The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-27
SELECTED STORY.
" Auf Wiedersehen."~

Berthold Ansbach drew back q few
steps and looked up, but the dark
wooden balcony shut off his view. II
was only by Aattening himself against
the opposite wall that he could see the
high pitched roof with its tiny windows
like heavy lidded eyes keeping sleepy
watch over the quiet Thuringian viii
lage. A hurried glance showed him
the object of his search, for at an open
easement appeared a pale face sur
mounted by mass of dark hair, and
had his eyes been unsatisfied, the ca.
ressing, beseeching tones of Hans
violin would have told him that the mu
stefan was within.
Come, comel" Berthold urged, with
assumed gayety. "Leave thy music un-
til evening. Here have run away from
my work to steal a day with thee,
though the Berlin firm are clamoring
for carving of the Edelweiss. Am l
not more to thee than thy violin?" he
added, with a reproachful look.
"Thou knowest which is dearer," he
answered, with mischievous twinkle.
"The violin, undoubtedly. Let us CO."
for Berthold was chatting at the delay.
They hurried up the struggling street,
their faces set toward the forest which
threw its dark arms protectingly about
the little hamlet.
AT last when the quivering tracery of
forest branches obliterated the hateful
difference, the elder slackened his pace
with sigh of relief.
I" 1t is good to reach the shade" he
said, taking off his cap and wiping the
moisture from his forehead. What
sayest thou, Hansp"
But Hans was incapable of saying
anything for moment, as his breast
was heaving with the effort for deeper
breath. He could only smile as Ber-
thold turned to learn the reason for his
silence--a smile so beautiful that, in
seeing it, one forgot the wizened form
radiant did the face of the lad become.
shouldst have told me-" his companion
cried, regretfully. "St here, we will
60 no further. After all, what better
could we ask, and we shall be undis-
turbed. l have something to say to
thee"
81 knew it," the younger said quietly,
and obediently seated himself on a
messy stump that Berthold pointed out
Crossing his hands he waited patiently;
but Berthold had relapsed into silence.
Throwing himself on the carpet of pine
needles he looked gloomily down upon
the village they had left basking in the
valley. The red roofs glowed intensely
in the vivid light, thrown into sharp re-
lief by the climbing woods on the OPP
posite slope. The air was so clear that
they could see the rows of pigeons sun
ming themselves on many sharp ridge
pole, while above, on an occasional
tall chimney, an untidy clump pro-
claimed that here the beloved stork had
built its nest. Berthold's eyes took in
each familiar detail; but Hans looked
only at Berthold.
Perhaps the elder felt his gaze, for at
length he stirred uneasilY and sat up
right, brushing the clinging needles
from his coat. " am going away" he
said abruptly. He did not look at Hans.
The lad did not move, but instantly
all brightness left his face and he
caught his breath sharply. Berthold
heard it and looked up quickly, but
Hans summoned the shadow of smile
No sorrow of his must hamper his
friend. Yet Berthold was not to be
deceived.
81 have hurt thee" he said, and
there was hint of tenderness in his
voice. sit was not in this way that
l should have told thee, for 60 now
that we may be together later. Wouldst
thou leave all this with me?" and bis
arm swept the circle of their limited
horizon. Hans eyes followed anG
slowly passed from point to point of his
little world, Beyond the ring Of
wooded hills lay another world full Of
the mysterious attraction of the un
known, but holding possibilities of pair
and humiliation to one burdened witt
such infrmities. Finally his eyes
dropped to Berthold's anxious face
All, here he should have looked at first
Better the pain and humiliation witt
such companionship than the safe quie
of his valley and Berthold gone.
-" l would go with thee" he said
The elder sprang to his feet anC
paced excitedly up and down. "Th'
time draws near when l shall be sum
moned for military duty" he cried
",And yet am no man of war, but O
peace. If there were need of my ser
vice, then would give it gladly-bu
no, that can hardly be. Shall l, then
give up the next few years for moth
ing?" He paused and looked down a
his companion.
Hans face was very grave, his dee
eyes full of perplexity. 81 had for
gotten" he muttered. "As they can
not take me had thought to keep the
also. What wilt thou do?"
"Perhaps 1 am not liable to b
taken," Berthold unused. 81 am tai
enough" drawing himself to his flu
height and towering above the littl
figure on the stump like son of Anab
Perhaps there is some defect" cast
ing critical look down over his stron
young body. "Canst thou not fin
one?" He looked beseechingly g
Hans, then suddenly remembering tha
he was forcing his own aboundin
strength upon the notice of one VIII
painfully lacked, his heart gave a gres
throb of pity and dismay.