The Press., 1894-07-26
the nalserable pair and avenge

mus. the mlsersbre pair and avenge myself. s# aatls sa+ft
 1.-The day on which they were to- be married was on my way home. I had asked for no furlough. had thought of none. All unwittingly I had become a deserter.
 At last Twas within sight of my goal. Already could hear the church bells ringing and shuddered at their tones. They were the funeral knel of my fools happiness. Oh, how longed for wings! Perhaps Icould get there yet and stop this horrible thing, and then But, no; strength failed me. My limbs were like lead, and only with difficulty could drag myself along
 "When reached the church, was too late. The bridal procession was just coming out I can see them now as if 1t had happened only yesterday Oh, that thunderbolt had fallen from heaven and transfixed them ali But, ah, mol The sun up there shone brighter than ever, the birds sang in the gbat linden trees, and underneath them the village musicians struck up 8 lively waltz.
 ''It was as if everything had con spired together to mock me. I could bear it no longer In rage. picked up stone from the road and {ashed to- ward Xavier One shriek, thef another and then all was still.'
 'You killed him?' said I, brrified
 s'Killed him? A fortnight later l found myself imprisoned l1t'a fortress. Today, by particular favor of the kaiser, I am again free-a ragged ant hz,pter. And Xavier? Do you see, sir, that big house over there? It is the finest in the neighborhood. There my brother lives with his wife and several child aAA, Be- hold the righteous reward which heaven metes outl Vengeance is his, ouT pas tor would tell us Can one be surprised that I have lost my faith?'
 The ant hunter pressed his hat low upon his forehead, grufiy bsN me goodby, then struck into the path among the bushes on our left which led over 8 stony hillside to an isolated farmhouse, where he hoped, without doubt, to dis pose of his curious wares. | ,.,...,
 Lost in thought, I picked my way along the rough path to the village whose church steeples were reflected in every direction by the glowing rays of the sun, which, in its setting, looked like magnificent carbuncle. f t
 Slowly and laboriously the dark shad- ows climbed from the valley up the mountain. But no sweet, refreshing breeze announced the approach of even ing. A sultry, oppressive heat hung over the entire region, and black cloud, like chariot drawn by invisible horses, came up in the farthest west as the ad- vance guard of menacing storm.
 s. is one of those pretty little villages which these high mountains hide by the hundred among their valleys. Its lar gest building, next to the church, is its tavern, which offers the friendliest of hospitality. Upon it's sign is blazoned a chamois, the future ornament U the Alps-as yet, alas, a mythical creature
 As I entered the public room ia my comfortable negligee there upon thseen- ter table was already burning tbe pe- troleum lamp-an article now to be found in every peasants hut. By cor ner table sat several peasants, withtheir beer mugs before them. I stepped past them toward an open window and look ed out.
 It had already grown very dark, and the whole heavens, as far as the eye could reach, were enveloped in black dangerous looking clouds. Every now and then there would be bright flash on the farthest horizon where the iAoun- tain peaks kissed the clouds, ands then would come response ill low, heavy growls from unfathomable abysses,
 Scarcely 10 minutes later wild hur- ricane was in full blast. Heavy Drops fell pattering upon the ground. Light: ming flashes came thick and fast, and from the church tower pealed forth the storm bell a
 The barroom door creaked oR its hinges, and a man, >hante saad dribpine with rain, appeared within it. Without 8 word he stepped in and retired quickly to dark corner. It was the ant hunter.
 The landlady sat by the stovS and knit. Only from time to time, as an es pecially blinding flash would shoot across the heavens, would she lot he1 work fall in her lap and make quickly the sign of the cross. She had indeed noticed the new guest, but evidently did not think him worthy of a second glance.
 "A dram!' said the ant hunter vA4gh' ly. The landlady knit industriously on.
 "A dramp' came more violently from the corner. That took effect. Slowly the woman got up. More leisurely thar was necessary she went to the cupboard and finally placed, with scant courtesy, the desired liquor before her guest. The latter looked at her in a cautiously mocking way.
 "Aren't you glad to see me?' said he. ''I have the same right to sit here as the others. Ipay my bills"
 At the table where the peasants sal there had been a great commotion evel since the arrival of the ant hunter There was much putting of heads to gether, very animated whispering ani an industrious passing about of tht pitcher.
 'Landladyp' finally cried the princi pal speaker of the company, g broad shouldered, thick set man, the pitcher is empty. If you want to fill it again, please to notice that we're not going te sit in the same room with jailbird ''
 The ant hunter shrank at the tones o1 this voice. -s a -.+s
 "Xavierp he faltered.
 ? The man so designated caught ths