Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-12

peiiS9 lHey are just ringing IOr tne
close of mass.
Arnold listened. He could hear the
slow strokes of bell, but the tones
were harsh and discordant A thick
mist was lying over that part of the
valley from which the sound came.
Your bell is cracked" he said, with
a laugh.
"Yes, KNOW the girl replied, indif-
ferently. ut does sound badly, and we
ought to have it recast. But what does
1t matter? 1t answers the purpose,
and we are used to 1t.
What is the name Of your village?"
'Germelshausen."
And can get to Wichtelhausen this
way?'
Yes; 1t is only short walk"
"Then l will keep on with you to
your village, and l can get my dinner
at the tavern, if it is good one."
1T is only too good" sighed the girl,
with backward glance to see if Helm
rich might be coming, after all.
Can tavern be too goodY'
Yes for the peasants she an
swered, earnestly, as they walked on
slowly. THE men waste their time
there and neglect their work. But, OF
course, it is different with gentlemen,
like you, who don't work. The peas
ants earn your bread for you"
mo, indeed" cried Arnold 1.-THE
peasant makes it, certainly, but we
have to earn 1t ourselves, and hard
enough it is, too, sometimes, for the
peasant looks out that his work is well
paid.
But you do not work p
Il will show you how I work. Sit
down there on that stone"
But what shall do there?'
only sit down" cried Arnold, hur-
riedly snatching sketch h-book and pen
Gil II will be through in a moment.
want to take your picture away as .
remembrance.
Are you a painter9"
"Yes"
Then you can paint over the pictures
in our church. They need it badly"
What is your name p asked Arnold,
rapidly sketching the outlines of the
girls charming face.
"Gertrud."
"And who Is your father?'
He is the schulze of the village, and
If you are a painter you must come
home with me to dinner. Then you
san talk 1t all over with my father.
about the paintings in the church,
asked Arnold, with smile.
Yes" she replied, earnestly, "and
you must stay with us long, long
time, until-until our day comes again
and the pictures are finished"
well, we'll see about that later
3ertrud. But your Heinrich may not
ike it to have me so much with you. !"
Heinrich Oh, he will not como
now."
But he may come tomorrow.
mo" said Gertrud, calmly. "As
he was not there at the appointed hour
ne will stay away until our day comes
again."
Your day9 What do you mean by
that?'
She looked at him with large and
earnest eyes and did not reply, and her
gaze grew far away and sorrowful.
Arnold forgot all else in his eagerness
to finish the sketch, for there was some
thing almost unearthly In her beauty
ut this moment.
Finally she sprang up saying that
she must go. Arnold quickly put his
things together and fastened to join
her. The village was nearer than he
had supposed A row of fruit-trees,
which he had taken for an alder thicket,
hid it, but, these passed, the old
smoke -blackened houses and low church
lower came into view. The heavy
mist which Arnold had seen in the dis
tance still hung over the village and
the sun could only cast a feeble yellow
light on the old weather beaten roofs.
But Arnold bestowed scarcely glance
upon all this, for Gertrud had quietly
taken his hand, and together they en-
tered the main street of the village.
With her eyes steadily fixed on the
ground, she led him on. They met few
people, and all passed without word
of greeting. This, in country where
the omission of the customary Good
day" or God greet you" was thing
Some, indeed, stopped and looked after
them, but no one spoke.
The silence was unbroken until Ar
mold, feeling 1t become almost painful
asked her if they always kept Sunday
so strictly In Germelshausen.
THE people do not even greet each
other as they pass" he said, land If it
were not for hearing dog bark now
and then, one might think the whole
village was head and buried"
''It is noon-t time" Gertrud said, land
the people are not disposed to talk; you
will find them all the merrier this even
ing"
THANK heavens r cried Arnold,
there are at least some children play
ing in the street. 1t began to seem al
most uncanny."
There is my fathers house." said
Gertrud softly.
But | must not come upon him SC
Unexpectedly, just at dinner time"
''They are expecting us, said Ger