Smyrna times., 1900-11-21

hC SilA W aS PAObhDAS NV NhPANPetA-
ed, for she stepped through half open
door and said, Here am, general!'
Then the general did quite uncon-
sciously what so far he had forgotten
to do. He saluted, at the same time
critically examining, the girl who
threatened his family with a misal-
lance.
She was slender. but of a majestic
figure. She had an exquisite head of
soft blond hair and magnificent blue
eyes suspiciously red around the edges,
as if they had shed good many tears.
There was so much dignity about this
young girl, who was a schOolteacher,
that she seemed entirely out of har-
mony with the surroundings in the fa-
theirs hut.
The general turned to the tailor and
asked in a considerably milder tone of
voice, "Is this your daughter?
But the girl opened the door into the
sitting room and said firmly, Kindly
step this way, general" The next mo-
ment the general saw himself alone
with her in the scrupulously clean sit
ting room. He took chair, while she
remained leaning against the mantel. |
But the general did not remain seated |
long. He almost Immediately arose |
again. He walked out of one corner |
of the room into the other furiously |
twirling his mustache. He looked
right and left and up and down and
then became aware that he did not
know how to begin. Finally the girl
said, 81 thought you wanted to speak
to meY'
The general struck a martial atti-
tude, grabbed his sword and suffered,
Eyes, yes, but perhaps you have al
ready guessed what have come for?
81 think l have" faltered the girl.
The old general heaved a sigh of re-
lief. "In that case" said he. Il have
not much more to add. You seem to
be a superior sort of a girl and will
therefore understand that this mar
riage is not
ITO be thought OFF, the girl managed
to finish, with a choking voice. She
was as pale as death and her features
set and eXpressiOnless. but she stood
: straight before him and looked square
ly into his eyes.
The general retreated step. He
J was very much embarrassed and decid-
! edly uncomfortable. 1t seemed to him
! as if he would much rather have been
! in the thickest of the battle than where
/ he was. An unaccountable feeling
| akin to fear began creeping over him,
a and in order to do something and re-
/. lieve the tension he said in a voice of
4 thunder, "My nephew is a good for
y nothing, God forsaken reprObate!'
/ Something like a red flame shot into
the girls eyes. do not slander him in
g my presence" said she threateningly.
}. The general was effectively silenced.
q He felt as if his mission was at an end,
r and yet he did not want to acknowl-
q edge himself beaten nor yet leave with
Il out having made his peace with the
>. girl. He had the need of saying some
o thing comforting to the girl without
O exactly apologizing. He approached
e her again and said in a soft. hesitating
II voice: Excuse me. my child! | am sc
p. sorry" At the sound of this gentle
Il appealing voice the outward cOmposurC
Ia which the girl had been keeping VI
t with difficulty completely fOrsook her
i and she broke down. Selling both til,
a arms of the general with an iron grasp
" she called out in a voice ablaze will
passion: "Then why do you want t,
kill me? What has brought you here
n. Whom have dishonored and wha
IN blot is there on me?"
I'd The general felt as if some one wa
ct strangling him, and then he became fu
ii. riOus at himself. He brought his fis
AOxrn on In 70 wit lo
no everything danced upon it and, run
o- ming up and down the room, shouted
he Whatever did l come here for? |
this my funeral? Am detective q
Il hangman? Is it my business to pei
rd Secute wOmenY
Forgive me-" stammered the frigh
IL ened girl tearfully. Il did not mea
to-
oil Forgive you? On the contrary,
,ut beg your pandOn. What must 20
he think Of me? l am a soldier, not
TX lawyer, and l shall see that no one m
le- Tests you. | came to see to things, an
ed mean to do it. and what l am goin
ed to-well, is going to happen"
rer With this he opened the door leadir
ed into the workshop. where the faith,
eg- and the mother of the girl were, an
ar roared with voice which made Il
,el- walls shake: II am asking for the haI
err Of your daughter for my nephew.
ing she evidently loves the rascal. and VI
RS. are not going to say me nay. but "
sa- are going to let her marry him. The
now! At last everything is settled sa
wd isfactOrily." Arrived at his sister
yht house, he placed himself in front
ery her and in a voice loud enough to
uld heard by whole regiment he said:
no. have seen to things. Everything is S,
on tied as it ought to be. All you have
the do now is to see that the wedding
the celebrated at once. for you cannot G
ties pect me to undertake the journey twi
ear on the same business "-Translat
From the German For PittsbuPg d
on patch.