The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-04-04

IL IL not SO5 $ ~
ooh, as for that" said the innkeeper,
!. observing Gretchen. this is q public
inn on the highway. All wayfarers
are of necessity welcome"
go, then, and prepare me supper"
said l. 81 am indeed hungry. having
journeyed far" wanted him out Of
the room. .t..s..#.
The innkeeper. a puzzling smile on
his lips. passed out.
Gretchen" burst forth. "in heav-
ems name what does this mean?
have hunted for you day after day,
week after week, month after month.
I have travelled the four ends Of the
continent. have Ived-oh, I do pct
know how have lived! And when I
do find you it is for this" My voice
broke. and was positively on the
+ verge Of tears. -. :
sand was all this fair to herT asked
Gretchen coldly. -. f..
'sTo herr do not understand"
t 81 mean, was all this fair to my sis
terY' .
"Gretchen." light piercing the dark
ness, has she not written to you" ,
"A long time ago. She wanted to see
me on an important matter, but could
not change my plans at the time.
shall see her at the palace next week.
Ought you not to be with her instead
Of herew
"Why should be with herY'
Gretchen laughed. but the key was
false. D..
CAR you not going to marry her?
Surely it is easy after the king has CIV
en- his permission. Have you already
fallen out of love with her after all
your efforts to make her princess?
Truly man is as unstable as sand and
water. All, but you fooled us all to the
top Of your bent. You knew from the
first that she was princess, but you
could not find the proofs. Hermann
and l were the means to the end. But
who shall blame you? Not L. l am
very grateful to you for having given
to me sister. And If you fooled me I
returned measure for measure. 1t is
game and quit. Time hung heavy on
my hands. and the victory, however
short. was amusing"
II never loved her!' I cried. Where
were the words needed?
80 much the worse for you," dis
painfully. But here comes Hermann
To announce your supper"
81 shall not break the bread Of inhos-
pitality," said in the bitterness Of my
despair. l gathered up my traps and
then l let them tumble back. The
needed words came with rush to my
lips. went close to her. "Why did
you humiliate yourself in begging my
life of the prince? Why if my life was
nothing to you? Answer. Why did
you stoop to your knees to that man If
was worthless to you? Why"
Her cheeks grew red, then white.
Her lips formed words which she could
not speak.
"Herr Winthrop's supper is ready"
announced the innkeeper. ~ =
"Go and eat it!' said childishly.
"Your appetite is gone then?' imper-
turbably.
"Yes. and get you gone with it."
The innkeeper surveyed for space.
evil you kindly tell me from whom
you received the information that her
/ highness was at the inn?
l produced the unsigned letter. He
read it carefully. while Gretchen look
ed on nervously.
"Ach." said the innkeeper, that
Stahlberg! He shall be dismissed"
Unhappily for him that individual
was just passing along the corridor.
The innkeeper signaled him to ap-
; proach.
"How dared you" began the inn
keeper, thrusting the letter under
Stahlberg's nose.
"Dare? I? Herr" said the big .fel-
low, Il do not understand. What is
it you accuse me of?'
''Thisv cried the innkeeper. "You
have written to Herr Winthrop and
told him that her highness was at the
inn. And you were expressly forbid
| den to do So"
Stahlberg looked around blankly. 81
swear to heaven. herr''->
"Do not prevaricate." the innkeepeg
interrupted. "You know that you
wrote this"
"Stahlberg." I cried excitedly. "tell
me why you wrote this note to me and
I'll see that you are taken care Of the
rest of your days."
81 forbid himw commanded Gretchen
, in alarm.
GAS God hears me. herr" said Stahs-
berg stoutly, 81 wrote not line to you
or to any one." .".. -
| "Ohw cried the innkeeper. stamping.
"And you deny that you have written
here that you saw her highness in the
garden three nights ago?" ~ -
| Gretchen was beginning to grow ter
rified for some reason. l myself was
filled with wonder. knowing well
| enough that nothing about garden
had been written in the note l had re.
ceived. al..
'Do you dare deny" went on the i'm.
placable old man, "that you have writ
ten here that you saw her highness IL
the garden and that she was weeping
and murmuring this mans names?
"Oh!' cried Gretchen, gazing wildly
at the door. ~