The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-06-14

L on lle! My handS were at Ills
throat.
81 am an old man." he said.
/ let my hands drop and stepped
back.
THAT is better" he said. with grim
smile. "Who told you this impossible
tale and what has brought you hereT
1T is not impossible. The sister has
been found"
Found" | had him this time.
Found" he repeated. "Oh. this is not
credible."
"It is true. And tomorrow at noon
the woman you profess to love-will be-
come the wife of the man she abhors.
Why? Because you-you refuse TO
save her"
81? How in Gods name can l save
her," the perspiration beginning to
stand out on his brow.
"How? | will tell you how. Prince
Ernst marries Gretchen for her dowry
alone. If the woman l believe TO be
her sister can be proved so, the prince
will withdraw his claims TO Gretchen
hand. DO You understand? He will
not marry for half the revenues of
Hohenphala. 1t is all or nothing.
Now, will you produce those proofs
VIII you help meT" The minute hand
OF the clock was moving around with
deadly precision.
Are you lying to meY" he asked,
breathing hard.
You fool, can't you see that it means
everything 10 Gretchen if you have
those proofs? She will be free. free!
VIII you get those proofs, or shall your
godchild live 20 curse your
This was the most powerful weapon
had yet used
Live to curse meT" he said, not
| speaking TO me, but TO the thought. He
sat down again and covered his face
with his hands. The minute which
passed seemed very long He flung
away his hands from his eyes with a
movement which expressed despair and
resignation. Eyes, | will get them.
It is years and years ago" he unused
absently, $50 long ago that | had
thought it gone and forgotten. But it
was not to be. | will get the proofs"
/ turning 10 me as he left the chair.
"Wait here" He unbolted the door
and passed forth. 1t was a full con-
! fession Of the deception written by the
mother herself and witnessed by her
/ physician, the innkeeper and his wife.
! Not even the king could contest its
genuineness.
"Where is this DIR. SalZberg?'
/ The innkeeper leaned against the
side of the fireplace, staring into the
/ flames.
"He is dead" briefly.
"Who was hep"
Her late highness' court physician
+ oh. have no fear, herr, this new found
/ vx!ncess of yours will come into her
own" with bitter smile.
And why have you kept silent all
/ these years." / asked.
Why He raised his arms, then let
them fall dejectedly. 81 loved the Prin-
cess Hildegarde. | was jealous that
/ any should share her greatness | have
/ kept silent because | carried her in my
arms till she could walk, because her
father cursed her and refused TO be-
! lieve her his own, because she grew
around my heart as a vine grows
! around rugged oak. And the other?
She was nothing to me. l had never
seen her. My wife spirited her away
when ii was night and dark. | took the
proofs of her existence as a punish
ment TO my wife, who, without them,
/ would never dare TO return TO this
country again. Herr, when a man loads
you with ignominy and contempt and
ridicule for something you are not to
! blame, what do you seek? Revenge.
! The prince tried TO crush this lonely
child Of his. 1t was / who brought her
up. 1t was | who taught her TO say her
prayers. 1t was | who made her what
she is today, n noble woman, with n
soul as spotless as yonder snowdrift.
/ That was my revenge"
'Who are YOU" l cried. For this inn
! keepers affection and eloquence seem
ed out of place.
"Who am II" The smile which lit his
! face was wistful and sad "The law of
man disavows me-the bar sinister. In
the eyes of God, who is accountable for
our being, | am Gretchen's uncle, her
fathers brother"
Your | was astounded.
a."
"And who knows Of thisW
"The king, the prince-and YOU"
l thrust n hand toward him. you
are a man."
wait. Swear to God that her high
! ness shall never know"
ION my honor"
Then he accepted my clasp and look
ed straight into my eyes.
"And all this to your
81 love her."
"And sheY'
at is mutual Do you suppose she
would have put her life before mine If
not? She knew that the lieutenant
would have killed me-"
ZACH! 1t never occurred to me in
that light l understood it 10 be a
frolic of hers. Will you make her hap
py"
"If an honest mans love can do It,"
said 1. "Now, get on your hat and
g. he fto1