The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-11-16
THE MILLER's DAUGHTER.

-A1klA ~ S1d 4
Service was over in the little village
church of Waldorf, and the people lin
gered about the door, in their simple
kindly fashion greeting II another and
exchanging ME news OF the week.
"Did you know that the Herr Count
has come to live in his castle over Won
derP' asked one, pointing 20 the stately
tower that rose above the trcc-tops on
the neighboring hillside.
SIS it 500" was the reply. And does
he bring his bridey'
"The count has no BRIDE" said an
other speaker. They say he cares only
for the chase. That is why he has come,
for hunting and"
.'And for the good of his people," in
terrupted Pastor Dohrman, who came
out to the cliurch-porch in time to hear
the last remark. BE not quick TO Judge
harshly, friends. Count Friedrich
knows that his coming. with so many
guests and followers, brings prosperity
to Waldorf; and that he can see and re-
lieve all the wants of his people while
here. And his hunting is only of the
fierce wild bears which ravage the
forests; he does not strike weaker game"
The next Sabbath the young Count
Friedrich came. unattended, 10 the lit
tie church. Pretty Lisa Van Alien, who
led The choir, saw the handsome stran-
ger, and felt, more than once, that his
eyes sought her face as her voice, pure,
sweet, aud bird-like, rose above all the
others, seeming TO soar almost to hcav-
ems gates with the worship of her pure
soul.
.Who is the fair-haired maiden who
sings like an angelo Count friedrich
asked Pastor Dotrman, when service
was over.
Her father is thy miller, Hans Van
Alien, and Lisa is rs good us she is
fair" replied the worthy pastor, who
loved Lisa like daughter, and had
taught her to read, and write, and sing
Gor the good old man had been a Won
derful musician in his younger days.
far better than many a high-born maid
Ell.
1t did not seem SO very strange to
Lisa when, one day. the count rode up
to the miller's cottage. Had he not
cause, perhaps, for business there99 But
while he spoke to the father, he looked
at Lisa, with q glance so full of respect
full admiration that little wonder if ii
turned her pretty head, and sent all
kinds of wild improbable dreams rush
ing through her mind.
She thought 50 much Of The splendid
young couit as he roaa away on his
fiery coal-blacll horse. that she was an
CRY when Karl Holfner Qhe farmers
son from Wildeman), who had brought
some -four to the mill. came while it
WIS grinding TO see if Lisa's heart had
softened towards him.
For Karl had been Lisa's faithful lover
since ever he could remember, loving
her with y love which grow and
strengthened with each year of'his life.
Faithful, though she only laughed nj
him, and would not be kind.
He was n tall, straight, manly fellow,
handsome rs Count Frledrlech himself,
and noble, too, with that true nobility
of soul which is above the accident Of
birth rank. But Lisa's eyes were blind
TO ;ll that, and she turned away impa-
tienMy from the story of his love.
Karl WAS wise, and did not urge her
TO listen. There is an ancient Greek
saying that "All things come 10 him
who knows how to waltz and he .'kncw
how" to wait. And rs the days went
by, and Count Friedrich again and
again sought Lisa's humble home. the
faithful lover sighed, but only sad:
II will wait. 1t will all como right"
Meanwhile Lisa was living in Il kind
Of wildly sweet dream. She permitted
herself to think OF the possibility of
Count Friedrich loving her, forgetting
the barriers SO SHARPLY defined in Ger
many between mobiles and peasants,
which renders marriage put of ones
own rank almost impossible. And for
getting, too, that while the count plain
" admired her beauty he had given
neither word nor look OF love to light
her hopes.
TO his fivc-and-twenty years Lisa
seemed but a child, aud he told her
stories of tho wonderful world beyond
Waldorf, where her voice might win her
fame and gold; of the world where men
did grand brave deeds for their fellow
men. And she would look shyly up at
Kim with her great violet eyes, and
think they must be men such rs he who
would do such noble acts.
One day, moved to speak by the rela-
ton of some thrilling story. She cried,
artlessly, while yet her eyes gave force
and meaning to her words:
"How Icould love such a man as
that!'
"Why, what do you know of love, lit
tie one?" asked Count friedrich laugh
ingly. But her words made him think.
Could it be that, perhaps, she was
learning to love himP Was it wise or
right, that in all honor he had sought
her SO often, just because her bright,
winsome, natural ways rested him after
the forms and ceremonies of the fash
ionable world in which he lived?
He was thinking SO %intently rs he
walked through the woods to the castle,
that he did not hear a low, muttcrmg,
ominous growi which sounded suddenly
close beside him, rs Il wild boar, which
had descended from the m~ountain-top.
sprang upon him from a thicket, and
forced him to the ground.
His life was in dire peril, for, totally
unarmed and taken thus Mt a ~disadvan-
tage, he could in nowise defend himself;
and, brave man though he was, o faint
ness, almost as of death came over him.
and he felt the sharp teeth rending his
clothes, and knew that in m instant
the cruel jaws would close on his quiz
ering flesh.
But in that instant help came. There
was a crushing sound among tho un-
derbrush, and Karl Hoffner-who was
on his way to the miller's-sprang for
ward. and with the stout, 1ron-tipped
staff in his uplifted hand, dealt a crush
ing blow on the eyes of the huge beast,
binding it instantly, and SO freeing
Count Friedrich from his deadly peril,
lby giving him opportunity to spring to
his feet.