Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-07

do so produced an expression of melan-
choly which was too much for the gravity
of the photographer. He laughed heartily.
Look as though you weren't going to
be photographed, he suggested Liza,
for goodness sake look as though you were
baking the bread. And, Hans, try to be-
lieve that you are doing some Of your beau
tiful carving"
The patience of the photographer was
something wonderful. AT last he succeed
ed in making them appear at their ease.
And then he told Liza that she must go
and change her dress and be photographed
now in the way he wished. She came
down again, looking 80 times prettier in
her working clothes. Now he was in his
element. He arranged Liza and Hans on
tho sledge of timber, which had then driv-
en- up, and made picturesque group of
them all, Hans and Liza sitting side by
side ON the timber, the horses standing
there so patiently after their long journey
through the forests, the driver leaning
against his sledgc smoking his long china
pipe.
''That will be something like a picture"
he said to Bernardine when the perform
ance was over Now I am going for
about miles walk. VIII you come with
me and see what 1 am going to photo
graph, or will you rest here till l come
back?"
She chose the latter, and during his alb
sence was shown the treasures and possess
sions of q Swiss peasants home.
She was taken to see the cows in the
stalls and had u lecture given her on the
respective merits of Schneewitchen, a
white cow kartoffelkuchen adark brown
one, and RosclE, the beauty of them all.
Then she looked at the spinning wheel
and watched the old hausfrau turn tho
trcadlc. And so the time passed, Bernar-
dine making good friends of them all.
Catharina had returned to her knitting
and began working and as before not
noticing any one. But Bernardine sat by
her side, playing with the cat, and after a
time Catharina looked up at Bcmardine's
little thin face, and after some hesitation
stroked it gently with her hand.
''Fraulen is not strong" she said ten
derby. IF fraulcin lived here, should
take care of her. :"
That was n remnant of Catharina's past.
She had always loved everything that was
ailing and weakly.
Her hand rested on Bcrnardines hand.
Bcrnardino pressed it in kindly sympathy,
thinking the while of the girls past hap
piness and present bereavement.
Liza is betrothed, she said as though
to herself. They don't tell me, but
know. l was betrothed once"
She went on knitting. And that was all
she said of herself
Then, after n pause, she said:
"Fraulcin is bctrothcd?"
Rnrp nrIipn COilnI and shook bpr hnn1
and Catharina made no further inquiries.
But she looked up from her work from
time to time and seemed pleased that Ber-
narClinc still staid with her. AT last the
old mother came to say that the coffee was
ready and Bcrnardinc followed her into
the parlor.
She watched Bernardine drinking the
coffee and finally poured herself out cup
too.
''This is the first timo Herr Allitscn has
ever brought friend" she said He has
always been alone. Fraulein is bctrothcd
to Herr Allitscn-is that SO? Ah l am
glad He is so good and so kind. "
Bcrnardino stopped drinking her coffee.
mo, l am not bctrothcd," she said
chcerily. "Wo are just friends and not
always that either. We quarrel.
"All lovers do that" persisted Frau
Steinhart triumphantly.
''Wcll, you ask him yourself, =" said Ber-
nnrdinc, much amused. She had never
looked upon Robert Allitscn in that light
before. Sec there he comes.
Bcrnardinc was not present at the court
martial, but this was what occurred
While the Disagrccablc Man was paying
the reckoning Frau Steinhart said in her
most mothcrly tones:
"Fraulcin is II very dear young lady.
Herr Allitsen has made awisc choice He
is bctrothcd at last"
Tho Disagrccablc Man stopped counting
out the money.
Stupid old Frau Stcinhart" he said
good naturally, People like myself don't
get bctrothed. We get buried instead. F."
"Na, IA, F." she answered. "What thing
to say, and SO unlike you too! No, but
toll me"
"Wcll, am telling you the truth, " he
replied. If you don't believe me, ask
fraulcin herself. y
II have asked her." said Frau Stein
hart, land she told me to ask you.
The Disagrccablc Man was much
amused. He had never thought of Bernar
dine in that way.
He paid the bill and then did something
which rather astoniShed Frau Stcinhart
and half convinced her.
Ifc took the bill to Bcrnardinc, told her
the amount of her share, and she repaid
him then and there.
There was u twinkle in her eye rs she
looked up at him. Then the compoSure of
Der features relaxed, and she laughed
He laughed. too, but no comment was
made upon the episode Then began the
goodbys and the preparations for the re-
turn journey.
Bcrnardino bent over Catharina and
kissed her sad face.
"Fraulein will come againN' she whis-
percd eagerly.
And Bcrnarlinc promised. There was
something in Bernardino's manner which
had won tho poor girls fancy-some I'M
spoken sympathy, some quiet geniality.
just as they were starting Frau Stein
hart whispered to Robert Allitscn:
1T is little disappointing to me, Herr
Allitscn. l did SO hope you Were be-
trothcd. F"
August, tho blue specialized driver,
cracked his whip, and Off the horses start
cd homeward.
For some time there was no converse
/ ki,,, l>,t th, fxyn pppunnpts nf the