Frederick citizen., 1895-01-11

r'o-htN
i..,. opening his eyes with an express
ion of extreme or affected surprise. my
good friend, you should not believe all
you hear, or you may chance to find
yourself woefully deceived in your
journey through this wicked world OF
ours"
One summer evening, several Of the
old inhabitants Of the Blumen Strasse
had assembled together at the house OF
Herr Ruprecht, whose increasing years
had at length caused him to resign his
position as one of the members of the
town council. In spite of his age, how
ever, Herr Ruprecht was as full of
genial hospitality as ever, and nothing
delighted him more than to see his
friends gather round his plentifully
supplied board. Ample justice had
. been done to the heavy nacht essen
(supper, and at its conclusion pipes
haG been lighted and tankards in prep
aration for the solemn sederunt which
was supposed to be so important an aid
to the powers of digestion. A long
time had been consumed in getting
pipes under way, but at last the father
of the feast addressed the venerable
Dutchman
so, mynheer, you are going to have
additional space for your unrivalled
collection, and have taken the room i'm
mediately opposite to your own, in the
house of Johann Steingasse. Pardon
me, if l wonder at you giving your
self the extra trouble of ascending and
descending the stairs, to say nothing
of crossing the street, when you could
have all the additional room you re-
quire in the house where you at pre-
sent are; I am sure that our good
friend the widow Yung would have
made every effort to oblige a lodger,
especially one whom she respects as
she does you"
Cornelius Van Heuvel took a long
draw at his pipe, and permitted the
vapor to return again to the upper air
in series Of spiral rings before he re-
piled. Il took the room opposite, my
good Heer Ruprecht, becauset do not
wish to be troubled by bits of boys"
Bits of boys" repeated the ex-town
councillor. whilst Professor Wagon
trfber Of the university was so as
founded at this unexpected reply, that
he permitted his pipe to become ex-
tinguished, thing which had not
happened to him for the past thirty
years.
Yes" returned Mynheer Van Heu-
vel, placidly. You see I have got 1t
into certain routine and do not care
about having a young man running
about my rooms all day."
But my dear friend.' said the as
tonished professor, who had by this
time succeeded in relighting his pipe,
why should you have any young men
In your room at all?"
Truly" answered the old dealer in
curiosities, my wits must have gone
wool gathering. l can understand the
surprise of all Of you now. for l had
quite forgotten to tell you that my
sisters son. poor girl. she has been
dead this many year, is coming from
Egypt with a collection of curios,
amongst which is the undoubted num-
my of the king. Rameses, the last
Of the SHEPPARD line. My sister mar
ried an Italian. who followed In the
footsteps Of the great explorer Bel
Eoni. and my nephew has seen strange
things in catacombs and mumy pits
Of Lower Egypt. For many years we
have only corresponded at long inter-
walls. but now that he has come to
years of discretion. for he is Just
twenty-four. he remembered his old
uncle and wrote me letter to say that
he was returning to Europe. ne would
pay me a visit, bringing his collection
with him and perhaps might choose
a wife amongst the pretty maidens of
Heidelberg"
What Is your nephew's name?" de-
manded Herr Ruprecht, as soon as he
felt that he had completely mastered
the situation. mot good honest Ger.
man, Dutch one. | suppose"
Ellis name is Giuseppe Voltoni," an
Bwered Van Heuvel, land expect him
here tomorrow"
The conversation gradually drifted
Into other topics, and as a neighboring
clock struck half-past eleven, the lit
tie knot of gossips bade each other
farewell, and made the best of their
way to their several homes.
Cornelius Van Hsuvel was perfectly
right as to the date on which his
nephew would arrive. for about three
o'clock in the afternoon on the day
following the conversation just re-
corded, Giuseppe Voltoni stepped out
Of the train and anxiously watched the
extrication of several large packing
cases from the luggage van. Upon one
Of these, about seven feet long by
three feet In height, he bestowed great
care, and as soon as it was placed on
the cart which his uncle had sent
down to meet the train, he seated him
self beside it and was driven to the
Blumen Strasse, where he looked af-
ter the safe bestowal of the packages
before he went to greet his venerable
relative.
Certainly the appearance of the son
Of the Egyptian explorer was not pre-
possessing, and the old curiosity dealer
may have been excused from starting
back when his nephew first entered
the room. Giuseppe Voltoni was a
short, broad-shouldered man. evidently