The herald., 1894-07-22

LILO lOfcly, bbstUtly huppdcuolih, ehS
councillors daughter, dared no longer be
friendly with the poor woodcarver. Her
father strongly forbade it and put high |
wall between the two gardens, so that
Hans and Mailie lost all chance of meet
ing save at the ''kaisers tree" and here
but rarely when the minister was deserted.
But this only made the stream OF love
that coursed in their hearts overflow their
lips, and one evening whom Mailic had long
been absent from the "kaiser's tree" Hant
sang his first love song under her window
that overlooked the little garden:
My heart is mine no longer.
"Tis stolen quite away
BY a maiden, sweet and lovely,
Who listens to my lay.
There grows a slender rose tree
Within the minister's shade,
And underneath its branches
A sign OF love is laid.
Early the next morning Mailie came to
the rose tree and found 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 ono and swore never to let it go,
while Hans, half mad with joy, cried,
''Ah, If only the kaiser would come now, F"
but the kaiser came no more.
The fall passed, winter came, and tho
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 Mailie 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 tho 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 coursed slowly down her
cheeks.
.'Mailie, tell me that you do not think
me such a worthless fellow"
Her blue eyes looked full into his brown
ones, and a smile of love and trust crept
over her face.
mo, Hans, indeed I do not. No one
shall ever make me think that They do
not know you as 1 do. You have taught
me all that l know that is great and beau
tiful Your have nodded me and made me
what I am even as your artist hand forms
an image from shapeless piece of wood, !"
and she took his strong hand and pressed
1t to her soft, warm lips, then folded her
white fingers over his brown ones and
added, II will believe in you always, for
you honor God with your art, and who.
ever does that cannot DO evil.
"And will you be true to me, Mailie,
till 1 have brought my art and myself to
honor, and till come back to claim you
for my bride?"
eyes, Hans, I will never leave my fa-
theirs house but to go to you-or to the
cloister. And II 1 should die before you
come 1 will ask them to bury me here un
| der the kaisers tree, where we have been
so happy. Then, if you come back and lie
toll and sorrow, every rose leaf fhat falls
on you shall be a kiss from me, and she
wept on his breast, their tired hearts beat
ing against each other in the pain of part
ing, while the promise of spring-of buds
and roses-pulsed and throbbed in the
rose treo with the rising sap.
Don't cry, Mailie," Hans said, trying
to be strong. II am going to Durers S,
and when I have learned to do something
Of worth will seek the kaiser and ask
him to use his influence with your father. u
"Oh, yes, if the dear kaiser would but
Gomez
''He will certainly come, my love-" said
Hans, "for we will pray the good God t.
bring him to us-or me to him. They
knelt together in the cool, damp grass,
and 1t seemed to their trusting hearts
that God must work a 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 been7 Have you not
heard that our kaiser is dead?"
The kaiser dead! Poor Hans stood as if
turned to stone. Where wero 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 come again. A
light hand rested on his bowed head.
Mailio had come to be his comforter.
"Oh, Mailie, the kaiser will never
come again!'' os
"But God is with us, said Mailie soft.
ly AS she stood before Hans in her maid
en- purity and beauty tho light Of inspira-
ton overspread his face and he whispered
low:
"Mailie, God is truly with us. He
shows me now, as in vision, the queen
of heaven surrounded by holy angels, and
If 1 can but carve all that he shows me
shall be great myself and need kaiser S
help no longer
Next morning at daybreak Hans set
out. AS no passed Ruppacher's house loud
and clear his voice rang OUT
My heart is mine no longer.
TITS stolen quite away.
Softly one of tho lower windows was
raised, and white handkerchief waved a
last farewell through the dusky light, the
song went on, but the voice grew trem-
bling and uncertain-full of unshed tears
--then ceased, and all was still once more.
Years passed and nothing was heard Of
Hans Liefrink, and no one thought of him
save Mailio, in whose gentle loving heart
no was ever present and over dear and who
watched for him till at last hope was al
most dead, and the roses faded in her
F, checks, and dumb sorrow looked out of
the sweet blue eyes. Breisach was trem-
bling for its old faith and Duke Ferdi-
nand, Kaiser Maximilian's nephew and
successor, counseled her children to do all
they could to strengthen the Catholic
faith by means Of votive offerings and
ideal paintings and sculptures In their
churches. The minister had long lacked
high altar worthy of 1t, and notices were
sent broadcast bidding oil Gernan artists