The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-10-12
A PEACEFUL VICTORY.
A Grand War Hero and His Glori-
GUS Reward.

1t was the evening of long, hot
summer day. The Bavarian village of
Weindorf was Ell fete. Flags were fly
ing; brass band was playing in the
Lust Garten its loudest and its mer-
riest. In full harmony with the CAV
sights and sounds were the hearts of
the villagers. The war, which had
united Bavarians. Saxons ard Prus-
SLAMS in a great bond of brotherhood
against a common enemy, had been
brought to a triumphant close. Sedan
had crowned the long series of leu
tonic victories. and peace was secured
ut last Even little Weindorf had had
its share in the struggle, had given its
blood and its tears in the sacred cause,
and had earned its right to share in the
rejoicing, which was the outcome of
sacrifice. Only the day before my
story opens two Weindorfers had re-
turned from the war. and one of them
had made for himself a name in whose
reflected glory his friends and neigh
bors found no small cause for exulta-
ton. Within a low. dark fFuit-shOp,
an old dame. in short bfue-stuff petit
coat and loose dark Jacket, and with
8 gay-cOlOred cotton handkerchief tied
over her scanty gray locks. sat, .briskly
knitting, She had yellow, wrinkled
face, and her round. sharp, dark eyes
looked keenlY ont over pair Of broad
trimmed spectacles:
In a room opening OUT from the shop
young Bavarian soldier lay on arough
bench. His head was supported by
pillow; one arm hung useless by his
side; look of utter sadness was in his
blue eyes Wilhelm Bauer was, grand
son of the old dame, who rented the
Weindorf frliitSer's shop. His father
had died early; the mother quickly fol-
lowed her husband; Wilhelm, at ten
der age, passed into his grandmother's
keeping: A quiet, g6od-humored little
lad, he spo 9},ss ft9q make himself.
useful in The shop and to. gain, the
favor alike of its proprietress and pat
rons. AT school he eyinced decided
aptitude for learning; he. had a good
voice, too, and presently became mem.
Der of the church choir. Father An
dreas took q fancy to the boy, gave him
lessons in, organ PLAYING and in liter
ature, his own favorite pursuits. and
spoke of him as a youth with aSper-
ception and love Of the. harmonies. of
music and poetry. As time wore on,
Wilhelm, grown into young man.
took upon: him the duties of saeristan.
He rang the church bell for early mass,
for vespers of benediction; he swept
and cleaned thecnurch and sacristy at
least once ,Sin fe yarg, 8eek5 when no
alcolVte was present he assisted the
.eelebrant in the mass, his responsive
voice sounding out clear add sweet in
the irlcense-laden air. = The lqufet old
church had a great charm for him; he
8 knew eyerv dim corner, every spot
upon the pavement which caHght the
morning and evening sunlight stream
ing through the colored windows; all
the pictures were his familiar. friends:
Early in life Wilhelm metthe fate in
evitable to man of his fervent poet
icsl temperament; he fel! in love. The
object of his affection was Gretchen
Kellner, daughter of Hans Kellner,
who kept the Favorit Backerei. ..
Gretchen was tAae, ReHe of Weindorf,
charming madchen, with a graceful
little 1igure. a. beyitchingly bright
face, and a mass of gloriously, -uncom-
promisingly red, hair The English
artist had not long established himself
lin the village before he made .acquain-
lance with Gretchen andseonceiKed for
her an imperseualS painters: passion.
His fingers itched to paint her, and in
due time he secured her services as
m aiS osfHpif S Il dn psn our f~o
: of his Sketches of WeindOrf corners
: and the report circulated smohg the
;neigkbofstha in the great picture ex-
hibitfon held yearly IN London q full
: length portrait of the girl, represented
as presiding over fiower-stalf;: would
shortly appear. Gretchen Kellner had
many admirers, consequently Wilhelm
o ohd ans FL HAND ws ssSss Franz
q Muller, an unpublished. 4acitufn, but
decided good looking and capable
: young farmer, vino rented few acres
: within 4 mile of Weindorf:. Franz did
-Ss4-- - -S-s-----s .--%7-