The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-08-02
SHIPS THAT PASS
IN THE NIGHT.
By BEATRICE HARRADEN.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A BETROTHAL.

BETRoTHAL.
He had loved her SO patiently, and now
he felt that he must have his answer. 1t
was only fair to her and to himself too,
that he should know exactly where he
stood In her affections. She had certainly
given him little signs here and there,
which had made him believe that she was
not Indifferent to his admiration. Little
signs were all very we'll for short time,
but meanwhile the season was coming to
an end. She had told him that she was
going back to her work at home, and
then perhaps he would lose her altogether
1t would not be safe now for him to delay
a single day longer. So the little postman
armed himself with courage.
Warli's brain was muddled that day.
He who prided himself upon knowing the
names of all the guests in Petershof made
the most absurd mistakes about people
and letters, too, and received in acknowl-
edgment of his stupidity series of scold-
ings which would have unnerved strong
er person than the little hunchback post
man.
In fact, he ceased TO care how he gave
out the let+H"s. All the envelopes seemed
to have the same name on them-Marie
Truog. Every word which he tried to de-
cipher turned to that. So finally he tried
no more, leaving the destination of the
letter to be decided by the impulse of the
moment AT last he arrived at that quar-
ter of the Kurhaus where Marie held sway.
He heard her singing in her pantry. Sud-
denly She was summoned down stairs by
an impatient bell ringer and on her return
found Warli waiting in the passage.
"What goose you are!' she cried,
throwing letter at him. You have left
the wrong letter at No. 49,"
Then some one else rang, and Marie hur-
ried off again. She came back with anoth-
er letter in her hand and found Warli sit
ting in her pantry.
THE wrong letter left at No. 54," she
said land madame in a horrid temper in
consequence What nuisance you are
today, Warli! Can't you read? Here, give
the remaining letters to me. I'll sort
them"
Warli took off his little round hat and
wiped his forehead.
Il can't read today, Marie" he said.
Something has gone wrong with me.
Every name l look at turns to Marie
Truog. 1 ought to have brought every one
of the letters to you. But 1 knew they
could not be all for you, though you have
SO many admirers, for they would not be
the same post"
1T would be very dull if they did,"
said Marie who was polishing some water
bottles with more diligence than was usual
or even necessary.
But l am the one who loves you, Ma
riechen," the little postman said. II have
always loved you ever since can remem-
Der. l am not much to look at, Mariechen
the binding of the book is not beautiful,
but the book itself is not bad book"
Marie went on polishing the water bot
ties. Then she held them up to the light
to admire their unwonted cleanness.
II don't plead for myself" continued
Warli. IF you don't love me, that is the
end of the matter. But if you do love me,
Mariechen, and will marry me, you won't
be unhappy. Now have said ALL"
Marie put down the water bottles and
turned to Warli
You have been long time in telling
me, she said poutingly. why didn't
you tell me three months ago? It's too
late now"
"Oh, Mariechen,' said the little post
man, seizing her hand and covering it
with kisses, you love some one else-you
are already betrothedP And now it's too
late, and you love some one elsep'
Il never said I loved some one else,"
Marie replied. Il only said it was too late.
Why it must be nearly 3 o'clock, and my
lamps are not yet ready. I haven't mo-
ment to spare. Dear me, and there is no
oil in the can. No, not one little DROP"
1.-THE devil take the oilp' exclaimed
Warli, snatching the can out of her hands.
What do l want to know about the oil
in the can? want to know about the
love in your heart. Oh, Mariechen, don't
keep me waiting like this just tell me
If you love me and make me the merriest
soul in all Switzerland.
Must I tell the truth" she said in a
most melancholy tone of voice. The
truth and nothing else? Well, Warli If
you must know how grieve to
hurt you"-Warli's heart sank, the tears
came into his eyes-"but since it must be
the truth and nothing else" continued
the torturer, well, Fritz,
love your
A few minutes afterward the Disagreea-
BILE Man, having failed to attract any no.
tice by ringing, descended to Marie's pan
try to fetch his lamp He discovered Warli
embracing his betrothed.
Il am sorry to intrude, he said grimly,
and he retreated at once But directly aft
erward he came back.
THE matron has just come up stairs, u
he said. And he hurried away.