The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-12-21
The Iron
Assessor.


@ which today the train from
~ the GoerIitz station whizzes,
EASV and which is visited by
thousands of summer idlers
in their outings in the
Spreewald. I mean the Luebben of
twenty years ago, where stranger
seldom appeared, and where the only
connection with the city was the post
wagon. The social center of the place
ut that time was the Star, with its
Hebe, ErneStine, somewhat old, it's
true, but fieet-footed still. Here the
younger generation drank their beer
and, now and then, their punch. In
the Star, one evening. sat together
civilians and soldiers in their com
Portable hunting g-jackets. An old Of
ficer had just finished so incredible
q hunting story that no listener dared
venture a first word, when suddenly
the door opened, and the chief Justice
entered Now the chief-justice ap-
peared at the Star only when some
thing of unusual Importance had hap
pened in Luebben. So, after the first
greetings arose on all sides: "What
is it judge? Murder? Embezzlement?
Elopement?'
'All wrong, gentlemen, all wrong"
returned the judge. Worse! much
worse! We are to have an unmarried
assessor; and since the news has
spread. the girls, under the pretext
of calling ON my daughters, have not
given me a moments peace. Is he
wise, rich, handsome, fat, thin, tall,
short blonde, brunette, and--what
not? Overwhelmed with the ava
lanche of questions, I have just man
aged to escape with my life-and
now, Ernestine, glass of beer"
In a few moments the judge had
recovered sufficiently to satisfy the
universal curiosity about the new
conner. Herr Won Kahlbaum, the
newly-appointed assessor, had been
iurist and accomplished gentleman,
whose only weakness lay in his being
sworn Woman-hater.
1t was chilly March evening when
the long form Of Assessor Won Kahl-
baum sprang from the city stage. He
was a man CT about 80, with closely
cropped light hair, long. curly, red
dish beard, ruddy complexion, and
merry blue eyes. His fine, we'll
featured face awakened confidence,
and its owner would have had some
claim to positive beauty, had he not
been so thin. He went directly to-
ward the Star, where he had already
ordered rooms. Ernestine, in her
freshly -starched, snow-white apron,
stood with beaming face in the door
way to greet the new guest, who re-
turned her welcome with a half-sup-
pressed exclamation, and an audible
''These officious old womenv'
A few hours later, around the long.
Old-fashioned table of the Star, was
fYnfh
In the least wearied by his Journey.
Kablbaum was brinming over with
wit and good-humor. He related
story after story, and proved himself
not only a clever speaker, but also
what is much more rare-a charming
listener. AS the company separated,
1t was universally agreed that the as
SCISSOR was a valuable addition to their
gatherings. The married members of
the club knew not how to excuse
themselves to their better halves for
their late return, except by sounding
the praises of the new arrival. And
50 among the mothers of the little
city curiosity waxed strong, and
through the dreams of many a re-
spectacle dame lowered the face of
the woman-hater.
But Frau Won Kesselschmidt, the
colonels wife, could find no sleep, al
though her enthusiastic husband had
long since yielded to the poppy god.
No romantic fancies filled her head,
however. Was she not daughter of
practical England? Persistenty her
mind returned to the new assessor.
Herr Won Kahlbaum, the woman
hater, should be summoned before the
wives and maidens of Luebben.
Maud, her dear sister, to whom she
had been a second mother, was near
ly 25 years old. She ought to marry.
Perhaps the assessor might be the
husband for Maud. And the little
frau fell asleep with murmured,
eyes, that will do"
The next morning the colonel had
scarcely scrambled on his tall brown
Lisa to ride to his green lads on the
parade grounds, when Stabilinsky,
private, gardener, and errand boy. re
ceived orders from his mistress to
arm himself with the market basket
Stabilinsky prepared wonderingly
to execute so unwonted a commission.
He laid aside his blue apron, and as
he squeezed himself into the some
what narrow livery of his predeces-
sor, he gave vent to his bewilderment
in the purest idiom of his native fields.
Then he grasped hastily the brown
market basket and his road-brimmed
hat, and was ready to follow his mis-
treSs.
Frau Won Kesselschmidt fastened
to the weekly market, Stabilinsky fol-
lowing at respectful distance.
Strangely enough, the little woman
had no eyes for the display of fresh
vegetables. or the fat woodcock; her
looks Were fixed on the last house ON
the main street, while Stabilinsky
gazed at the pretty country girls from
the Spreewald, and bashfully eX-
changed with one or another silent
greeting. Suddenly the little cloud
vanished which had gathered ON her
forehead, almost hidden under the
curly golden locks. A mischievous
smile curved her rosy lips enough to
show the gleam of dazzling white
teeth. From out the carefully watched
house, with q bundle of papers under