The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-11-17

ment written on. his face; have come
here to feel happy and enjoy life. =
Il wonder-if you-would able
-use-a-companion, he said slowly,
and with slight tremor in his voice that
he could not control.
s,Ach p she replied, archly; have L
not my dear old Thekla?''
'.Oh, you hypocrite he thought to
himself. "but you shall not escape me so
easily
That is true, he said aloud. II had
almost forgotten her for the moment.
Nevertheless, | trust you will from time to
time allow me to join you and form triple
alliance
s'Yes, certainly, she cried. at takes
three, you know, to form triple alliance.
Still we can play hide and go seek. and
Thekla can hide.
e;Why do you persist in making fun of
me, gracious lady? ''Must | again say
that honor you so-so-so that l could
even bring the stars down from the sky if
you wished it?''
She had grown little roster, and her
heart was beating quickly. But she had
no intention of being too easily caught.
You're getting quite eloquent, she
said, teasingly,' but the stars don't ap-
pear in the daytime, you know.
''Oh Frau Won Gerboth, can you not
listen to me seriously for moment even?'
he begged with a shade of annoyance in
his voice
Take you seriously Ach My dear
Lieutenant, she continued in the same
bantering tone, chow many thousand brave
men have promised us poor women to snatch
the stars for us from the sky But as
soon as we take them at their word they
fail us altogether. Don't you know the
story of the glove that the proud knight,
Dalorges, was told to pick up for his sweet
heart, Kunigunde ? She got it in the
face, poor foolish girl.
'Dalorges had no heart, he said. Il
would have stood the test very differently, .
''You would not have gone to get the
glove at all, eh?''
''You have never demanded such test
of me-
''Who knows? But there you are
again, the same as all the ether men. You
begin by talking of catching the stars and
then cry down even at glove.
''By no means. cried he ''If there
were any necessity for such deed. =
why should not indulge in some such
mood and fancy?' she went on with a
twinkle in her roguish eyes. do you
see, for instance, that carnation up there !?
should like to haveit Now, Sir Knight,
if your love is as warm as you say, then
fetch to me yonder flower, she cried,
parodying Kunigunde' words in the poem,
and pointing to white carnation blossom
that grew on the third story of neighbor-
ing villa, and hung its pretty head down
from the wall.
He made wry face to this request and
said ''Do you wish me to climb up on
the outside, or shall I-?'
Just as you please, Sir Knight, she
answered shortly, ''but do not give your
self too much trouble Stars are more
easily reached and with less awkward re-
suits possibly.
Meanwhile they had crossed the road,
and now stood opposite the house. As he
raised his eye he saw red rose, freshly in
blossom, on the wall of the summer resi-
dence that stood next An amusing smile
played over his face as he turned to his
companion and said
IF you must have a stolen flower, | am
prepared even to bring down to your feet
yonder red rose
oh, no; you must not do it, = she said,
with tantalizing little smile.
And would you not accept it from me
if were to pluck it from its lofty perch p
he asked
''Oh, why should not p she answered,
feeling convinced that he would back out
of the adventure in the end
Then | ask only five minutes patience
and the rose is yours, was his quick reply
as he disappeared inside the door of the
house, even before Frau Leonore Won Ger
both had time to restrain him by single
word
what a silly, reckless fellow p she
murmured. ''Who could marry such a
man? l never
The sound of glass door opening caused
her to come to a standstill and looking
around she felt the blood rush in shame to
the very roots of her golden hair Up
there on the balcony above her an old lady
was smilingly cutting the red rose from the
tree.
She felt ready to sink into the ground
A moment later Herr Won Hilgenan APP
peared on the street, and offered to her
with the smile of victor the sweet-smell-
ing and graceful flower.
''Simply beautiful Isit not p he said
with laugh
II think it is dreadful of you, Herr Won
Hilgenan, she replied in low voice, hav-
ing not yet recovered from the shame she
felt at his boldness in entering private
house and asking for flower
How on earth did you accomplish it p
s'Mein Gott that was easy enough |
rang the bell, and an old lady opened the
door for me- | bowed to her and said :
Gracious lady, there is growing on the
balcony of your house beautiful rose that
fain would have .
And what did she say?'
''She first asked me if l were crazy ="
In which question she was not far
from guessing the truth.
Said she was not gracious lady and
so on. Then addressed her as 'Mutter-
chen, my little mother, which seemed to
please her. l then explained to her that
outside on the street there stood a very
beautiful, capricious little woman who
would, perhaps, consent to marry me if [
gave her the aforementioned beautiful
little red rose l had asked for.
'Indeed You said that p
Son my word of honor
- 1 p 1