The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-21
KAREN.

There WINS once upon a time In kraruper
inn maiden named Karen. She attended
10 the. serving of the guests herself, for the
landlady lived among her pots and pans In
the kitchen. And many people came to
Krarupor inR-neighbors who collected
there when the autumn evenings began to
darken and sat In the warm room and
drank unlimited quantities of coffee punch
travellers and wanderers, too, who came in
blue with cold, stamping their feet and
calling for something hot, that would en-
nble them to reach the next station.
Karen went about silently without
haste, serving each in his turn. She was
small and delicate, only child, earnest
and reserved, and the young fellows did
not notice her. But she was very dear to
the older customers, to whom visit to
the inn was an event of importance. She
prepared their coffee quickly and served II
seven times hot. When she moved about
among the guests with her walter, the
burly, coarsely dressed mon stood aside
and made place for her and every one look
ed ndmiringly after her Karon had great,
gray eyes that took in everything and
seemed to look far far away, and her eye
brows were arched in surprise and won
der. Strangers thought she did not under
stand their orders but Karen heard 1t all
and made never q mistake. She had O way
all her own, whether she gazed of into the
distance or listened or waited or dreamed.
Tho west wind blew strong 1t threw up
long, heavy waves from tho west sea. Salt
and damp, with froth and foam it threw
them on the sands. But when the wind
reached Kraruper inn, 1t had only strength
enough left to tear open the stable door,
and then thai which connected the kitchen
with the stable. 1t burst in, filed the
space, swung the lantern that hung from
the roof back and forth, tore of the hos
tiers cap and rolled 1t out into the dark
ness, threw the horses blankets over their
heads and finally blew a white hen from
her perch into the water trough. The hen
squawked frightfully, the hostler swore,
the chickens cackled. The kitchen was full
of smoke Tho horses grew restless and beat
sparks of fire from the stones with their
hoofs. Even the ducks, which were gath
cred quacking together near the manger to
be at hand when the oats were scattered,
began to chatter, and through 1t all the
wind roared fearfully. At last two men
came out of the inn parlor and, putting
their broad backs against the door, pushed
1t shut, while u shower of sparks rained
from their pipes over their dark boards.
Having done all the mischief possible the
wind fed back over the plain, crossed the
great pond and shook the mail coach that
rolled majestically along about half a mile
from the inn.
"What terrible haste he always makes to
reach Kraruper inn, muttered the pos
tilion, Anders, cracking his whip over the
smoking horses. For the twentieth time
the conductor had let down the window to
call to him. At first 1t had been friendly
invitation to take coffee punch with
him; then little by little the good nature
disappeared. Finally the window went
down with bang, and remarks far from
conciliatiDg were showered on driver and
horses.
The wind swept low ON the ground, and
long, mysterious signs murmured through
the heather bushes. Tho moon was full,
but thick clouds obscured its light. Be
hind Kraruper inn lay tho gloomy moor.
covered by black heaps of peat and deep,
treacherous holes. And between the heath
er bushes wound a strip of grass that look
ed like a path, but it was no path, for 1t
came to a sudden end at the brink Of a
holo deeper than the Others and filled with
water. In the grass a sleek fox crouched
and waited and hare hoped softly over
INC pain. ut luA COlllu EtCkOu WIN CST'
tainty that the hare would not make
long circuit SO late in tho evening. He
stretched out a cautious nose and, as ho
shifted in tho direction Of the wind and
sought secure post of observation, he
thought how wise foxes always were and
how stupid the hares.
Yonder In the inn there was an unusual
connection. A couple of travelling men
had ordered roast hare. The landlord had
gone to an auction at Thisted and his
wife was used only to the responsibilities
Of her kitchen. Now it happened, unfor
tunately, that the advocate would speak
with the host on business, and because he
was not at home the good woman must
listen to a long speech and take charge Of
an important letter, a proceeding that sad
ly disturbed her composure A stranger
stood by the stove in greasy sailor clothes
who was waiting for bottle OF soda wa
ter. Two fish peddlers had three times or
dered brandy for their coffee The stable
boy stood with an empty lantern and wait
cd for a candle, and tall, rough farmer
followed Karen with longing eyes-she
owed him change for a crown he had just
given her. Karen came and went without
haste, without error. One would hardly
imagine she could attend to SO many things
at once. The great eyes and the high
arched brows were full of wonder and ex-
pectation. The fine little head was held
straight and still. If she would make no
mistakes, she must keep her thoughts col
lected. Her blue wooden dress was too
small for her. The tight neckband wrin-
kled her flesh just under the hair. 1.-THE
maiden from Agger has a white skim"
said one fish peddler to the other. They
were young people and spoke Of Karen as
copnoisseurs.
Some one stood near the window and
looking at the clock said, 1.-The post is
early tonight" 1t ratified over the pave
ment, the doors were thrown open and the
wind blew the smoke from the stove.
Karen entered from the kitchen just as the
conductor stepped into the door and greet
cd the company with a hearty GOOD even
IN 10 81 hapaao,,,a tx.ffh