Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-01-01
THE APPRE NTICE.

Thrc" hundred wears ago there lived
at Augsburg a lad named Willihald,
iarprontire To- Il smith, whose industry
obtained him the regard of his master.
while his good nature caused him to
h" a favoritc with all who knew him.
His master 81 highly estimated hi,
skill that when the boy grew into a
man he offered to make him his
partner and limited that he was not
di>plcascd at the Young mans friend
ship with his daughter.
Willibald, though favored BY the
young lady, was quite free from any
feeling OF love for her, and the reason
of his GOODNESS was apparent.
In the small house opposite lived
Dame Martha, respectable widow,
with granddaughter of uncommon
loneliness. Young Ellen had quite
captivated Willibald, and when he saw
her through the window or the open
door he thought there could be no
happiness SO great as that of calling
her his own. But the old woman
would not suffer her to stir from her
sight; sOthat there was no opportunity
for the young man to declare the
passion with which the fair girl had
inspired him.
For a long while Willibald sought
some pretense to visit their dwelling,
but fortune at length favored him.
One day, when the snow made the
ground so slippery as to be dangerous
to an infirm,' person, he saw Dame
Martha coming out of the church
alone. He FASTENED to offer the as
sistance of his arm and conducted her
home. She invited him to enter, for
she thought that only a very worthy
young man would be so attentive to an
aged dame.
Who was now happier than Will
bald? From this day he was one of
Dame Martlla's most frequent visitors
and was always received with well
come. In process of time he made
bold to lay open his heart to the old
woman and ask permission to make
love to her granddaughter. "My dear
young friend" was her reply, al have
the highest esteem for you and could
wish Ellen no better husband. I be-
lieves she loves you, too, but you have
not yet sufficient for the support of a
wife. Save from your wages decent
sum, say 80 goldpieces, for begin
ming, then come and receive your
bride with my blessing"
Willibald was almost beside himself
with joy. He had now an object for
labor and frugality, and he redoubled
his industry, laying by carefully all he
made.
About this time Dame Martha be-
came indisposed with bad congh,
and her physician prescribed change
of air; so she took a cottage in the
suburbs, about an hours walk from
city,
One day, as Willibald approached
the house, Ellen came to meet him.
weeping. She sobbed bitterly as he
drew near and exclaimed, "Ah, Will
libaid, what misfortune"
"You know it then?" cried he with
faltering voice.
"What-know-what" asked FL
len quickly and eagerly.
"That have been robbed of my box
of money" answered the youth in a
tone of anguish.
"Alas," replied Ellen, "then mis-
fortunes never come singly. Yester-
day rich gentleman came to our cot
tage and demanded my hand in mar
riage. His name is Werner. He is q
rich merchant from Ulm. Even now
he is sitting in the room yonder with
my grandma, drinking wine aud
telling her of his houses and lands
while his servant, who stands by the
chimney, confirms everything he says.
But be comforted, dear Willibald. My
grandma may say what she will: I
will die rather than be faithless to
YOU"
Here Dame Martha came out of the
house and commanded Ellen to 60 in
directly. The poor girl was forced to
obey, and the old woman said to Will
libald: "Young man, I came to say
to you that I think it best that you
should come no more to my cottage.
A rich man is a sutton for my Ellen,
and it is my duty to do what is for her
good"
Every good - very good, Dame
Martha" cried Willibald, half choking
with emotion. At say nothing of your
conduct. If you choose to break an
honest fellows heart-and your own
word also-'tis AN the same to me-"
And he FASTENED madly away.
Some hours must have passed UNI
marked in the indulgence of his grief,
for it was late when he rose and tired
to find his way homeward. After
wandering about some time, without
being able to discover the road, he |
was in churchyard. "There is the
house where the people 60 to pray"
murmured the youth bitterly. "Have