Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-02
CHATTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Now, indeed, Gretchen would be
well and happy-nay, anheiress with
a dowry worth looking after by the
best burgher in Eulenburg. Yes, it
was true she felt i'll now, very i'll;
but as he stopped over her, Cans
seemed already to see the sallow lilies
of her cheeks turning into roses.
She scarcely recognized him as he
kissed her; but that would come
right now. He would go out Mt
once and fetch the physician who at
tended the Burgomaster himself.
But even before that he had to sit
and rest until his heart ceased beat
ing quite so painfully. Twenty-Five
thousand gulden--4: 3; 2: |! And
all because of one lucky gulden; and
all because of-what? All because
Of his having been a thief. a rascal;
all because lac was unworthy to have
kissed Gretchen, or To touch the
hand OF an honest man.
He thought and thought till his
brow was cold with sweat, and still n
dark mist stood between him and
Gretchen. Why, ii was just as il he
had robbed Herr Lewis OF twenty
FIVE thousand pieces OF money hang
ing 10 him and dragging ut him like
so many millstones2
1t was dreadful that fortune should
have come 20 him in so cruel a form.
He had never dreamed that he would
really win "A prize; he had bought "A
lottery ticket instead of bread just
because he was desperate, and be
cause n single gulden seemed only
enough to throw away; and because
because lightly come lightly gone.
Aud now he was rich with Herr
Lewis money while Herr Lewis him
self was n ruined man.
How Herr Marx would have laugh
ed at Cans Mohrl
But | doubt il even Herr Marx
would have laughed at poor Herr
| Lewis, who had lost, with his lucky
guldcn, not only his fortune and Gre
dit, but his whole faith in human
nature, for he had treated his
treacherous cashier as if he had been
his own son.
What was the use of it all-what
would ever be the use OF anything
again? How could he begin the
| world again at nearly fifty years old
1 n world, too. which he had learned
that he did not understand He
who thought himself such pattern
OF prudence. had been nothing bet.
ter than a dupe and a fool. And
| Bertha
No. he must not think Of her; oil
rather he must think OF her. So he
closed and locked the door of the
deliberately comfortable bed.room
which was still his for little while
longer, so that his thoughts might
not be disturbed.
There was an ancient maxim
among merchants, long ago exploded,
that a merchants, solvency was as
sacred as q soldiers honor, and that
when it was gone there wns only one
thing to be done. And when one has
lost nh ones faith in ones faith, in
ones self. and in ones kind, ruin
censes to be a mere question of mon
ey Bertha would be the bet
ter off for being rid of IA father who
was both n bankrupt ond a fool.
There Law the razor with which he
Ind cut his chin only the other day.
Why had itnot slipped a trifie low er?
From the chin TO the carotid artery
n not so very far.
He drew his finger along the edge;
IL was sharp enough now. One pain
less moment: would it not bean easy
nrice to pay for an escape from It all
from his dishonored self, aud u
hateful world?
The Thought became fascination.
Presently he took off his coat and
folded il up carefully. Then he un.
buttoned the collar of his shirt and
leTt his throat bare. No--fool he
might be, but not such fool as to
live when there was nothing to live
for. There; it was ALREADY, So
Nowl "a
Was in luck never to leave him?
Could he not even die at will! be
fore he could give the mortal cash
bertha was calling him through the
door
"Fatherl Hereis man who wants
TO see you- - :
aToli him to go away. Tell him
20 come-to-morrow. Tell him,
II have told him. But he saysthat
he must see you; that he can't go
that-I think you must see him, la
ther. He says
every well. l suppose anybody
NAV say must to me now, sal,
| Herr Lewis--he could notkill himsel
with Bertha at the door and will
some commonplace trouble down
stairs. He would get rid OF then