The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-22
A ROSE FOR A WIFE.

ed, she has not been to see us for an eter-
nifty"
1.-THE last time was just a week ago.
responded the older lady dryly.
"A fortnight ago"
II thought it was a week"
"Three weeks, now that 7 come to think
of it, . maintained Frau Won Gerboth.
Tho whistle of the locomotive announc-
ing the approach of their destination
brought the discussion to a close. 1t pro-
duced an effect like the blast of an alarm
bugle sounded in the ears of sleeping sol
diers and announcing the unexpected ap-
pearance of the enemy near their camp.
In a few seconds the two ladies stood
armed to the teeth and ready for the fray,
which, being interpreted, means they were
loaded down with the thousand and n
parcels, bags, satchels, shawls and urn
brellas and were waiting for the train to
slow up and the door to be opened.
The conductor, who at length opened
the door and helped the ladies out, was a
remarkable looking person for such an of
flee. His handsome, strongly marked fea-
lures had q distinct military appearance.
His mustache was as fierce as any adjutant
could have desired, and his hands were
cased in faultless kid gloves. His clothes
were also not those of a railroad officer,
and his hat was certainly not of the sort
provided by the railway company for their
servants and employees.
Yet Frau Won Gerboth, as she stepped
lightly from the car, noticed nothing of
all this, and in her anxiety to get a seat in
the hotel omnibus had eyes for nothing
else whatever. Then suddenly the voice
of the polite conductor opened her eyes to
his identity.
Herr Won Hilgenan! How on earth
did,
"Will you allow me the pleasure of &C.
~companying you to the hotel!" he said in
a low voice that bore witness to old &C
quaintance, while the other lady hurried
on to get seats in the omnibus.
II suppose there is nothing else for me
to do under the circumstances" she said,
with well feigned annoyance, as the ON
nibus rolled away behind the two horses.
as it very far?' she added, with a pleas
anter smile.
sit will only take us Is minutes to
walk, " he said, land the path is shady
and COOL"
Then they began the walk side by side.
Nov tell me-" she began, how in the
name of goodness did you know that I was
coming here?"
"Oh,' he replied, with a sly look in his
eyes, There were a few indications that |
was not slow to notice. You also let drop
a few remarks in conversation with your
elderly friend who has gone on in the ON
nibus to the hotel"
Eyes, but you have not seen me to speak
to for over a week." she commenced,
land you had no special interest in MOTTO
ing my plans for the future"
"Is it only a week since we last metz"
he replied tenderly without noticing the
latter part of her sentence.
sit is indeed only a week., he went on,
answering his own question. Nov tell
me why you have come here" he added.
She made no answe but for some min
utes seemed lost in reflection.
Herr Won Hilgenan, / think you are
really the cleverest man I ever knew" she
said at length, with a mocking smile, "but
tell me what you are doing in this lonely,
out of the way corner of the world"
"Oh," he answered carelessly, yet not
SO carelessly as he would have wished his
voice to seem, Il have come here to collect
wild flowers and'- He stopped suddenly.
"And L nave come here" she said, pre-
tending she did not see the embarrassment
written on his face, Il have come here to
feel happy and enjoy life"
II
-to-use-a-companion, " he said slow
ly and with a Slight tremor in his voice
that he could not control.
"Ach," she replied archly, 'have I not
my dear old Thekla?"
"Oh, you hypoerite!" he thought to
himself. s'But you shall not escape me SO
easily"
THAT is true, " he said aloud. IT had
almost forgotten her for the moment.
Nevertheless I trust you will from time to
time allow me to join you and form a
triple alliance?"
Yes, certainly" she cried. sit takes
three, you know, to form a triple alliance.
Still we can play hide and go seek, and
Thekla can hide"
why do you persist in making fun of
me, gracious lady? Must I again say that
| honor O so-so-that I could even
bring the stars down from the sky if you
wished it?"
She had grown a 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 APP
pear in the daytime, you know"
"Oh, Frau Won Gerboth, can you not
listen to mo seriously for a even?''
he begged, with a shade of annoyance in
his voice.
Take you seriously? Ach, my dear lieu
tenant" she continued in the same oan-
tering tone, "how 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 of Delorges was told to pick up for
his sweetheart, Kunigunde? She got it in
the face, poor, foolish girl!'
s'I1 'orges had no heart" he said. 81
wouia have stood the test very different
ly."
*"You would not nave gone to get the
glove at all, eh?"
"You ave never demanded such a test
of me-"
"Who knowsf But there you are again,
the same as all the other men. You begin
by talking of catching the stars and then
cry down even at a glove"
by no means, . cried he. eff there
were a necessity for such a deed!''
"Why should not l indulge in some such
mood and f~ancys'' she went on, with a
twinkle in her roguish eyes. 'sDo you see,
for instance, that carnation up there? I
should like TO have it. Now, sir knight, II
your love is as warm as you say, h fetch
49, - - x 49,