The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
My heart Is mine no longer.
'Tis stolen quite away
BY maiden, sweet and lovely,
Who listens to my lay.

sign of love is laid.
Early the next morning Mailic came TO
the rose tree and found n tiny golden
heart hidden in the moist grass. She lis
tened with sparkling eyes and burning
cheeks to Hans words of love and laid
the tiny golden heart on her own fast beat
ing one and sNHore never to let 1t go,
while Hans, half mad with joy, cried,
"Ah, If only the kaiser would come now, "
but the kaiser came no more.
The fall passed, winter came, and the
young people saw each other more rarely
than ever but Hans often sang the song
of the rose tree and many another, all
telling of his love for Mailic, till at last
her father noticed it and threatened her
with his curse if she did not stop all inter
course with the good for nothing artist. "
So one day Hans and Mailie stood for
the last time beside the rose tree they had
planted many years before Mailie had
told Hans of her fathers threat, and now
she stood silent, her hand resting in his,
while tears courscd slowly down her
checks
"Mailio, tell me that you do not think
me such a worthless fellow"
Her blue eyes looked full into his brown
ones, and smile of love and trust crept
over her face.
NO. Hans indeed 1 do not. No one
shall ever make me think that They do
not know you us l do. You have taught
me all that l know that is great and beau
tiful. Your have nodded me and made me
what l am even us your artist hand forms
an image from "A shapeless piece of wood, "
and she took his strong hand and pressed
it to her soft, warm lips, then folded her
white fingers over his brown ones and
added Il will believe in you always, for
you honor God with your art, and who
ever does that cannot be evil"
"And will you be true to me, Mailie,
till have brought my art and myself to
honor, and till l come back to claim you
for my bridey"
eyes, Hans, l will never leave my ia
| Tiers house but to go to you-or to the
cloister. And If l should die before you
come i will ask them to bury me here I'M
der the kaiser's tree, where we have been
so happy. Then, if you come back and lie
hero in the sunshine to rest you from your
toll and sorrow, every rose leaf that falls
on you shall be kiss from me, /" and she
wept on his breast, their tired hearts beat
ing against eaclftther in the pain of part
Ing while the promise of spring-of buds
and roses-pulsed and throbbcd in the
rose tree with the rising sap.
Don't cry, Mailie" Hans said, trying
to be strong. II am going to Durer's,
and when l have learned to do something
of worth l will seek the kaiser and ask
him to use his influence with your father. "
ooh, yes, if the dear kaiser would but
come.
He will certainly come my love-, said
Hans, for we will pray the good God to
bring him to us-or me to him" They
knelt together in the cool, damp grass,
and it seemed to their trusting hearts
that God must work miracle and change
the kaiser's tree into his own loved pres
ence.
Suddenly the sound of the great mill
ster bell smote upon their ears-full of fore
bodings, mournfully, slowly it tolled.
People began to climb the hill that led to
the church, and Hans ran to them with
eager inquiry.
"Where have you been' Have you not
heard that our kaiser is dead?'
The kaiser deadl Poor Hans stood as II
turned to stone. Where were all his hopes
now? He rested his burning brow against
the cool stem of the rose tree and groaned
aloud.
The knell had ceased, and all Of nature
was so still and dead it seemed as though
spring and life could never como again. A
light hand rested on his bowed head
Mailie had come to be his comforter.
"Oh, Mailie, the kaiser will never
come againP'
"But God is with us, said Mailie soft
". AS she stood before Hans in her maid
en- purity and beauty the light of inspira
ton overspread his face, and he Whispered
low:
'Mailie, God is truly with us. HI
shows me now, as in a vision, the queer
of heaven surrounded by holy angels, an(
if can but carve all that he shows me
shall be great myself and need kaiser
help no longer"
Next morning at daybreak Hans Sc
out. As he passed Ruppacher's house lout
and clear his voice rang OUT
My heart is mine no longer.
'Tis stolen quite away.
Softly one of the lower windows wa
raised, and n white handkerchief waved
last farewell through the dusky light, tn
song went on, but the voice grew trem
bling and uncertain-full of unshed tear
then ceased, and all was still once more
Years passed and nothing was heard o
Hans Liefrink, and no one thought of hin
save Mailie, in whose gentle, loving hear
he was ever present and ever dear and VIII
watched for him till at last hope was al
most dead, and the roses faded in he
checks, and dumb sorrow looked out o
the sweet blue eyes. Breisach was trem
bling for its old faith, and Duke Ferdi
nand, Kaiser Maximilians nephew ant
successor, counseled her children to do al
they could to strengthen the Catholi
faith by means Of votive offerings an,
ideal paintings and sculptures In thei
churches The minister had long lacke
I high altar worthy of it, and notices wer
sent broadcast bidding all German artist
to send in their plans, that the best Nigh
l be chosen and the work begun.
l Mailie heard but little of all this, fo
r she never went about among the peopl
= and lived alone in her little bay windowe
+ room waiting for Hans to como. But 81
p was growing weak and weary with wal
ing, and the eyes she turned toward Il
d Christ that Hans had carved for her wei
s often full of tears. Five long years ha
. passed since she had seen him, when OF
) evening
o There grows a slender rose tree
n Within the minister's shade.
II echoed softly as a summer zephyr III
der her window She sprang to the cas-
l. ment and looked out, but could see 1
y one In the darkness. Love lent VIM