Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-12-25

awe which 1t arouses exceeds by far such
feeling created under ordinary circum-
stance and in paths of life where such
sights are not uncommon. The violent
contrast chills and paralyses the senses
and for the moment we know not hop
to act or what to do. We stand and
gaze in horror, as if struck dumb, until
the actual truth which has burst SUB.
denly upon US is made clear and in2iae
putable, when we begin to use Dug
reasoning powers, and look for cause.
Such an experience was that of Anton
Reyman on a bright July morning, as
far back as 1875.
Anton was the foreman of the Posada
wine cellars. Three years before he
had left his home on the Rhine, and
had come to tempt fortune in the land
of the setting sun. For months he had
wandered around earning what little he
could, doing odd jobs in various large
towns of Middle California. bue poos
success, or rather entire lack of success
at last made him so disguised with city
life that he turned his back upon bricks
and mortar and set his face and feet 60
ward the free. fresh country.
In his old home he had learned
enough to make him very useful hand
in vineyard or wine cellar, anc after
wearying in his useless efforts to reap q
fortune from the sidewalks of San Fran
cisco, he had found his way to the beauti-
full and fertile Sonoma valley. His advent
here was as devoid of good results as his
roaming through San francisco had
been until he finally had che good fort
ane to meet friend in che person OF
Mario Delaro, o prosperous vintageE
who had need at that Cine OF such q
nan as Anton
From that day until She one in che
early morning of which we find hin
vending his way to work he had giver
his master faithful service and had beet
rewarded accordingly.
Anton was in a gay mood this morn
ing. He had breakfasted veil and had
kissed his young wife and yeap-old babe
when he pasted from chem with sucf
bright smiles as he had noe worn TO
many day. His thoughts were tinget
with gayest hues, and as he walked
along he sang Justify an old Germs,
hunting song in o mannee which woult
have done crediS 60 o Saxon Jsge
Meister
Anton had beeA born in che midst o
beautiful rural scenery. but nature hai
not lost it's charm for him. He wa
never weary of gazing aamiringly at Chi
beautiful landscape which lay stretches
before i'm. For him the brown, vine
clad hill possessed o never-failing, IL
resistible charm and he loved to reve
in the grandeur of the sight while b
compared it with the enchanting coun
try he had left beyond the sea- In thi
manner was he engaged when he casu
ally withdrew his glance 6rom the hill
and vineyards and cast it on the ground
As he did so he halted suddenly an
stopped to make certain that it was
thick line of blood which he had behel
in the dust of the road. No, he had no
mistaken. Blood indeed it was-bu
what could it mean? Blood was oNe c
the last things he would be apt 20 as
sociate with his surroundings hera, an
curiosity was now rampant in his mind
He followed the trail few feet an
found that it turned towards the sines
A few steps further and he saw the bod
of large. fnely-formed man, lying fla
on his back. In almost single boun'
he was beside it, and then with q
ejaculation which none but Germa
Threats can possibly utter, he threw u
his arms with mixe5 feelings of horre