Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-14

| shaped and there were white, even teeth
behind them. Her figure, like that of
most Saxon peasant girls of her age, was
robust and vigorous; she wore a simple
bodice and skirt, and her feet and legs
were bare. Altogether, / thought her
very agreeable apparition.
"Good morning, honored Herr Gains
borough" she said gravely in German
as entered.
"Good morning, pretty maiden" re-
turned !, calamity. "You seem to know
my name, though don't know yours
what is it?'
81 am called Christina-C Christina Ru-
dolph. It is some time since l have
known Herr Gainsborough's name" she
added.
"Reallyl how comes that?' asked, by
no means displeased.
"The honored Herr has been kind to
a relation Of mine-a very near rela-
tion," replied Christina, with the same
gravity.
"Have p I'm glad to hear It'll Was
she as pretty as thou?" inquired 1, ven
turing upon the familiar form of ad-
dress.
She blushed and answered:
"It was not q woman-it was my
brother"
"Oh, thy brotherl And where did l
meet thy brotherT'
'In Paris, Herr Gainsborough."
"In Parish Rudolph What, art thou
the sister of Heinrich Rudolph, who
lives in the Latin Quarter and is con-
sidered the cleverest jeweler in the cityT'
eyes, honored Herr" returned Chris
tina, smiling for the first time and
showing her pretty teeth and dimple
on either cheek. "My brother Heinrich
cut and arranged the diamonds in the
parure of the honored Heirs mother"
$50 he did, Christina, and he did it
better than any one except him could
have done it. And so thou art really his
sister, How did he tell thee of meP'
HE wrote to me while you were still
in Paris and described the pretty stones,
and told how Herr Gainsborough used
to come and sit with him and see him
work and talk great deal with him."
"Yes, he was well worth talking with.
And 1 remember now that he said he
was born in this neighborhood, and that
he had sister and a father living here.
It was stupid of me not to have thought
Of that when heard your name. Well,
Christina, I'm afraid wasn't of much
use to him after all. tried to get him
customers but knew very few people
in Paris, and the only person did sue
coed in introducing to him-By the way,
it was this gentleman who is with me
now"
"Herr Birchmore; yes, my brother
spoke also of him." said Christina, her
gravity returning. "But he did not
speak Of the young lady or of the serv-
ant"
"No, believe they weren't with him
at the time. I only met them myself
since came to Schandau."
"The young lady is Herr Birchmore's
-wifeF'
ellis wife? Dear heavens, moi His
daughter, of course, Christina"
Christina said nothing, being occupied
in neatly smoothing out the pillow and
laying the wadded counterpart over the
sheet.
"Will Herr Gainsborough stay with
us long?" she asked after pause.
Gas long as Herr Birchmore does, /
suppose" said carelessly.
| ''And Herr Birchmore's daughtery'
subjoined Christina with twinkle of
mischief so demure that could hardly
be sure whether she meant it or not.
'Thou art as clever as thy brother,
Christina" laughed, coloring a little,
too, however, dare say. at is true 1
have not known them long, but-but
people see good deal of one another in
travelling together"
81 have heard it said that travelling
makes people acquainted with"-she
paused and looked down thoughtfully
at her bare feet. Presently she lifted
her blue eyes straight to mine and asked,
"Herr Gainsborough has his diamonds
with himP'
Undoubtedly! They are never away
from me-"
SIN going about this place the Herr
should be cautious. Some of these hills
and valleys are very lonely. There are
spots not far from here where no one
goes for sometimes many months"
"Well, I'll be very careful Christin-
chen" rejoined laughing, and in truth
not little amused at the care my friends
took of me. But thou must remember
that no one in Germany, except Herr
Birchmore and his daughter and thyself,
knows that any such diamonds as these
are in existence-much less that they are
in my pocket"
Christina raised her finger to her lips,
as if to caution me to speak lower.
''There is at least one other who knows
the man Slurkv" she said.
"Well, perhaps he may" I replied,
somewhat struck by her observation;
''and as see thou hast taken dislike
to the fellow will confide to thee that
consider him an atrocious brute. But,
brute though he is, there's no harm in
him Of that kind. He is an old servant
of Herr Birchmore, l believe, and would
of course be dismissed at once if there
were anything serious against him." -
''Naturallyr' was all Christmas an
swer; she made no pretense of arguing
the point with me. "Adieu, honored
siri" she said at the door. But, with her
hand upon the latch, she paused, turned
/ nrnr,nd and nddnd rnAhnr nnu,frnno.l1rr