The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-23

oven. Gertrude carried her little lamp in her
usual dreamy fashion to its place. and returned
to the sitting room, where Katherine, with COM
posed feelings, was answering her little ones,
and her father had stretched himself out upon
his bed.
stove weak and suffering, whispered, "Trudy,
dear Trudy."
Who had just spoken in the same way to her?
He, the wounded, the forsaken. and without her,
the lost She stood IN a reyerie in the middle
of the room. How strange everything looked
Here was her father; there the Holy Family
the suffering Florian, SO recently in danger.
/ Though she sympathiZed with him she felt
vexed, and hardly listened to his request to
come to him only once and lay her cool hand
upon his burning brow.
Poor Florian he is to her. in the light of re-
cent events, as if he had never been. But she
knew not, felt not, how different her actions
were. The poor boy sighed, sank back, and
tears came into his weary eyes.
Trudy pressed the cellar key close against her
heart, and left the room. With piercing pain
at her heart, she realized that whatever she
did must be done quickly, for when her brother
and the apprentices should return il would be
impossible for her TO care for the stranger.
The noise in the city continues, but how
long? The victory appeared to be won, and
the men would come back. Gesche was busy
/
nodding before the bake-oVen, while Katherine
hummed a tune 10 her baby upstairs.
If she could only take little time to collect
her thoughts! If she only dared take counsel
with some one but that would spoil all! He
had said that he was stranger and helplessl
/ that he trusted her, aud hoped that she would
/ help him She had always been taught that
hospitality was one of her highest duties, and
believed that this was the only course for her
TO pursue 1t would be wrong for her to for
/ sake him in his necessity" she murmured
4 and fastened up the court. She carried two
] bundles of straw to the cellar stairs ran up to
! her own chamber and seized the warmest cover
/ from her own bed and linen from her own
closet. She went into the kitchen when
/ Gcsche's back was turned, took bread and meat
4 from the pantry, and joyfully carried her bur
/ den to the cellarway. She also took the little
/ lamp, which she skillfully distracted, and drew
! a pail Of fresh water from the we'll
And now, glowing with feversh excitement,
! and feeling sure that she was doing right, yet
4 astOnished at her own courage and not daring
TO stop and think, she dragged her treasures
into the cellar. With trembling fingers she
! pushed the key into the rusty lock. How it
scraped and scratched on this particular day,
( when she wished 10 be so cautious and so quiet
/ If Katherine should come now, with all her
hatred toward the knights, and ask what she
was doing with all these things in the cellar
",
but her heart is still in her throat. She silently
sets the lamp upon 9 cask, from behind which
the captive suddenly appears, his eyes filed
with grateful thanks. She hands to him the
straw, the cover, the water and the linen and
places the food on the ground.
Good, generous child" he excams in 10y
Gus tones He soon builds nest behind the
old beer hogshead, which has been pushed
back. He lays some straw upon the floor
loosens his armor, asks her to unbuckle strap
here, to hold up piece of iron there to pre-
vent crash, and puts all these parts together
back OF the old cask, keeping only his sword al
hand. He now comes to the yellow leather
waistcoat.
"Help me to cut this leather from my
wounded arm, Trudy," he says, and comes close
to her TO give her his dagger, with which she
must work She quickly obeys his directions
A low cry escapes her as she chances at the
gaping wound, and, filed with inexpressible
compassion, she would have str0ked the arm
but she washed and bound it up as she had
seen Katherine do Florian's and her hand was
light and soothing.
"rhere is healing in thy fingers, sweet
maid" said he tenderly, and suddenly passed
his right arm around her as if to draw her tC
him. Quickly extricating herself, she spranl
back.
"sr,9 said she, "let me alone" Tears stood
in her large eyes, which she fixed reproachfuly
upon him. "You trust me-" said She witt
CHI dish simplicity. "If l help you further
must also trust you. In our house no appren
tice dare approach me. My father, Katherine
and above all, Balthazar wonld not suffer it
They are not here, but you must observe ouI
rules or ! can come to you no more"
"0n my word as a knight, will Let u
clasp hands, you sweet girl"
Her confidence restored, she laid her finger
tips in his strong right hand He stretched
himself upon the straw drew the quilt com
fortsbly over his tired limbs, saw the food AM
drink beside him, and said
r In thy protection, Trudy, and so well caret
for, begin TO hope for my lost, wasted life"
She promised to return as soon as she could
perhaps the next evening, with fresh supply
of food. With a lightened heart at havinI
, succeeded SO well, she stepped into the court