Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-25
viiisss AID re the friendly service to
tell nie that XaNief and Marie had been

/ ftstNAH NAN tAeO NtN AAANtAtAy nNAfAOO w
tell ms that Xavier and Marie had been
called out three times from the altar.
''At first only ridiouled the idea
but later l was convinced that it was
only too true. --i
do you see that blade Of grass there,
sir? Whichever way the wind blows
strongest, that way it blows--a picture
of a woman's heart. From that day
lost my faith in humanity.
"Oh, but it was fearful blow to mel
1 thought was going to lose my mind.
Only one thing seemed plain to me. 1
must see the miserable pair and avenge
myself
1.-The day on which they were to be
married was ON my way home. had
asked for no furlough. / had thought of
none. All unwittingly 1 had become a
deserter.
"At last was within sight Of my
goal Already could hear the church
bells ringing and shuddered at their
tones. They were the funeral knell of
my FOOLS happiness. Oh, how longed
for wingsl Perhaps could 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, l was
too late. The bridal procession was just
coming out. can see them now as if 1t
had happened only yesterday. Oh, that
a thunderbolt had fallen from heaven
and transfxed them ALL But, ah, mol
The sun up there shone brighter than
over, the birds sang in the great linden
trees, and underneath them the village
musicians struck up lively waltz.
''It was as if everything had con-
spired together to mock me. could
bear it no longer. In a rage picked
up stone from the road and dashed to-
ward Xavier One shrek, then another
and then all was still.
"You killed him?' said I, Mortified.
"Killed him? A fortnight later ]
found myself imprisoned in fortress.
Today, by particular favor of the kaiser,
am again free--a ragged ant hunter.
And Xavier? Do you see, sir, that big
house over there? 1t is the finest in the
neighborhood. There my brother lives
with his wife and several children. Be-
hold the righteous reward which heaven
metes out! Vengeance is his, our pas
tor would tell us. Can one be surprised
that / have lost my faith?'
The ant hunter pressed his hat low
upon his forehead, grufly bade me
goodby, then struck into the path among
the bushes on our left which led over a
stony hillside to an isolated farmhouse,
where he hoped, without doubt, to dis
pose of his curious wares
Lost in thought, 1 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
Slowly and iaboriously 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 u black cloud,
like a chariot drawn by invisible horses,
came up in the farthest west as the ad
vance guard of a menacing storm.
s. is one of those pretty little villages
which these high mountains hide by the
hundred among the!s vAli;-c-cc ve.licJc It's lar.
gest building, next to the church, is its
tavern, which offers the friendliest Of
hospitality. Upon its sign is blazoned 6
chamois, the future ornament of the
Alps-as yet, alas, mythical creature
AS / entered the public room in my
comfortable negligee there upon the CEN
ter table was already burning the Pc
troleum lamp-an article now to be
found in every PEASANTS hut. By cor
ner table sat several peasants, with their
beer mugs before them. stepped past
them toward an open window and look
ed out.
1t 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 fash
ON the farthest horizon where the noun
tain peaks kissed the clouds, and then
would come a response in low, heavy
growls from unfathomable abysses.
Scarcely 10 minutes later wild hur-
ricane was in full blast. Heavy drops
| lell pdtIciiiB upOh tup BlOuhu hiBub'
ming flashes came thick and fast, and
from the church tower pealed forth the
storm bell.
The barroom door creaked on its
hinges, and man, bent and dripping
with rain, appeared within it. Without
word he stepped in and retired
quickly to a dark corner. 1t was the ant
hunter. tlErgft t-t
Tho landlady sat by the stove and
knit Only from time to time, as an es-
pecially binding fash would shoot
across the heavens. would she let her
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 second
glance.
"A draml' said the ant hunter rough
ly. The landlady knit industriously on.
"a draml" came more violently from
the corner That took effect. Slowly
the woman got up. More leisurely than