Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-26

turn in the valley where the path passed ovt
a little bridge and led direct TO the forester
house That worthy man was seated on Il
stone bench by his door, with a sprig
broom corn in his hat and two hunting doe
stretched at his feet, and recognizing with b
piercing eyes the judge and his daughter
the distance, he came to meet them, raisin
his felt hat in salutstion.
Good day, Monsieur Judge" said he, wit
the frank and cordial air of the mott taineel
"what happy circumstances procures me tl
honor of such a visit"
Master Yeri," replied the good man,
have tarried in the mountains until it is TO
late 20 90 home Have you a little coruc
vacant at your table, and a bed at the lis
position of a friendf
"HeyIn cried the forester, IF there WAS bu'
one bed in the fouse, should it not be for thu
best, the most lonored of our ancient magis
rates of Sta1tsi All, Monsieur Seller, what
an honor you do TO the humble dwelling Of
Yeri Foerster!"
And mounting the six steps before the door
he cried out: Christina, Christina, run tC
the cellar, Judge Zacharias Seller has come
to repose under our roof"
At this very little old woman, with a
figure as stiff as a ramrod, but still fresh and
smiling, appeared upon the threshold and
disappeared Immediately, murmuring:
~Oh, God! Is it possiblel Monsieur the
judge"
'Ah, nv good people" said Zacharias, an
truth you receive me too kindly"
Monsieur" replied the forester, IF you
forget the good you have done Others do
not"
Well, il the truth must be told Judge
Zacharias passed the evening with Yeri
Forester ami his family, forgetful Of the in
quietLdes of Therese, his promise to he at
home by : O'Clock and his old habits of order
and submission.
! Imagine to yourself that humble sitting
room, with its ceilings streaked with brown
| girders, the round table in the midst with its
dish Of trout and plates Of fruit and honey,
/ yellow as gold, and worthy Papa Zacharias
presenting each in turn to Charlotte, who
dropped her eyes, astonished at the corlpli-
ments and tender words Of the old man.
"An, Monsieur Judge, you are too good" !"
said Christina "You do not know how much
yexation this little one gives us. You will
spoil her with so many fine words
Dame Christina" replied Zacharias, you
possess a treasure Nile Charlotte merits all
l have said of her"
Then Yeri, raising his glass, cried: ITO the
health of our good and venerable Judge
Zacharias, and ali drank to the toast.
"Ah!' thought the judge, what happiness
it would he to live here with Charlotte for a
companion, at four steps from the river,
where one could throw in a line from time
TO time and follow the chase with Father-in-
law feri Forester, raising the echoes round
about. All! what an existence!"
When the clock struck IL he rose. How
young and fresh he felt! With what ardor
be would have placed kiss on Charlottes
little hand, only he must not yet He must
wait
1T is time for sleep, Master Yeri," said he
Good night and many thanks for your hos
pitality"
And to see him mount the high steps of the
stairs one would have said he was but 20
years old But those twenty years lasted
only a 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 boasted 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 Charlotte to
haymaking. So, after a 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 cherishing the thousand H.
lusions which had Matched in his soul like a
late brood of linnets.
will not try to paint the reception which
the worthy housekeeper gave him; her re
proaches, 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 ad-
vocate pleading lost cause-he heard, but
said nothing.
By the beginning Of autumn he had fallen
into such habit of being at the forester's
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 hosspi-
tality. He would shake his head sometimes
and say 10 his wife:
Il never knew a better judge, a more
learned and respectable man than Monsieur
Seller, but believe he il 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 laugh at him This is not
Christina hut 40 not Ia To
to him, he is so much above US.
"Let him alone" answered Christina
with a little milk and honey this good
US, it is so simple here, and then he likes to
talk to our little daughter. Who knows but
that he may adopt her, and when he dies she
" ~Guld be remembered in his will
The forester shrugged his shoulders. His
natural sense made him divine some mystery,
but he did not go to the length OF suspecting
the folly of the old judge. One fine morning
he saw descending the mountain a wagon
laden with three barrels of Rikevir wine.
This was of al the presents he had received the
most acceptable to Yeri Forester, for Of all
things he liked a glass of good wine. And
when be had tasted the wine he could not
help crying out:
This good Zacharias is the best man in the
world Go, Charlotte, and make for him
bouquet of the finest roses and jasmines 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 re-
paid by the flowers which Charlotte hastened
TO give him, while the forester said cor
daily:
"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, Charlotte