Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-19

before their doors watching them, and
the whole place, with its quaint old
buildings. would have looked bright
and home-like if only the sun could
have found its way through the thick
brown smoke, which hung, like cloud,
over the roofs.
Are there field or forest fires in the
neighborhood ?" asked Arnold. mo
such smoke hangs over other villages,
andit can not come from the chimneys.
ut is a mist which rises from the
earth" said Gertrud, quietly. But
have you never heard of Germels
hausen 2"
Never"
THAT is strange, for the village is so
old, so very old"
The houses certainly look so, and
the people, too, have such an unusual
appearance, and your accent is so un-
like any that [ have ever heard. Do
you never go to other places?'
Never, answered Gertrud, briefly.
And there is not single swallow to
be seen! They cannot have flown away
yet 7"
Long ago, replied the girl, wearily;
they never build their nests in Ger
melshausen now; perhaps they do not
ike the mist"
But you do not always have that?"
Always"
Then that is the reason that your
trees bear no fruit. Why, in Marisfeld
che trees are so heavily laden this year
that they have been obliged to prop up
the branches.
They had now reached the outskirts
IF the village, where the silence and
loneliness were almost death-like. The
gardens looked as if it were many year
since human foot had trodden their
paths. a group came toward them; it
was the funeral procession returning to
the village. As they walked on toward
the graveyard Arnold tried to enliven
his companion, who seemed all too seri-
Dus, telling her of people and places
which he had seen in the great world.
She had never seen railroad. never
even heard of one and listened wonder
ingly to his explanations. She had not
the least idea of the telegraph as little
)f other modern inventions, and Arnold
marveled to find people, living in Ger
many, so isolated from the rest of the
world, and having apparently no com
munication with it. Talking of these
things they reached the graveyard.
Arnold looked with surprise at the
stones and monuments, which seemed
to be of extreme antiquity.
- =, "a IA l,
he bent over the nearest one and with
great difficulty deciphered the fancy
lettering of the inscription: Anna
Maria Berthold, born October first, 1lSS
died December second, 1924.
That is my mother" said Gertrud.
Your mother, my dear child 2" cried
Arnold, in astonishment. Your
great-great-g grandmother you mean"
No" said Gertrud, my own
mother. That is my stepmother you
saw"
But doesn't it say: Died in 1924
What does it matter to me what the
date is?' answered Gertrud, sadly; ''it
was hard, indeed, to lose her so young
and yet" she added, softly and mourn
fully, lit was perhaps better, much
better, that God took her then, be-
fore-"
Completely puzzled, Arnold bent
over the inscription more closely. Per-
haps the second figure might be an eight
instead of a two, for the quaint letter
ing made that not impossible. But the
second two was exactly like the first
and as 1884 was still in the future it
could not be intended for that. Per-
haps the stonecutter made mistake;
anyway, he would not disturb Gertrud
with troublesome questions He left
her, therefore, beside the stone, where
she had sunk down and was softly
praying, and examined some of the
other monuments; but all, without ex-
ception, bore dates of centuries long
past, even as early as 900, and no newer
stones were to be found. Yet they still
buried their dead here, as the last fresh
grave testified.
From the low wall surrounding the
graveyard there was fine view of the
old village and Arnold taking advan-
tage of the opportunity, quickly sketched
it. Even over this place the strange
mist hung while farther away toward
the mountains the sun was shining
bright and clear.
Suddenly from the village came the
sound of the old cracked bell, and Ger
trud, rising, motioned the young man
with afriendly nol to follow her
Arnold was quickly at her side.
I'VE must mourn no longer now"
she said, smiling; Church is over and
now the dance will begin
But no one is coming ont of the
church" said Arnold.
That is very natural said Gertrud,
laughing, for no one goes in, not even
the priest Only the sacristan is true
to his post and rings for the beginning
and end of the service"
And do none of you go to church 2"
mo; neither to mass nor confession,
answered Gertrud, calmly; I'VE are at
variance with the pope, and the church
is closed to use until we submit"
But l never heard anything about
that"
.l