The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-16
Y X ' HEN Meyer came to Pine AN/ vile he gave his name as
 Wilhelm Windmnvor and if

He came direct from the fatherland to make Pineville his home. He thought 1t was his duty, too, to tell everybody he had left a sweetheart behind, and that t was for her sake that he was work. ing to make home. Her name was Lenken. She was very beautiful, he said, and so good that 1t seemed almost a miracle she had lived to the age of 20
 It was this loyalty to the girl he had promised to marry, and who was so far away, that made Meyer favorite with everybody in Pineville.
 But Meyer was a slow, easy going feI- low, and the one thought about Lenken seemed to occupy every cranny of his thinking apparatus, to the exclusion of every other thought. He was a very small man, and that, and the wooden leg he wore, he said, had saved him from doing duty as a soldier
 Meyer found employment with Judge Peterkin. The wages were low, but it was a steady job, and that was what Meyer most desired.
 During his first year in Pineville Meyer gained little sum of money, and lost four fingers and part of his nose. He was trying to whistle Die Wacht am Rhine" down the barrel of an old musket, when the gun went off accidentally and carried away part of his nasal organ. The fingers were cut off with a small circular saw used for cutting frewood.
 Two fingers on one hand were cut off first. When the wounded hand had been tied up, Judge Peterkin, his daugh- ter Molly, and Aunt Phyllis, the cook, followed Meyer out to the woodshed to be shown how the accident had occur red.
 Tt must have been a piece of pure carelesSness on your part" said the judge, looking very severe. Now show me how 1t wa done."
 Il vas singing Over die garten vall " sal1 Meyer. Den pick up a shtick of wood like dis," picking one up with his unwounded hand. "Und den I hold 1t like dis, und den de shtick ship like dis, und den my fingers vas cut off like | to lose the second two fingers.
 The second year Meyer laid up an- other small sum of money, and was d. vested of part of an ear, two toes and a good deal of his hair. The ear and toes were lost accidentally, and the hair incidentally, from natural causes.
 Why, Meyer, Lenken won't know you when she sees you again, you are such wreck" said Molly to him one day.
 Well, maybe so," he sighed. But In moment the confidence in his sweet hearts steadfastness returned. "Oh. she vas so goot, Miss Molly, und so beautiful" he said, "dat 1t makes no difference to her how l look. She vas true all de time."
 Then Molly thought she would see if Meyer would not pay her compliment.
 "How does Lenken look, Meyer? Does she look something like meY' she asked.
 Like youw he exclaimed "Lenken don't look like nobody. Miss Wiggin look like you, maybe, but Lenken vas different"
 Miss Wiggin was Molly's rival beauty In Pineville, and the reference to her made the latter flush very red In the face. Meyer laughed merriIy.
 You don't look booty ven you look like dat, Miss Molly" he said.
 Then there came changes, and Never did not profit any by them. Judge Peterkin died, Miss Molly married, and Meyer had to look out for himself as best he could. True, Molly still inter. ested herself in him as much as possi ble. but she had new cares and new duties now that claimed her attention most of the time.
 But Meyer was always hopeful. and in good humor. His every thought, act and deed was to accomplish something to bring the day nearer when he could write to Lenken and tell her that he had made a home for her. It was all for Lenken. How long since you heard from Len ken?" Molly asked him one day. Meyer thought awhile. "A little over two years ago." he re piled.
 And when did you write to herY
 "Oh, dat vas tree years ago."
 "Meyer, you ought to be ashamed of yourself" cried Molly. You must sit down here, right now, and write Len ken a long letter, and tell her that you i are still alive. Why, don't you know ihat she Is grieving all the time, and | !1sagining that all sorts of accidents hsve befallen you?'
 Maybe so. I never t'ink of dat"
 "For all you know, too, she may have got tired waiting, and married some one else"
 That brought Meyer to his feet, and made him prance around on his wooden leg pretty lively for a minute.
 No, no" he cried. "Lenken would not do dat. Lenken is true. Wy, she tink l vas married, too, maybe" The thought seemed to tickle him greatly. "You t'ink I would marry anybody but Lenken?' he asked.
 'No, Meyer, I don't suppose you would, or could, but with woman it is different"
 No, it vas all de same," Meyer per sisted.