Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-29

81 do not know"
You are not OF our kinde"
"No.n
"And these are such bad times,
said the old woman, sadly. Every
one looked ut with suspicion, the po-
lice ever on the watch for spies and
traitors. Are yoI of FranceP Your
tongue seems to say so. "
II came from Normandy
but you are we'll born?'
Il am peasant"
"Gott in Himmcl! And what brings
you here? You are not a prisoner
"No. thank God, l was brought
here against my will; but l am pur-
sued by enemies, ruthless and unscru-
pulous. "
"A fate worse than death awaits
re"
The woman looked at her own
mothers compassion, woman's pity
for this friendless beautiful creature
crept into her heart.
eff | can serve you in any way, |
will" she said, gently. Tell me but
one thing-it is not sin that has driven
you to such fate?"
'As God hears memo"
"Then l will do my best to help you,
il you will let me-"
You are very good the giIl said
YEARLY, "but no one can help me, and
if you get yourself into trouble for
my sake, | shall never forgive my
self. -
You need not fear-no trouble will
come of it. Tell me, Grst, are you
likely to be sought"
"Yes; and by men clever and UNI
scrupulous.
'Do you think you have been track
ed here?"
mo. met no one. took all the
loneliest and poorest streets. | shall
not be missed till tomorrow at
noon"
GUT muttcred the old woman.
Now, Gretchen, thou art quick of
wit. Dost thou think it possible to
harbor this poor girl until the search
is over--until some plan for her safe
return to her own land can be form
cd?' The girl sat looking thought
fully at the strangers beautiful face.
"She does not look like one of us,
she said, emphntically, land her
hands are those of lady The
stranger flushed with evident embar-
rassment.
Not So she said, my mother
was n peasant-my life, till within
the last few months, was simply Il
peasants lie. am no lady
1T would be hard to believe that, -"
said Gretchen, admiringly. Stay
let me think. Mother" she said sud-
denly, Il have plan.
Thou vert ever clever girl,
retchen," said her mother approx
! ingly. LET us hear it,"
"lOu remember when Consin Fritz
was here a sunmer ago?'
"Assuredly," said the old woman,
looking puzzled. But what has that
to do with thy plan?"
Patience" said the girl, smiling
contentedly. HE left behind him his
peasants dress Of the Odenwald. DO
you remember that?n
YES, it is in my chest. l do but
wait the first opportunity to return it
to him"
We'll, If you, fraulein, do not OBJ
ject, here is "A disguise for you thai
will defy your enemies. l an quite
sure of it. To all inquiries we can
say that you are a brother of Fritz
he has maryland no one will modest
you. You may stay here, then, as
long as you please"
But her hair, Gretchen, and he,
face il is so truly woman's facet
"My hair is soon dispensed with, .
cried the stranger eagerly, as she rose
to her feet, and clasped the brown,
hard wrinkled hands of her new pro.
tector. ''Oh, how can thank you
enough? Such kindness and compass.
sion to an utter stranger is indeed be.
yond I'll my powers of recOmpense.
My child said the old woman
gently, Il have a daughter too. Had
Heaven willed that the fortune of wal
should be reversed, had she been in ;
strange land, at the mercy of a crue
foe, l would have prayed that Goo
might raise up for her some such pro
lection as it is in my humble power t
offer you. Say no more.
The girl didu not speak; she on!y
knelt at the foot of her preserver, anc
shed such grateful thankful tears a:
for long had not relieved her weary
brain.
Come and rest now," said Crotch
en-, kindly, 'you must be tired ant
spen' Tomorrow you will cut of
your hair and assume this dress;
think you need fear no discovery
then"
''Is she not clever, this Gretchen?'
asked the mother, admiringly. "TC
think that she should have invented 81
wise PLAN"
you are good-too good" said the
girl, but cannot live on your charity
You are poor and work hard-that
see. 1t is not fit that you should be-
burdened with other cares.
,'Do not vex myself. We will fine
thee work soon enough" said the ole
woman cheerily. 1T was but to day
| was saving TO Gretchen | scarce knew