The record-union., 1896-03-14

again. Ach, can no IurJner. Holy
Mother of God, have pity!" was her cry
at last, as. with despairing gesture
she flung herself on her knees before a
rustic shrine, but not without care of a
well-bound-up bundle which she
pressed close to her bosom, and which
at once importuned attention. Half
kneeling, half-reclining against the
base of the rude shrine, she barred her
breast to the infant, then wearily, with
only an occasional glance upward
toward the enshrined Madonna, she
murmured prayer after prayer. First
she begged for blessings on her child,
and then, rousing herself till she was
upright on her knees, with eyes gleam-
ing and breath spasmodic, she called
down curses upon a certain unnamed
person should he wed, as report most
cruel had told her he would, early upon
the morrow.
The duty concluded, she sank again
into a heap, and with tears streaming
from her eyes, implored the Holy
Mary to give her strength, to speed her
falling steps that she reach t that
night. Finally, as the Ave Maria
floated family through evening mists
ally recited her usual evening formulas.
And while she prayed, her head dropped
lower and lower, her wearied limbs re-
laxed more and more, till ere she had
told off the half of her rosary she lay
prone at the foot of the shrine, her
slumbering little one still held close,
and with a half-finished Ave on her lips
she too, fell fast asleep. Poor SOUL!
she had been walking all that day and
for several days before, with but poor
and scanty food to sustain her. She
had, indeed, been a homeless wanderer
for many long dreary week, with no
cheer save the cold bread of charity.
Only three miles more-and her present
pilgrimage were at an end! But what
then? God have pity. Would she find
a welcome among a strange people-es-
pecially after her tale was told?
The three miles, .alasI were still un-
travelled when the waning moon rose
late and threw weird glamour over
the scene. Tall pine trees cast long
shadows which covered mother and
babe gently as though to screen them
from view, and they also touched with
reverence the sweet-faced Madonna and
child. Then by slow degrees, as though
unwillingly, the shadows drew them
selves away, leaving the sleepers
mantled in moonlight as the fair orb,
distorted, sped onward. And as the
stars one by one were extinguished,
and the moon, a mere ghost of her
former self, rode the heavens low in
the west. the Inflated last three miles
still lay between the traveller and her
goal
Aurora tried to wake her, lending
quite as kindly a glow to the pallor of
the wanderers cheek as she did to the
fair young bride kneeling in the church
only three miles beyond, just over the
brow Of the mountain. The birds, too.
did their best to give warning to the
wayfarers, but their trilling reveille
passed unheeded. A momentary breeze
f1uttered the stray dark locks which es-
capped from the red kerchief
about the woman's head then. baff1ed.
fed over the mountains as though it
would fain attempt her to a race When
the sun kissed her brow she stirred
slightly, and her eyelids trembled, while
her babe nestled closer and smiled; but
both slept on, and as the rays grew
warmer the pines once again assumed
the kindly role of protector. Even the
Madonna's plying, earnest gaze, which
in the broad light of day seemed bent
upon the PROSTATE figure, was power
less to rouse the over-wearied one.
But what was it that finally caused
her to stir so uneasily? Again the same
sound, and the sleeper's eyes opened
and she raised herself on her elbow to
listen If ha -
young girls laughter intermingled
with the deeper ring of that of a CAV
youth. All, yes, it was Klaus laughter
that finally had power to awaken the
wandereri But she seemed dazed: she
passed her hand over her brow repeat
edly, and a look of intense suffering
came into her eyes. Nearer and nearer
came the sounds of merriment. and
soon voices were audible, such mirthful
speech as betokened hearts quite con-
tent
Hand in hand Klaus and Walh an
peared on the hight, picking their steps
slowly along the stony, winding path
way, shaded here and there by the pines
No shadows had as yet touched their
love. Would they go through life thus?
"At this rate, Walli, we shall scarce
reach l. this night Vert thou a
climber like myself, quickly wouldst
thou leap down these rocky steeps
even as the wild goats do.''
AT least we shall get as far as c..
and, Klaus, am not sure, but prefer
to stop there, if, as thou hast said. they
expect us at T., and will have a dance
and feast and a cask of wine ready
Ach, we shall have no peace We will
be teased and tormented, Klaus"
What, sweetheart Hast grown shy
that thou fearest a little fun? Why.
tonight will be but the first of four
or five such revels. Knowest not. Lieb-
chen, they would my Walli honor wher-
ever we stop overnight? And be sure
thy Klaus has not failed to warn them
of his approach with the very prettiest
and best little Frau to be found in all
Tyrol. But look! Yonder lies some
game. Ach, what a pity left the gun
behind"
Queer camel" laughed Walli as
they drew nearer, and Klaus too
laughed long and loud as he perceived
Eis mistake.
The woman started and attempted to
rise at the sound of this merry laughter.
but she fell back quickly, half swoon-
ing.
Poor creaturei'' said WalIi. "she
must be illi''
Some drunken tramp, more likely"
added Klaus and he would have passed
her by without further thought.
mo, no." pleaded Walli, 'let us stop
and see can we help her. and she turned
towards the woman, drawing Klaus
with her. Then for the first time he
looked attentively at the PROSTATE fig
ure. With a smothered Der Teufell''
he tried to DULL WALL AWAY gavin y