Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-03-02
HER AUNT MEANT WELL.
BY MARY E. MOFFAT.

and ask if either of the maids would
like sweetheart.
The valet stared at his master-un-
decided whether to take his words as q
Jest or to act upon the command he
had given. It was surely most extra
ordinary for the Baron to have time
to handy words about the underlings
of his household just upon the eve of
his own marriage with fair and noble
lady; but his doubts were soon put to
rest.
There was no mis!aking the angry
emphasis with which he repeated his
order; and Fritz at once fastened out
of the room and made his way to the
place where he would be sure to find q
knot of servants congregated to gossip
over the events of the day, or to can
vass the respective merits of their
master and of the bride whom he was
to lead to the altar within the week.
The question which Fritz had been
told to ask was duly delivered, and re-
ceived by his hearers in the various
ways peculiar to each individual. One
somewhat forward young woman said,
with toss of her ringleted head: IF
I do want lover, it won't be you; and
he'll have to ask me twice."
A giggling girl crammed her hand
kerchief into her mouth, to keep from
showing every pearly tooth within that
capacious part of her physiognomy.
Another cast an expressive glance in
the direction of one of the footmen, and
allowed silence to answer for her more
potently than words.
Only one little maid of sixteen, fresh
from the verdant fields, amid which
she had been born and bred, turned
and looked at Fritz with an ingenious
smile in her big blue eyes and upon
her pretty lips.
81 never had sweetheart, she said
softly, sand I'd dearly love to have
one. Only he must be proper, we'll
behaved lad-or 1 wouldn't care for
him at all"
Her answer was greeted with shout
of laughter, which caused her to look
around with surprise which gave
fresh fuel to the amusement she had al
ready caused.
But the housekeeper had taken a
liking to the little, innocent creature.
and she interposed her authority to
shield her from the ridicule of her fell
lows.
"Gretchen is young, and knows little
of the worlds ways. When she is as
old as the rest of you she will be wiser,
she said, looking around at the amused
group.
Fritz also had not joined in the
laugh at Gretchen's expense. For, if
he had warm corner in his heart, it
was for little sister who had died in
childhood, and Gretchen was her liv-
ing image.
He bowed with grave courtesy to
her, as he replied: II will tell the
Baron what you have said"
Then he went Immediately back to
his master, whom he found reading
with a frowning brow-a closely writ
had held in his hand when he had
turned from its first perusal and given
Fritz the abrupt command which he
had just returned from obeying.
@There's little field daisy of girl
among the servants who says she never
had q sweetheart, and would be well
pleased to get one under certain con-
ditions."
As Fritz said this with the gravity
due the occasion, the Baron turned to
him with . peremptory: $50 to Frau
Brandt, and say wish to see her at
once. Then bring the girl hither who
made you the answer you have repeat
ed to me, and wait outside in the hall
Al ~,ov1 10 on,,,n
The mystifed Fritz had nothing to
do but to obey. Had the Baron not
been about to marry the lovely and
high-born Fraulein Anna. he would
have been thinking: "What new mis-
chief is afoot now?"
But, of course, all ideas of that kind
with reference to his master would
now be out of the bounds of all prob
ability. A family man was henceforth
to be the role he was to fill. So Fritz
could only wonder at the course things
seemed about to take.
Frau Brandt had the interview with
the Baron. and Fritz and Gretchen
waited patiently outside, as they had
been ordered.
Some time elapsed, and the portly
housekeeper came forth, and after an
interval spent by her in another part
of the mansion. she returned with some
rich articles of wearing apparel thrown
over her arm.
As she passed the two she said:
"Come into the Baron's room with me,
Gretchen. He has somewhat to say
to you. You, also. can be present.
Fritz
There was an air of suppressed ex-
element about Frau Brandt which did
not escape Fritz's observant eyes. But