Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-07-23

thusiasm reigned in the city, and in the
evening every house was Illuminated.
Near the Admiralty, however, stood
one house whose dark and silent aspect
contrasted strangely with the brilliant
exterior Of its neigabors. A narrow
courtyard inclosed In a high wall, with
a porte cochere interviewed between the
street and the house, and all the doors
and blinds were now closely secured.
This was the house of Master Woerden.
Master Woerden was a rich Dutch
merchant. Entirely taken up with his
commercial affairs, he was totally indif-
ferent to the political events which 50
interested his countrymen, besides which
lie too thoroughly understood domestic
economy to waste candles after the prod,
igal fashion of his n~eighbors.
At this moment Master Woerden was
seated in 4 comfortable armchair in front
of a blazing fire. His fur bo-dcred robe
was folded across his chest, and his wolf
skin cap was pressed down upon his
brow whose few scattered gray hairs Of
fered no protection from the sharp cur
rents of frosty air that found entrance at
every opening of the dooc.
On a table near him stood a polished
brass lamp, a large pitcher and a clay
pipe. In the chimney corner an old SER
want, whose extreme embonpoint ke-
traycd her Flemish origin, occupied her
self with occasionally stirring and feel
ing the open fire.
Presently the doorbell rang and the
servant rose quickly to lnswerit. Afew
moments later Il young man entered, who
threw his cloak on the sofa and APP
preached the old man.
as it you, Williami' exclaimed Mas
ter Woerden. 81 had not expected you
so elrlyl"
81 left Brock this morning." he re.
piled, with a respectable s~alutation, shut
the roads are so numbered with soldiers
and fu3itives that it has taken me all day
to get there"
ibid you see Van Elbergl"
The young man sat down by the frc
before answering this question.
"Yes, sir" he said slowly. master
Van EIberg consents to the marriage, but
he refuses TO give his daughter more thar
1000 ducats as her dowry."
"Ah!' cried Master Woerden, frown
ing heavily, ''then he may keep both his
daughter and her dowry.'
''But, father, let me"
''Hold your tongue, William. At your
age n would sacrifice everything to
love, but let me tell you love fades away,
while money remains"
''But Master Van Elberg is one of the
richest merchants in Holland, and what
he will not give his daughter in his life.
time will surely come to her at his death. ,
What then? Am not | as rich as he
Listen to me, my son. You will one
day succeed me in my business. Re.
member then these two axioms-nevel
give more than you receive, and do moth.
ing for the sole benefit of Others. Tncse
are good rules for marriage as well as
for commerce"
But"
LET the matter rest, my son. We
will not speak further of it now"
William knew the self wIlled obstinacy
of his father too well to reply, and sat
still in great sorrow and p~erplexity,
while the old man calmly smoked his
pipe.
Again the doorbell rang, and the dogs
in the courtyard began to bark furiously.
"Ah!" said Master Woerden, sit must
be some stranger. Look out of the via
dow, William, and see who it is"
The young man did so, saying in tones
of surprise:
at Is a mounted militiaman, father"
Presently the old servant brought in a
letter, which Master Woerden received
with an air Of great dlsquietude; but on
tearing open the envelope with impatient
fingers his face assumed its wonted ex.
preston Of serenity as he read the in.
closure.
"That is welll' he said, as he handed
the letter to his son.
1t was a requisition from the Govern
ment for 400, 900 herrings to be deliy-
cred within a month for the use of the
French army.
William exclaimed the old man,
after a moments reflection. "I have an
idea! You shall marry Van Elbers's
daughter, and she shall have a good
dowry, too
Scan it be possible2"
'Leave it to me. As the canals are
all closed by the ice, be ready with two
saddle horses at daylight tomorrow.
Ahl my son! if you only inherit your
fathers genius!"
The next morning the rising sun saw
the two travellers on their way to Brock.
They arrived about midday, but where
obliged to leave their horses at an inn
outside the village, as neither horses nor
carriages were permitted to enter its
streets. Brock enjoys in Holland an en-
t%raordinary reputation for ncatness. The
streets are paved with polished stones in
different %colors,- which are ARRANGED 10
Mosaic designs. In front of each house
is a space reserved for the use of it's in.
habitants, which is inclosed BY an non
railing with bright ornaments OF brass
aud furnished with settees of carved
wood. So great Is the mania for %cleanli
ness that a withered leaf cannot fall in
one of those elegant parquets without
the family's rushing out in the utmost
haste to remove it.
When Master Woerden and his sen