Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-03-25

blOetil hdy
with bridesmaids and wedding
breakfast, and without any OF
the rather uncalniy romance which
had attended Lorehen's wedding.
Still, who knows whether the
mere fact of our having taken part to-
gether in this romantic affair did not
lead to our own marriage Be this as
it may, it is quite certain that the
next time Fritz Berger and / found
ourselves inside the little chapel, it
was for our own wedding.
"After a time Things went better in
the town, and as the French were less
favored by those in authority, it was
thought safe for tina fugitives to
come cack; and, as by the death OF
his father, Karl had become the owner
OF 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 together. How happy 5se
were TO be together againl and the
very first time we had quiet hour,
Lorchen told me the story of her be-
trothal, which | had never properly
UNDERSTOOD Till then.
You see, Christel, said she, you
and were very intimate, and you did
know all my seerets-almost; but you
did not know that / had cared for
Karl for a long time past. / was
ashamed to confess it either to you or
myself But when he came to the eel
lar window that dreadful day, Just
when | was in the CT eatest danger, and
drove it in-I was too dazed to dare
to open it myself-and when he lifted
me up, and before / well knew where ]
was, took me into the cellar of his
own house, well, then 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 Twas
able to speak Thanked him and beg
ged his pardon for having made such
fun of him before. You can guess
what followed Our betI othal 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 dank and musty.
But what did we carefor that? There
We're roses all round us, and we were
in Elysium: and as for the romance.
we had enough before the day was out
to last whole lifetime
This was Lorchen's confession,
and we both thanked Heayenfo max
ing us so happy and bringing us to-
gether again. Wewere happy, indeed,
and this helped us to bear our daily
cares, for we were still in great deal
OF trouble and anxiety, and the clouds
hung thick and black over the politi-
cal sky. There were no christening
feasts when our little ones were bap-
TIED, and, in spite of our real happi-
ness, a good many tears fell on the
little heads. But at last there was n
a change! Suddenly it was as if a
fresh wind had begun 80 blow No
one knew whence it had come, but it
was there, and we ali felt inyigorated
by it. Lore and !, too, soon noticed
that there was a great deal going on
behind the scenes, which gave us
plenty of food for wonder and con-
lecture. Wagoners, who did not look
at all like wagoners, were constantly
bringing heavy loads OF merchandise
to Karl, and my Fritz, who was
a lawyer, and nothing naturally
to do with such matters, was al
ways present at the unloading, and
helped to carry the goods into the eel
lar as soon as 1t was dusk. 1t was
quite clear that there was some secret
which our husbands were keeping from
us, and after bearing it patiently for
a little while we determined to put an
end to such an unnatural state of
things.
"Well, we found it all out, and
learned that Karl and Fritz were
members of secret league which had
branches everywhere throughout Ger
many, and was formed to deliver the
Fatherland from her foreign masters.
The "wagoners" were members and
the goods they bought were arms,
which they stored in the cellar; and
there, in what had been Lorchen's
prison, the confederatss held their
meetings. On these occasions, now
that we knew what was going on, We
used to do our part by lighting up the
in the drawing room,
glasses together and carrying
wine bottles and dishes to and fro, to
divert the attention from what was
going on down below, and to throw
dust in peoples eyes.
'As soon as ever our good king is
sued his appeal TO my people, we saw
the result of all these secret prepare
tons. The enthusiasm was tremen-
dous, and every German heart was all
aglow. oh, child, it was Il grand time
and ] shall never forget the day when
the pastor read out the kings procla-
nation IN the market-place-and there
was not room for the crowd in the
called on all the men to
come forward and take part in a holy
war to eXpel the enemy. There never
was such excitement before or sincel
Friends and acquaintance embraced
one another, and the most bitter enc
mics shook hands. The first to vol
unteer to fight for wife and child, and
home, were Karl Dernau and my Fritz;
and numbers and numbers followed
their example. Then came the leave
takings, and those were sad enough.
away, but Lorchen behaved
like little heroine.
1--WE two kept together through all
that time of terrible waiting and fight
ing, and misery. But at last--at last
came the news of victory, and all the
hills blazed with bonfres. The Father
land was free, and cur loved ones were
safe and coming home crowned with
laurels! We had suffered n great deal,
but we thought ourselves fortunate in
having been allowed to look on while
such great events were doing,
"But where have ! got to with my
| was only going to tell
you-"
ooh, Granny" interrupted. you
have not told me bit too much; l
could listen all day"
"Well," said she with smile, "you
deserve something for giving up going
to the chapel to sith with an old wom-
an. When | began / only meant to
tell you how Aunt Dernau was impris-
oned in the cellar, that you might see
what dangerous gift beauty isl"
"H-m, Granny, l don't like your
moralp' | answered. "The French
are far enough off now, and for my
part | shouldn't mind running the
risk of beng tolerably nice-looking."
Granny was going to scold, but the
corners of her mouth twitched, and
before she could recover herself, /
had jumped up exclaiming:
Listen, the bells have been ringing
this long time; the wedding is over,
and they will be here Directly"
| went once more hastily through
the rooms to see that everything was
in order, and then | strewed flowers
all down the stairs to the front door,
and then Granny and waited at the
window.
Soon the head OF the procession
made its appearance-such a long,
long procession! First came the old
people, several couples, and then the
,-n,,r,n onos and lastIu tie crrand.