lotte opposite him and the forester on the
right, began to talk of his prospects for the
future He had pretty fortune, we'll
managed, and he wanted to buy 200 acres
of woodland on the edge of the valley and
build a forester's house on the hillside
I" We shall always be together" said he to
Yeri, you with me as much as | with
you"
Mother Christina came in in her turn
and devised this thing and that. Charlotte
appeared content, and Zacharias imagined
himself understood by these worthy peo-
| pie And he went to his chamber that
night full of the most blissful illusions
putting off till the next day his great dec
| Iaration, doubling nothing as to the result
He held Charlotte's bouquet in his hand
and when he was alone he fell to kissing
it with effusion weeping like child and
murmurlng:
Zacharias, Zacharias you are going to
be the happiest of men, and, may it please
God, you will renew your youth in a little
Zacharias, or n little Charlotte who shall
dance upon your knees and caress yoU
with her rosy little hands" At this the
good man seated himself, drunk with hope
his elbow on the window sill, his eyes wide
open, and hearing as in a dream the frog;
croaking under the moon in the silent val
ley He had sat thus for an hour, wher
something like volley of pebbles, or a
dry peas, ratified against the windowglas;
and aroused him with start.
What is that" demanded he in loH
tone, raising the window little.
Charlotte, Charlotte, it rs !" replied {
tender voice.
Zacharias trembled, and as he listened
with staring eyes. the foliage stirred, and ;
young man stepped out into the moonlight
The old man raised himself Indignantly
and threw the window wide open.
Have NJ fear, Charlotte, said the new
conner, come to tell you good news. Ny
father will be here tomorrow to arrang,
with Yeri Forester about our wedding
Receiving no response he asked after {
minute ''Where are You, Chariotte?'
| xiii Atit, SNlu TIC OlQ man. liAttiilit
very pale and looking fxedly at his rival
And as the Judge began to speak with {
raised voice, the youth said in a loud whis
per- "In the name of heaven do not CRY
out. am not thief. | am Charlotte!
betrothed.f
" Yeri Forester never told me anything o
this. the wretch r gasped Zacharias.
mo, he does not know yet that we ere
betrothed He said when l asked his con
sent that his daughter was too young tina
| must wait. But we have engaged our
selves, anyhow. / have told my father
and he is coming tomorrow to see Yeri
and, as | knew it would please Charlotte tC
hear this, thought l would stop under hei
window and tell her the news"
The poor old man fell uoon a chair a!
into an abyss of grief, and covered his fac,
with his hands. How he did suffer What
agonies traversed his soul What al
awakening from such sweet hopes
At the end of few moments Zaeharia.
raised his head and asked:
How do you call YOURSELF"
Kari INFANT, monsieur"
What are your circumstances p
my father hopes to obtain for me hi!
place as forest guard of Grinderwald."
Charlotte loves you very much, doe
she not? ?"
"oh, yes, monsieur, we love each otheI
very much"
| ,tVo,,,,,r,o,, y cold fbe Judre in n hrol- q,