The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-02-28
me lids Of his eyes rolled YEARLY

us there anything can do for your"
BURY me-"
1t was very sad. "Wherep' asked.
Ibid you see the little cemetery on
the hill, across the valley? Put me
there. 1t is wild, forgotten place.
'Tis only my body. Who cares what
becomes of that? AS for the other, the
soul, who can say? have never been
a good man. Still l believe In God.
am tired-tired and cold. What fan.
cies a man has in death! A moment
back l saw my father. There was
wan. sweet faced woman standing
close beside him; perhaps my mother.
l never saw her before. All, me. these
chimeras we set our hearts upon, these
worldly hopes! Well, Jack, it's curtain
and no encore. But l am not afraid to
die. | have wronged no man or wom-
an. 1 have been my own enemy. What
shall say, Jack9 All. yes! God have
mercy on my soul! And this sudden
GOODNESS, this sudden ease from pain,
Is death" .;.
There was flutter of the eyelids, a
sigh. and this poor fotsam, this drift
wood which had never known harbor
in all it's years, this friend of mine,
this inseparable comrade, passed out.
There were hot tears in my eyes as
stood up and gazed down at this mys-
terry called death, and while did so
hand, horny and hard, closed over
mine. The innkeeper, with blinking
eyes, stood at my side.
"Ah. herr" he said, who would not
die like thatY'
And we buried him on the hillside
just as the sun swept aside the rosy
curtain of dawn. The wind, laden
with fresh morning perfumes, blew up
joyously from the river. From where
l stood / could see the drab walls of
the barracks. The windows sparkled
and flashed as the gray mists sailed
heavenward and vanished. The hill
with its long grasses resembled green
sea. The thick forests across the riv-
er, almost black at the waters edge,
turned fainter and more delicate hue
as they receded till far away they look
ed like notified glass. Only yesterday
he had laughed with me, talked and
smoked with me, and now he was dead.
A rage pervaded me. We are puny
things, we who strut the highways Of
the world, parading a so called wis
dom. There Is only one philosophy; 1t
is to learn to die.
"Come," said I to the innkeeper, and
we went down the hill.
"When does the herr leaveY
cat once. There will be no ques-
rtions? asked. pointing to the village.
"None. Who knows"
'Then remember that Herr Hillars
was taken suddenly i'll and died and
that he desired to be buried here. I
dare say the prince will find some 'ex-
cuse for his arm, knowing the kings
will in regard to dueling. Do you ,un-
derstand me2"
"Yes'' ~
I did not speak to him again, and he
strobe along at my heels with an air
Of preoccupation. We reached the inn
in silence.
"What DO you know about her serene
highness the Princess HildegardeY' I
asked abruptly.
"What does herr wish to &noww
shifting his eyes from my gaze.
"An you can tell me-"
II was formerly in her fathers serv-
ice. My wife, He hesitated. and the
expression on his face was SOUR one.
go on
"Ah, but it is unpleasant, herr. You
see, my wife and l were not on the
best of terms. She was handsop1e-a
cousin of the late prince. She left me
more than 20 years ago. I have never
seen her since. and I trust that she is
dead She was her late highness' hair
dresser"
"And the Princess HildegardeT
"She is a woman for whom I would
gladly lay down my life."
Eyes, yesv' said impatiently. "Who
made her the woman she is? Who
taught her to shoot and fence?
"It was l." "
"You"
"Yes. From childhood she has been
under my care. Her mother did so de-
sire. She Is all have In the world to
love. And she loves me. herr, for In all
her trials have been her only friend.
But why do you ask these questionsT'
a sudden suspicion lighting his eyes.
81 love her."
He took me by the shoulders and
squared me in front of him. "How do
you love herw CLINT OF anger min
Cling with the suspicion.
81 love her as a man who wishes to
make her his wife,"
His hands traled down my sleeves
till they met and Joined mine. ~
Il will tell you all there is to be told.
Herr, there was once happy family
in the palace of the Hohenphalians.
The prince was rather wild, but he low
ed his wife One day his cousin came
to visit him. He was fascinating
nan in those days, and few women
were there who would not give an ear
to his batteries. He was often with
the princess, but she hated him. One
day an abominable thing happened.
,, This cousin loved the princess. She
scorned him. AS the prince was en-
tering the boudoir this cousin, making
/ out that he was unconscious of the
husbands approach. took the princess
In his arms and kissed her. The prince
Sro tor fo 70, Tho horror In