The herald., 1894-07-22

one in the darkness. Love lent wings
to her feet, and like an escaped bird
she few up tho mountain side to the kai
ser's tree, where two strong arms clasped
her and held her close, while her head
swan, and it seemed as If the waters OF
the Rhine were closing in about her. They
held each other long in silent embrace, for
true love needs no words to tell its depths.
Hans was the first to speak.
How pale you are, sweetheart Are
you ills'
She shook her head, with happy laugh.
"Oh, no, not now. But you were gone sc
long. Why did you not come sooner?"
Il could not, little one. II had come |
back poor, unknown fellow, your father |
would have dismissed me again. So l
staid and Toasted my eyes on all the art
treasures Of the great cities and worked
in Durers studio till my name was men |
toned with honor among his pupils, and
I said to myself, Now you may WOO the
lovely Mailie' And when heard there |
was to be new altar put in our minister |
fastened here to make application and
if 1 am found worthy to do the work what
can your father have against me them"
Mai1ie shook her head doubtfully, but
Hans was full Of Joy.
How the kaisers tree has grownl" he
cried in wonder. 1T seems to have taken
oil the warm blood out of your cheeks, its
roses are SO red. Give my loves roses back
to her, he said, playfully brushing her
cheek with n flower, but they were pale
and white THAT is not good paint. Let
us try this, and no pressed a kiss on her
cheek. Aye that is better" he laughed,
and laid her blushing face against his
breast "Bloom out, my little rose. The
spring Is almost here"
The next morning the usher of the high
gabled town hall came into the council
chamber with hesitating steps.
"Your honorable body will be graciously
pleased to pardon, but there is one with
out who insists upon coming into your
presence
who is it?" asked the burgomaster.
''It is Hans Liefrink, 3" said the usher,
"but so much changed I hardly knew him.
He wants to compete for the new altar
and submit his plans"
"What should we have to do with such a
scapeSrace as he? Let him go back where
he came from, was the decision. 1--WE
want no such bunglers as he. u
| The kindly old messenger left the room,
with somewhat crcstfallen air, but re-
turned almost Immediately, bringing a
paper of draftings with him, which he
presented with many bows and apologies
"Liefrink begs you will examine these,
your worships, and you can inquire of
Durer, in Nuremberg, as to his ability"
IF the fellow don't take himself OFF we
will have the jailer after him, " cried Rup-
pacher, in rage
''Softly, softly, Master Ruppacher; the
draft represents the coming of the Mother
of God in heaven and is right fancifully
thought out, it seems to me"
but to imagine thing is much easier
than to do it. Liefrink never could do
such thing" said one of the councillors.
Besides it was simply ridiculous to give
such work into the hands of a BreisacheI
child, whom some had even looked askance
upon. So Hans was summarily dismissed.
The authorities finally decided to send
their plans to Albrecht Durer and to let
him DO their judge. And at the same
time with tho letter from the council went
a letter from Hans to his great teacher and
good friend.
Weeks slipped by in alternate anxiety
and sweet stolen happiness for the lovers
They met as formerly at the kaiser's tree,
for the struggles Of 1924 drew Ruppacher's
attp fr0Sn his dapgRhSer pRa MAllol(
love. At last Durer's answer came, but
who can describe the amazement of tht
council when it was found that the letter
contained Hans Liefrink's despised plar
and these words, II can recommend moth
ing more beautiful than this plan of my
friend and pupil, Hans Liefrink, whose
ability to execute it l fully guarantee
"A half hour later a crowd of people
pressed up the narrow street and stopped
before Hans Liefrink's little house. HI
came to the door, and to his establishment
saw a deputation from the council, one o.
whom stepped up and told him with grea
pomp that his plan had been approved by
Durer and he had been chosen by the
council to execute the high altar for thu
minister.
Hans clapped his hands for joy. Was il
really true or only q beautiful dream
When the deputation had departed, h,
fastened over to Ruppacher's, for this wa
his time to speak.
Mailie opened the door for him-a low
cry of happy fright, quick kiss-and sht
disappeared into her own room, where will
beating heart, she sank before her crucifl1
and implored the blessed Virgins help
Hans stepped fearlessly into Ruppacher
presence, who cried, with flaming eyes:
What do you wantP'
Herr Ruppacher, 1 know an homes
AAAeAAA NhO 3oNCo yOul laughter illu WIN
would marry her, and I want to bring
him to YOU
''So-and who may he be?'
Myself, Herr Councillor.
you! Did any one ever hear such i'm
pudence. The beggar dares''-
Herr Councillor" Hans cried out, 81
never was bcggar. My father was poor
but he supported us with his wood cary
ing and after his death my mother tool
care of herself and me by tho honest labol
of her hands. The only things 1 ever re
ceived in my lifo were the knife and tn,
purse from Kaiser Max, and those die
not beg-he gave them to poor boy il
whom he recognized an aspiration fol
better things. 1 have worked hard with
the knife and educated myself with the
money, and both have yielded me good in
terest. 1 am no beggar, Herr Councillor
and for the next two years the commission
l have just received will enable me tc
abundantly provide for WIFE
1.-Two years, and what thenP" sneered
Ruppacher.
"Then new commissions will comel'
"Oh, you think you arc something fine,
no doubt, but you belong to a race Of stan
gazers and loafers, who do nothing but
spin dreams and are too lazy to work"
Hans was burning with indignation,
but he controlled himself for Mailie's sake