The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-06-20

back. Poor soul, she always seems so
loncsomc-likc."
Meanwhile Anna ploddcd on. After
bank overhead:
Miss banner, Miss banner. Why
didn't you stop for your letter."
II was a well-meanlng boy who
called to her. He had a letter from
home and was glad yer il, and sonIc-
.hing in the lonely figure troubled him.
But she hurried IN, seeming not to
Knocked again; and the boy. fearing to
bc fined If he were late, ran on.
Later, a man on horseback passed
her, and shouted down:
You don't seem to valiy your letters,
young Guess you don't expect
one from your beau
Anything is a joke in the country.
Anna did not quite understand the
words, but the tone was that in which
a Jest is uttered. She felt the blood
rush to her face. The mill was in
sight. and She saw a group of people
looking at her.
ITO make fun of me-" she thought.
Then the face of Klaus Cristofcr
arose before her. She remembered his
last words, his kiss, his embrace, tho
farewell.
.'Oh. Klaus, Klaus" she sobbed.
Can It he? Can it be that you. also,
Knocked me; that you never meant to
come back: that. as the girls all said, |
was Il ,fook''
Anna. Anna" shrickcd twenty
voices. Anna"
They were pointing at her. So she
thought. Pointing as the children in
Copenhagen did. long before. at Crazy
Peter. who watched for his imaginary
ship to ON in.
The blood rushed to her face. She be-
gan to run. hoping to pass them and
hind her work.
Anna, Anna, Anna" shricked the
voices; and the fingers pointed still. and
some were rushing toward her.
Then there was a noise, a rush. 4
Shrek beyond human power. She
knew too late that their voices, their
gestures. their wildly pointing fingers
were kindly warnings of the danger IF
which She was unawarc-that the cX-
press train on the down track WAS be-
hind her.
At dusk that evening a solemn group
stood about the counter of the old
store. The chief legal gentleman of
the place was amongst them.
1T was awfully sudden" said IL
almost as if she wanted it to hap.
pen" said another.
No: she was thinking of something
else" said a woman She acted dazcd-
like"
And you think it's sort of justifiable
foI us to opcnthe letter, squire?" asked
the postmaster.
Yes. In that way Won may know
who her friends are and notify them"
replied the squire.
Then silence fell upon the group, and
velope was opened, and one of the
workmen present. who came from Dem
mark, offere | to interpret.
This is what he read:
Anna. my best beloved. the time has beet.
long and the waiting weary. but my heart has
never changed. ] am home again in Copcn-
hagen, and my first love Is II; last.
Olsen has seen you and knows You live and
are in health. | ~eni the money for your jour
ncy. Come home and W" WI. lie married at
once. / lave so much to tel that cannot he
written, but most OF all thiSi ! love yOu-I
love YOU, and I know Won love me.
Your bctrOthed husband.
KLAUS CRISTOFER"
"She came here every morning for ten
years and never got a latter. said the
old postmaster. ''And hare it is at last,
and she can't know it. 1t does
hard"
But. perhaps. Anna knew; for if her
freed soul could go whittier it chose,
it flew back to Copenhagen and Klaus
Cristofcr.-Mary X. Dallas, in y. Y.
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