The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-12-03

SAO ANA - 4 A4NO liz III = udHuS.
She went to the post, and just as she
was dropping the letters in, an &C.
quaintance from one of the neighboring
houses came there on the same errand,
and il the interesting conversation that
ensued poor Sue did not notice that
her letter to Jan fell on the ground,
and that a mischievous little breeze,
cut for a holiday, seized it and whirled
it away round the corner of a street,
finally dropping it in a water butt
which stood in a backyard.
Week followed week and there came
no sign from Jan, nor did she ever see
him coming to the house with mes
sages and letters. At first she thought
it was because Jan was busy preparing
for the orchid show, but when that was
long past and still she neither saw nor
heard anything of him, SUES heart be-
gan to ache at this apparent desertion
on the part of an old and tried friend.
"Iou are looking pale and i'll, Suze."
said Mevrouw Ten Bruggenkate to her
ore day. You had better pack up your
things and go home for a week"
In vain Sue protested that she was
perfectly well. Her mistress was reso-
Lutte, and in the end the girl had to give
way and go.
well, child" said her mother. 4
short, stout woman, with generous
waist and hips; $50 thou hast been
getting i'll up yOnder. All. in tOwns il
is no wonder that folk are never well.
My poor head aches always with the
noise whenever l go to Rotterdam, if
only for a few days, But out here,
where it is quiet always and the air is
pure, thou wilt soon be well again"
Sue looked ~mournfully out on the
landscape, and thought it had never
looked so dreary. For away, as far as
the eye could reach, spread grazing
meadows; on the canal a barge was
caps of the men on board made the
only bit of bright coloring in the land
scape. \ herd of black and white cows,
of which old Pet Klops, Sues father
had charge, grazed in the foreground;
pollard willows grew everywhere, and
against the horizon the sails of wind
mills whirled INCREASINGLY. The girl
shrank and shivered a little.
Heaven send thou mast not the
ague,' exclaimed VTOuw klops, bust
ling to the cupboard and bringing out
an infallible remedy for the malady.
"-Ah these cities! They are indeed nur-
series of all evils. both of mind and
Old Pet Klops was away in Amster-
dam whittier he had gone to buy some
cows. Mynheer Cornelius, his master,
had large herds already, but he was
one of those men denounced in Scrip
ture, who are ever ready to increase
their stock of possessions. PET had
various errands in the city and did NOT
return until Sue had been at home
three days.
Great news in Amsterdam" he said.
regarding his daughter narrowly as he
over his bread and cheese. Jan
Vreede is. they say, betrothed to Vrouw
Steene, the rich widow of the grocer.
had not thought hat Jan was on the
lookout for money, but so it is. The
Heer took first prize for orchids at The
and Jan has now a higher sal
airy, but if he marries Vrouw Steene.
he will likely give up his gardening and
take to the shop"
"Where art thou going. Suze?" for
she was vanishing through the open
door.
Il forgot to feed the hens" the girl
answered in a faint voice.
At this precise time Jan Vreede was
entering the shop of Vrouw Steene.
with n long list of articles which the
cook had desired him to order on his
way to the station. Jan looked gravcr
than when Sue had last seen him, and
his brown eyes had a puzzled express
sion, as if he were trying to solve some
problem which was too hard for him.
Nrouw Steene. n buNom widow, with
lively black eyes and n comely visage.
vas serving in her shop when he en-
is she saw him, for Jan was always 4
welcome caller, not only for his own
but also because Mynheer Cor
lelius was Il good customer and never
yrumbled at her prices.
Dag. JAM" she said. and Jan. taking
,ff his hat, responded: Dag, Vrouw
S%teene. and how goes the world with
"Well enough" answered the widow
With a sigh, but the business is too
much for me. 1t needs n stronger hand
head than mine to keep it going as
t should. Mynheer Vreede."
All. ia said Jan, absently. "See.
Anna has given me this list to bring
-ou, and will be glad if you will send
he things rs soon as possible. l am
m my way to HARLEM. Any messages
II commissions. Vrouw Steene? You
lave relatives there, l believe"
Thanks" said the Vrouw. looking at
i'm critically. Il will trouble you with
small basket to leave with nv aunt
.anssen; l am always glad to send her
few things. Are you going to call at
ievrouw Ten Bruggenkate's house,"
ia, the Heer has sent her some cut
and 1 am to stay and see them
roperly set"
"Ah! then you will have a long talk