Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-16
DEAD OR ALIVE, HE'D COME.

eyes. and from his gentle, withered
lips. Strange as his story SOUNDS,
his whole existence vouches for ii.
He has lived the life of a lonely
man, recluse almost, who never
experienced the tender ministrations
of loving wife. nor had ring IN
his ears the innocent prattle of little
children, and all because of an incl
dent that east a shadow over his cary
youth
My friend was at Heidelberg in the
days when the old German university
was as popular with Americans as
with England and the entire European
continent. From the outset of his
student life abroad to his sophomore
days he was intimately acquainted
with a colleague from a little German
town in the Harz mountains, who was
studying law. and whose only desire
was to gain for himself Il position
which would make it possible for him
to support his aged mother. In order
to reduce expenses she had come with
him TO Heidelberg, and the two were
keeping house together in a little cot
tage not far from the university
grounds.
During the first year of their So
joGrn at Heidelberg, Karl Werner, the
young fellow from the Harz, fell i
love with beautiful German girl, the
daughter of a glovemaker. She was
Gretchen" beauty, with long blonde
tresses and eyes of heavenly blue. The
attachment between the two young
lovers was most pathetic especially as
Karl was poor, and suffering from the
same dread disease that carried away
his Observation-Disclosures. He could
not take part in their sports, their
drinking bouts and their frolics, but
once a month he insisted on dancing
the upper dance with his German
swee heart at the sophomores' re-
union.
Months went by and Karl grew
neither better nor worse until, when
the winter set in with unusual sever
ity, he was missed from the lecture
room one morning. My white-haired
friend, then a handsome young man
with raven black locks and alluring
dark eyes, Immediately fastened TO
see him. Karl was i'll. He had taken
cold, his mother said, and it probably
would be several days before he would
be able to resume his studies
The two friends talked of the COM
ing reunion, and Karl regretted that
probably he would not be able to en-
joy his monthly dance with the girl of
his choice
IF | am not able to go, promise me
that you will dance with her that
night; and afterwards take her TO the
little round table in the corner, where
we have been wont to sup together.
Take my place. Godfrey, and be her
escort that nightr'
Godfrey promised. To cheer up his
friend, he made light of the whole
thing. said that he would go further
and endeayOr to say to the young lady
all the sweet things she had been in
the habit of hearing from Karl.
She shall not miss you, old fell
low he remarked jocularly. rs he
held out his hand to press Karl's slen-
der fingers.
Before the words had died away he
saw that he had made q mistake
Karrs face grew deathly pale IF you
do, l shall stop You. dead or alive" he
said, solemnly. Nothing shall ever
come between me and the woman
love"
You can't bear to be teased'' re-
piled Godfrey, with a jolly nod. and
he went from The room.
The night of the reunion came Karl
was not able to go. and sent word to
Godfrey to take his place with the
little German fraulein.
He danced the supper dance with
her, as he had promised. and then he
led her to the little round table i'm
the corner for the customary refresh
mentS.
I've promised Karl to do just as he
would do" remarked Godfrey in the
course of their conversation, which re-
verted to the sick man more than once.
If he We're here | know he would
nave all sorts of pleasant things to
say to YOU. and it's about time I began
to compliment You on your beautiful
ball dress. your brilliant
Godfrey stopped suddenly He was
deadly pale. Karl. for heavens sake;
You here" he yelled. staring at an
imaginary figure behind his chair.
Everybody looked at him in amaze
ment first. and then with apprehen-
sion. for by this time Godfrey was on
MS rect searching the place with his
eyes for his colleague. whom he lie
clared he had seen standing behind his
chair. whose hand he had felt drop
heavily on his shoulder in the midst of
that sentence. the last words of which
froze to his lips
1t was Karl he declared: CHASTITY
white and with blood ali over his white
dress shirt.
The girl had seen nothing. Nobody
else had saen Karl about the place.
ana just a some of the college bows
began 10 think that Godfrey had i'm
hibed little more freely than he
should. a messenger came into the
room and handed Godfrey a note.
II was from karl's mother. Please
come Immediately" it said: my son
is dead
Godfrey hurried away. In the little