The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-09
AN UNLUGKY GIFT.

All the ahos fsotorlss IN ths townM
b, IN ons Of the small Duinctpslitiesof
Germany, wers closed. r,e
II was not Et Criypin's day, but Fsits
Hoebbsr was going TO marry Cathsripe
vauburn-Tfits, the gayest and most
skillful journeynan shoemaker IN the
town; Catherine, tho lovelisst and bright
est little ssafpstress In the neigbborhood.
When Fritz and Catherine returned
homo after the wedding, Catherine opened
an old fashioned trunk. and pulling from
The bottom Of " handsome new leatRer
bag she opered II aud displayed TO the
eyes Of her astonished husband q purse
Oiled with bright gold ducats.
.sBut how did you get such treasurer
exclaimed Fritz. dazzled at the sight Of 90
much gold.
"What does 1t matter to you, doarests"
she replied. Ca. you not accept a gift
from heayen9"
TIER conversation was interrupted by
land screaming ard laughing In the ad-
joiniry room.
"Bcr, are my frisnds," said Fritz i'm
patiently. "They come for US. l beg Of
you, Catherine, tell me-
NOV ID WORN WNuyi ApPtloA eAio yohA6
BRIDE by ard by, II you arc a very kind
and afrectionate husband and not at all
suspicious or jealous, Will see."
"Let us take the bride away" replied
some one n warrant he will soon fol-
low"
He opened the purse, and bis eyes spar
kled ct tho sight Of such riches The
bright metal was glitteriDg in the sun and
seemed to promise thousand unknown
Joys.
While thus dreaming Fritz plunged his
hand in tho bag, and among the ducats he
encountered small piece of paper closely
rolled up.
"Dear and beloved Catherine Fritz
could not believe his own eyes. He read
again: "Dear and beloved Catherine, l
send you this small sum for the purpose
which you mentioned to me. l wish, dear
angel, l could as easily crafty your least
desires. Win ever be able to return half
the happiness you have given me since we
FIRST loveda
"Adieu, dear Catherinei u Is not your
prince who kisses you, but your most obe-
dent and devoted servant"
And the billet was signed by the prince
regent, exactly as a proclamation or an
ordinance would have been.
Seized with kind Of furious insanity,
he rushed out of the room bnreheaded, tho
fatal purse In his hand, and painting and
out of breath he entered the ballroom.
Here, miserable wretohl' he exclaim-
ed. Here your gold. Keep it to enjoy
1t with such as you are. will not take
the price of infamy." ...,
Fritz did not hear from bis wife for the
two years following this adventure. After
the violent scene he hurried out Of the
town and walked at random until evening,
when fatigue compelled him to stop. A
tavern was in eight Fritz could never re-
member afterward how II was that man
camo In and sat down at tho same table
with him, and how he could have been In
duced to relate his misfortune to stranger
He could not, either, account for having
signed paper which bis pow companinp
had presented to him, nor how, aftef copi-
Gus libations, he fell asleep on the table
and woke up the next morning in bar
rack
r7erTnA1iy was then at war with France,
and Fritz's regiment was ordered to the
frontier His courage was rewarded with
tie cross Of honor, and he was promoted
to tho grade Of experimentation favor
which he attributed to the i'll fated infu-,
enco of the prince, and which lay heavily
upon his heart
Not feeling qualified to fill his post, no
decided upon resigning his commission,
and making q last effort to restrain his
feelings he wrote n respectful petition to the
prince, praying to have his resignation ac-
copied Fritz accordingly received the visit
of ono of the princes aid-do-camp, who
informed him that his demand was grant
ed and that the prince begged him to ac-
cept present Of 500 duoats as token Ut
his esteem.
Then he started back to his native town,
after an absence Of two years. Fritz at
last found himself before GATHERINGS
house, and, while promising to himself at
the time that he would never enter 10
again, he found that ha had been knocking
ut tho door.
How changed she was! Her eyes were
sunken, her cheeks wero pale, and yet how
handsome she was still! IIor grief was so
true and her Joy ut seeing him once more
so great that Fritz felt his feelings deeply
moved
"Ycs, madam, hayo returned. But to
love you still, I should have forgotten a
certain purse.
"Oh, yes, that unfortunate purse! That
gold I Enew that must hayo F., -7s
cause of your disnls...uru .,lt there IT is
a. eve not touched 1t. F"
She quickly ran to the old trunk and
pulling out tho purse threw it out Of the
open window into the river, which flowed :
directly back Of the house.
II see that you have thrown your money
into the river, br.5 do rot SEQ how this
prodisality will explain the contents Of
tho note"
"What notes" inquired Catherine.
"This letter from tho prince regent"
II 10 not know the prince" replied
Catherine with tears. II never have seen
him. This gold was sent to me by my
aunt
"Whatr' interrupted Fritz, amazed.
"Alas, yes!" said Catherine my aunt
was called Catherine, like myself. But
now sho is the Baroness of B.. Ny ia
ther, on lis deathbed made me promise
never to see her, nor to receive any pres
ents from her. But that tmo, on account
of her marriage thought might accept
1t was all for you. If have committed
fault, did deserve such punishment
Catherine had lost her work while run
ming after her husband, and since he had
been in tho army Fritz was no longer fit
for anything. The 500 ducats which he
had received from the prince was soon ex-
haustcd, and one morning, when there
was neither fire. bread nor money in the
house, he thought Of throwing himself ip
the river.
just as he reached the shore large bill,
posted up ON tie other side Of the shore,
met his eyes Those words could be read:
IAN Owner Wanted "A purse contain
ing TO- 0G0 gold dUcats has been found in
tho water The owner can have 1t by ap-
plying to Ludwig, tlshman. "-Exchnnge.