St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-01-17
ADOLPH BRUNER.
Il Love Story by Horace Greeley.

(This story was written while Mr.. Greeley
was young man, and was published in an
obscure periodical in 1880
Midnight; one; two; three; had
been successfully tolled by all the
clocks of Gottingen; the most invet-
crate book worms had forborne, for
that night, the further prosecution
OF their studies-the hardest jewellers
had reeled to their turbid slumbers-
the solemn dullness ofthe most wake.
full among the professors had bowed
to the invincble sopori6c of his own
meditations. Nature and men are
alike buried in darkness and repose;
yet from single window cleaned
the taper of student who seemed
likely to outwatch the stars!
Adolph Bruner had been dreamer
from his infancy. Born to penury
and rugged fortune, his life had been
rendered endurable not less by it's
waking dreams than it's stern exer-
tions. Step by step had he won his
way-aided by that good Providence
which men irreverently miscall for
tune-from the ignorance and desti.
tuition of his infancy to the higher
sources of knowledge and instruction
to the most learned university of
Germany. Here his career had been
a briet but a brilliant one. Single
hearted, enthusiastic and devoted
with no prospect in life but such as
flowed from or interested themselves
with his achievements as scholar
his progress had been most rapid,
and his department such as to win
for him the undisguised appreciation
of his fellows.
Yet now the thoughts Of Adolph,
more impetuous and engrossing in
their wild career, had found a chan
mel far different from that which they
had hitherto traversed. An incident
had occurred the evening previous
which threatened to influence the
whole character OF his after life.
Returning on that evening from his
usual walk, in which he was accus-
toned to ramble wherever accident
or fancy should suggest, he had been
at first an involuntary spectator of,
and ultimately a participation in, a
scene not likely to be soon effaced
from his memory. A young female
alone and obviously stranger in
the city-was approaching it from
abroad, and perplexed and Devil
dered by the darkness closing in upon
her novel and unfriended condition,
had addressed some natural inquiry
to three OF the most graceless of
yourg collegians, whom she happened
to meet. The object of this inquiry
and the character OF the fair ques-
toner it had suited those acosted to
misunderstood; and, their insolence
being replied with indignation, they
were fired to more objectionable
rudeness and insult.
Those pretty lips shall answer for
that impudence with a kiss" ex-
claimed the ringleader. "We will see
if their sweetness is equal to their
tartness," and, with single spring,
he had caught her so tightly in his
arms as to repress the shrek of
mingled Indignation and terror that
rose to and died upon her lips.
Adolph stood for one moment
rooted in amazement to the earth.
The next instant he had bounded
with an exclama ton of rage and hor-
ror into the midst of the group, and
the infuriated villain felt himself
hurled with lion strength from his
victim and dashed to earth with the
momentum of an oak of the forest.
Lady! you are safe! my life shall
answer it,"
She heard; she doubted not; but
the shuddering sensations of one ter
rible moment were not to be dissi-
pated by word, and neither the
scene nor its associations were calcu-
lated to restore her to composure.
She shrank not, but stood trembling
and irresolute. Again he was COM
PEELED to break the silence.
"Your home-your friends-may |
attend your"
A burst of grief was the response;
it seemed at first likely to destroy,
but it restored her to consciousness,
and, at length, she answered calmly,
ALNr~tr -, ,rpf.,I1x,,