The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-11-01
HANS AND LENA.

Frau Gherken was young and mex
perienced of men and business, and
her temper was fruitful soil for suspic
Ion and Jealousy. She was not pleased
with the new arrangement at the store
She could not bear to think of Hans ii
the company of n strange woman dag
after day, and her pride was hurt that
she had not been consulted In advance
about the plan. When the merchant
went home that night he found his
wife in tears and no dinner prepared.
After much talk and more tears Frau
Gherken recovered her good humor
and permitted Hans to kiss her fore
head, after which 1t was agreed that
Prof. Van Bricden should come two
days n week to give her music lessons.
The professor was young and handsome
and "A great artist. and the days when
he came to teach her music would not
seem so lonely, and she might forget
the horrld woman making change nj
the store.
one day Frau Gherken went to the
store and surprised her husband, stand.
ING In the little cAgc with the cashier
Their heads were close ogether, he
cause the young woman was helping
him add n column of figures, so he
could check her daily cash account,
but to the jealous wife the scene was
proof that her husband no longer loved
her That night she charged him with
planning to run away with the cashier,
and they came very near to serious
quarrel for the patience OF Hans was
exhausted.
"rhen you can slope with your pro.
fessor," he replied with some spirit and
anger.
Hans remained long time alone in
the coy little sitting room of his home
thinking ms hard as he could. At last
he slapped his hands on his knees and
laughed aloud.
81 viii elope." he said to himself in a
whisper 81 must cure Lena, she makes
me so miserable. She shall have Il les
SON"
The young merchant closed and
locked the door, and then he spent an
hour composing brief note. When II
was finished he read 1t over several
tines and laughed softly Then he
went to the door and listened. There
was no sound. His wife had gone out.
He then placed the note on the centre
table. where 1t would be seen by any
one who entered the room. The note
read:
"Lena--You guessed my secret I
have clopcd. Now you will be happy
with your professor. HANS"
The little bronze clock on the mantel
cbimed II o'clock when Han turned
down the light and tiptoed ont of the
room He stopped at the foot of the
stairs and listened No one was stir
ring in the house. Then he crept soft
ly up to the door of his wife'S room.
The door was ajar, and he glanced in
side lamp was burning on the table,
but Frau Gherken was not there. lie
stood still and listened for a moment,
and thought he heard her moving
about the dining room below. but the
sound was not repeated. Then he
stepped forward and turned up the
light. \ sheet of paper neatly folded
lay on the table. With Il trembling
hand and sinking heart he snatched
II up and read:
"IIans-I am gone You do not love
me. but hope that you will be happy
now that | am out OF the way.
LENA"
Hans Gherken ran down the stairs
and into the street like n mad man
He was just In time to see cab turn
the corner block away. lie ran after
the vehicle as fast as he could, and
caught sight of it IN the next street
Love- fear and jealous rage combined