The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-05-05

quiet hour, Lorchen told me the story Of
her botrothal, which had never properly
understood till then.
lyon see, Christel,'. said she, you and
were very intimate, and you did know all
my ysecrets-almost; but you did not know
that had cared for Karl for q long. time
past was asnamed to confess II either to
you or myself. But when he came to the
cellar window that dreadful day, just when
was in the greatest danger, and drove IL
in-1 was too dazed to dare to open it my
self-and when he lifted me up, and before
l well knew where was, took me into the
cellar of his own house, we'll, then knew l
did care for him, and began to cry. And
then he sat down by me and quietly took
hold OF my hand, and when l was able to
n%s him scb and @
You can guess what followed. Our be-
trOthal 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 care for thats There were 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 Lorchens confession, and we
both thanked Heaven for making us so
were happy, indeed, and this helped US to
bear our daily cares, for we were still in a
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 baptised, and, in
fell % G%s sse ste Sesds SS0s S1s at ast
there was a change! Suddenly 1t was as il
a fresh wind had begun to blow. No one
knew whence it had come. but it was there,
and we all felt In vigorated by it. Lore and
l, too, soon noticed that there was 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 lawyer, and had moth
ing naturally to do with such matters, was
always present at the unloading, and
helped to carry the goods into the cellar as
soon as it was dusk. 1t was quite clear that
there was some secret which our husbands
were keeping from us, and after bearing 1t
patiently for 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 q Sc
cret league Which had branches every where
deliver the Fatherland from her foreign
masters. The ''wagoners'' were members
too, and the goods they brought were arms,
which they stored in the cellar; and there,
in what had been Lorchen's prison, the con-
federates held their meetings. On these
occasions, now that we knew what was 60
ing on, we used to do our part by lighting
up the chandeliers in the drawing-room,
clinking glasses together and carrying wine
bottles and dishes to and fro, to divert at
tention from what was going on down be-
low, and to throw dust in peoples eyes.
"As soon ns,ever our good King issued his
appeal to my people, we saw the result of
all these secret preparations. The enthusi-
asm was tremendous, and every German
heart was all aglow. Oh, child, 1t was q
grand time, and Ishall never forget the day
when the pastor read out the King procla-
nation in the market place-for there was
not room for the crowd in the church-and
called on all the men to come forward and
take part in holy war to expel the enemy.
There never was such excitement, before or
since! Friends and acquaintances embraced
one another, and the most bitter enemies
shook hands. The first to volunteer 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. TAINTED away, but Lorchen be-
ha we'd like little heroine.
I'VE two kept together through all that
time OF terrible waiting and fighting and
misery. But at last--at last came the news
of victory, and all the hills blazed with
our loved ones were safe and coming homo
great deal but we thought ourselves fortu-
nate in having been allowed to look ON
while such great events were doing.
"But where have got to with my chat
30, Granny" interrupted, ''you have
not told me bit too much; l could listen
"Well," said she with smile, ''you de-
serve something for giving up going to the
chapel to sit with an old woman. When I
I n tn a
Dernau was imprisoned in the cellar that
you might see what dangerous gift
beauty Isl"
HIN, Granny, l don't like your moral!''
1 answered. .'The French are far enough
off now, and for my own part l shouldn't
mind running the risk Of being tolerably
Granny was going to scold, but the
corners Of her mouth twitched, and before
she could recover herself, had jumped up,
-
Listen, the bells have been ringing this
long time; the wedding is over and they
will be here directly!"
l went once more hastily through tho
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
long, long procession!
First came the old people, several couples,
and then the young ones, and lastly the
all decked with flowers; but
the bridal pair, who were that day cele-
brating their golden wedding, were the
most beautiful sight of all.
Aunt Dernau looked lovely In her blue
fowered damask and three-cornered lace
with the golden sprays Of
with his snow-white curly hair, snd tall,
upright figure, looked most dignified and
quite grand, too; for, besides the golden
sprig in his button-hole, he wore the orders
and decorations which he had won during
the war, How tender and careful he was
of his little wife, too.
Just as tender and affectionate as he had
been to the young beauty when he ma rried
her in the sunny May-time fifty years be-
fore !-Household Words.
DANGERS IN AFRICA.