The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-11
BERTHA AND RUDOLPH.

HrcttfeSt girl OF mayence. Weft hlonc
They were betrothed. and yet the fol-
lowing day would find them separated.
Rudolph was going 10 "a distant prov
ince. For two years he would follow
the lessons OF clever master; then, on
his return. Bertha's father would give
him his daughter and surrender his
position as choir-master in his favor.
Bertha. said Rudolph. 'let ms play
together once more this air you love so
we'll When we shall be separated nj
the end OF each day, AT the hour OF
grave thoughts. we both shall play our
parts and IL will bring ms closer. one To
the other"
Bertha took her harp. Rudolph ac-
companied her upon his flute. and they
played several times Bertha's favorite
tune. At last they began to cry and
kissed one another. Rudolph departed.
Both were true 20 their words. Each
evening. at the hour when they had
met for the last time Bertha went 10
her harp Rudolph 10 his flute, and
each one played their part. This even
ing hour is solemn and mysterious; II
predisposes 10 musing; in reddish
vapors which arise upon the horizon IL
seems that one sees all the events APP
pear Ina vivid picture; that one can
live over all his last days, soire gay
and crowned with roses, others sad and
draped in mourning.
Al that hour the last breath OF the
wind among the leaves seemed 20 modu-
late tunes 10 which we aiiix sweet and
sad remembrance; music Is the souls
voice.
- Rudolph sometimes stopped playing.
no thought he heard the vibrations
OF Bertha's harp mingling with the
sounds OF his flute. Two years passed
thus.
One evening Bertha and her father
were under the arbor in their little gar
den. This arbor Was formed by five
acacias which spread over their head a
wreath OF foliage, strewn with white
flowers, the dark wreaths of lilacs
closed the distance between their
srunks. while three or four climbing
honeysuckles made the spot perfect
bower.
Through the narrow entrance the
purple line produced by the setting sun
vas visible. IL was the hour sacred
20 remembrance. Bertha played the
fayorite tune upon the harp but sud
denly she stopped 20 listen.
Everything was silent: the breezes
even had ceased 10 move the leaves.
Bertha again played the tune. again
she heard Rudoph's flute.
II was Rudolph coming back.
Two years later Rudolph and Bertha
had beautiful little daughter, offspring
OF a union blessed by Bertha's father
before his death. Rudolph was a choir
master, and the income from his situa-
ton was ample for the young people.
Rudolph had bought pretty little
house. At the back of the house was
thick growth OF lindens; in front n
large green meadow. upon which the
child played. Large Bengal rose
bushes crept all over the white walls,
and everything was so coy and bright
There was not crack through which
one could peep from the outside; happy
people love retirement.
Then the child passed. away. and one
month later Bertha died OF grief.
When she felt the end drawing near
she said 10 Rudolph;
lin vain do seek 10 cling TO life
through my prayers; ! must rejoin our
child. abandon you. await you in a
better world. II the dead have the
power 10 reappear upon this earth you
shall see me again; my shadow shall
hover around you, for my heaven Is the
place where you are. When the day
has come when we can be united again
shall come TO seek you. and our two
souls concentrated In one shall rise
forever from this earth. where nothing
more will bind them. Each year on
: my birthday. whether you shall be
happy or unhappy, loved or abandoned.
sad or gay, at the hour when the sun
n setting. when prayers mount 20
heaven amid the sound OF the evening
bells and the perfume OF the
flowers. play this tune, which for 50
long time has soothcd the pains OF
absence; this will be the only consola-
don shall have la this long separa-
ton. This music shall be- moro har-
monious 20 my soul than all the con-
certs OF the churches.
Then she kissed him and died.
Rudolph became crazy They made
him travel for sometime. On his re-
turn his head was more calm. but n
deep melancholy took possession OF him
and left him no more. He left Bertha's
room remain az II was at tho time OF
her death the bed still unmade. the
N.wn I'm a oarnar