The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-12

Elizabeth stuart Phelps.
For the Boys aud Girls.
"AFTERwARDs."
From French Leaflets Of fPotonie-Pisrre.
In 1878, when returning from trip
in the North, passed through Franck-
fort; instead of returning directly 10
Paris, 1 resolved to see again Wles'
baden, Goblentz, Bonn, Cologne,
whence could take an express train
which would bring me home In
Twelve hours. So directed my
course toward the Taunus station,
proposing to breakfast at Wiesbaden.
devoted my afternoon to visit to
the aged Gunther, whom as beard
less young man had known when
was learning German in the former
capital of Nassau. Instead of getting
into the train again, calling up the re-
membranes of former years when l
went swimming in the Rhine, I chose
TO 90 on foot to Biebrich. Perhaps the
poor old man was dead; no matter; l
would learn what had become of
him.
All along the road the "reminiscences
Of nv sixteenth year danced before
me like cloud of phantoms: l recall
ed the gardener, jolly good man that
he was, who received me with open
arms, and felt myself oppressed, like
one whose home was on the banks of
the great river, at the thought that the
Duchy had lost its independence,
swallowed up by invading Prussia.
Having arrived at the park of Bic
bri I asked for the head gardener;
a man of forty years cid appeared and
Iold me that for long time father
Gunther had lived in Wiesbaden.
"He will not last long, poor old man."
I was told. "He must have had
constitution Of iron to hold out to the
present time"
+ went to the station, and the first
train brought ME in a tWinkllng back
to Wiesbaden. :,
found the aged Gunther buried
in big arm.cha near the open win.
dow. He did not recognize me. 1t
was impossible that he should do so,
as 80 many years had passed. L had
been informed that he had soft OF
monomania which brought him back
continually to the same thought, leav-
ing him only just enough lucidity to
speak always of the same subject.
ooh" said he feebly when he had
heard my name, chow / have suffer-
ed, how I have suffered since the time
when you came to spe me at Blebrich.
She was not then born, and she il now
gone, poor girl. She was all that l
had LETT, sir,n said the old man, grasp
ing my two hands, bringing his face
near my own, and looking with moist
ewes directly into mine; well, it was
YOUR French bullets that killed her,
by their indirect effect, without touch
ing her. ........
HShe loved him so much, you see;
oh, tell me that all does not end here
on the earth: l wish must find her
again, my Malchen, my little darling,
my former joy, my everything, every
thing.
"Oh, happily, it will not be long,
not Iong.E6 and the poor old man eX-
hausted, breathing heavily. almost
without consciousness, threw back his
white and wriDkled head upon the
pillow placed behind hind him on the
back of the armchair:
The woman who took care OF him
approached, had him breathe some
salts, and opening his toothless mouth
had him swallow spoonful OF cordial.
81 should be very sorry," said, vi
nv visit should do him harm"
'.Oh no, sir" answered the woman,
"these fainting spells come upon him
for any trlfle, or rather for no reason
always when he awakens from his
torpor, he has such spells" :.
had scarcely got back to Pari:
when I learned of the old mans death
He is very happy now, cannot hell
thinking.
Seven years before my visit to thu
aged Gunther, one winter evening
the grandfather and his granddaughter
sad and overwhelmed by the news o.
the war, were looking silently at the
snow which was seen falling outside
of the window panes.
"How cold it must be-" calculated
the young girl with sigh.
"Oh yes" said the old man, very
very cold;' and Gunther shivered:
"Father you are conceallng something
from me; is Fritz wounded? Some
body has written 80 to you, sure, ant
YOU have told me nothing OF It."
"My dear daughter, be calm,-" ant
Gunther approached the child, seeing
her already growing pale and totter
ing. o,,
God, is he then dead?" Then, he
grandfather saying nothing, she wen
on: dead, dead, all is over, you can
not lie, he is dead, see. oh God, oi
Godw
Malchen put her head into he
hands, and pressed her temples. %. 4"
am going Wild" she exclaimed will
an unearthly cry. ).
Her grandfather took her in hi
arms, carried her to the table, AM
with his handkerchief, upon whicl
die poured some water, he bathed he
forehead and her temples, saying t.