The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-10
HOW HE WON HER.

|
SnOw-covered roofs of Antwerp.
At the north end Of the town small
well-frozen lake had been formed by the
outlet of a smaller canal.
Church was just over. The last sounds
of the bell were still trembling on the
crisp air as they died away.
A merry throng was on the lake. The
slender form of youths and maidens, with
their glittering skates, seemed to skim
| along as if driven by the wind.
| Every now and then pretty girl swept
| by all the other skaters, who bowed to her
respectfully and watched her with admlra-
| ton. But, like proud swan, she went on
| further and further. Her elegant dress
betrayed the wealthy patrlcian.
| Finally the form of young man, COM
ing from the other end of the lake, came
gliding toward the pretty skater. Her
| eyes sparkled with JOY.
He bowed to her reverently, but then he
| confidently grasped the little hands she
stretched out toward him. They glided on
in silence for some time.
"Why do you remain all alone, Ante ?"
be asked suddenly. "The young patri-
clans will think it haughtineSs on your
part"
Ante drew up her rosy lips in scorn.
THAT just suits me, Cousin Adrian!' she
laughed. 81 wanted to wait for you un-
disturbed"
80, Ante: you must not do it AS
grateful as your cousin is TO you for your
| friendship, you must never forget what
deep, Unreasonable abvss separates the
wealthy Anna Van der Solst from the poor
goldsmith, Adrian Van BenschottenP
The handsome man spoke earnestly and
mindly, but not without painful tWitch
| of his finely curved lips.
| "Oh," pouted Antje, but suppose l do
| m ot a q
and with proud, loving look she scanned
| his noble, stalwart form in its plain brown
doubet.
II must go away, hard as it is for me to
do so. My honor demands it. 1t is my
duty. Shall l notice, Ante how my
little cousins affection grows stronger day
by day? And to know that we may never
come together! 1t is better that l go while
my Antie is still young, so that she may
more easily forget the poor goldsmith.
You will know and love better man, but
l shall remain true to my first loveW
adrian! | shall never love any one else
but YOU"
The finest house OF the Schelde quay be-
longed to Mynheer Van der Solst.
A stately repose reigned in the recep-
ton hall, covered with rugs and decorated
with large chests, mirrors. weapons and
shields, which led to suite of richly fur
nisbed apartments. The last one was
Antics own. a charming and dainty room.
In the midst OF this splendor Ante sat
in The coy, upholstered bay-windOw and
gazed sadly out upon the dead winter land
scape.
Her eyes were red from weeping. Now
and then a soft sob escaped her halt
opened lips.
There had been a terrible scene. Myn-
heer-her father. vino had always been so
kind and lenient-now sW0re high and low
that only a wealthy merchant should b.
come the husband of his only daughter.
81 will never give you to that poor beg
gar y was his last word.
It was not on account of the difference
in rank, for the goJdsmith's art was
greatly honored in the sixteenth century,
but Mynbeer considered Adrian an idle
dreamer
profession has no golden bottom with
that fellowW grumbled the excited man.
81 shall never intrust my greatest bless
ing to a man who will never be pros
perous."
Time crept slowly by and weighed
heavily on Ante. Finally she found some
diversion in her embroidery frame. The
beautiful lace collar upon which she was
at work had been intended for bridal gift
for Adrian.
Now the collar shall ornament nv
shroudW thought Antje, and gave way to
somber thoughts. She did not even notice
that she had repeatedly pIicked her mid
die finger until the drops of blood from it
had already made large red spot.
The fine brussels cambria was spoiled
Ante angrily threw the frame into a coz
ner. Just then Greta. her maid, entered
and handed Antje small package bearing
Adrian's handwriting.
Quickly Ante broke the SEAL A small
silver article, set with a blue stone, fell out
and rolled down TO Antics feer. In
quisitively, Ante picked II up and looked
at the strange trinket in establishment,
then put ii down ind ffereBtly, took up the
parchment and read:
"My dear, sweet Antje-I knew very
we'll that you would not send me good
message. Now am on my way 10 Eng
land. Believe me, only act from
motives of pure, disinteresred love. But
you, my dear child, must obey your noble
! father, who is anxious for your welfare
only. Farewell, my darling. Be happy
and try TO forget. Ever your loving
ADRIAN.
''P. S.-Perhaps 1 may give you Just
little souvenir. The silver trinket is a
little cap which / thought of for the pro-
lection of your delicate finger when
noticed how often you pricked it at your
EN- broidery."
Then Ante alternately pressed the
letter and the little fDger-cap to her lips
and held up her hand as she made the
vow: "Adrian, l will wait until you re-
turn to take your Antje with your
Three years have passed. A long, mag
nifirent wedding procession is moving to
the grand Jacobs Cathedral at Antwerp.
The pretty bride who smiles so happily
under her lace veil is Ante Van der
Solst. She has not lost any of the fresh
ness of youth, but has blossomed out even
more beautiful aud queenIy, a full blown,
fragrant rose.
The bridegroom is a rich, stately-looking
man from Sheffield. He looks his best in
his costly velvet waistcoat, decorated with
a wide golden necklace of Unconstitutional
distinguished figure among the pat clans
following the bridal pair.
Ante is following the man from Shelf
field to the altar with her fathers blessing
and still she has kept her vow, for the
bridegroom is Adrian Van Bensch often,
tue inventor of the ;himble.
The practical Englishman bad soon ap-
preciated the value of the inventon, and
through it Adrian had attained riches and
| honOrS.
The renowned goldsmith of Antwerp
lived h long, happy life with his faithful
Ante. AT their golden wedding, how
ever the venerable couple still showed to
their great-grandch ildreD the origin Of