The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-01-03
GRETCHEN'S SUBTERFUGE.


1t was Christmas eve in Holland. and
the ninety mine little bells rang out their
merry chime, and the old century bell
tolled a deep. full tone to finish the
Christmas song. The clouds scurried
away and the stars twinkled joyously,
and all the world seemed glad-but Hans
was sorrowful.
Hans was a tutor in the family Of a
Dutch rector, and he had found his work
very pleasant; the children all loved him
and they were bright to learn, but there
was Gretchen.
Hans met Gretchen, the rector's daugh-
ter, one Christmas day year before he
became tutor in her fathers family, and
now another year had gone and still
he dared not tell Gretchen Of his love.
He feared it would not be returned, and
SO he kept his secret close in his heart,
or supposed he had, but he was mistak-
en-.
Gretchen loved Hans very dearly, and
knew he cared as much for her, but she
was proud and would not help him in any
way to say what he wished to say, and
what she was most anxious to hear; she
was as miserable as he could be.
The good rector and his wife saw how
matters stood, and they decided that
something must be done about it; so
Gretchens mother talked with her and
told her it was right that she loved as
good young man as Hans, and if he
was too bashful to tell her Of his love,
she must devise some plan to set the
trouble straight and make them all hap
py.
That afternoon Gretchen was left
alone; the children had gone with Hans
to gather evergreens to decorate the
church for Christmas, and her father
to the poor. She took her pan Of ap-
pies to pare, and sat before the fire, but
her fingers would not work, and she put
the dish upon the floor, and let her
thoughts wander as they would, and OF
course they wandered to Hans; she
thong thought and thought and soon the tea
yourself to Hans for a Christmas gift,
give yourself. give yourself" but how
could she do that?
You know, Of course, that we got our
christmas from the Dutch, and that st.
Nicholas is an old-time friend of theirs,
out in some way we have changed things
and hang up, our stockings, while the
people of Holland and Germany set out
a shOe OF some kind and put in it grain
for st. Nicks horse. and in return he
leaves them gifts of love-
Hans and the. children had returned
and he was helping them to make some
pretty little shoes Of cloth to offer to St.
Nick. while Gretchen sat by watching.
he felt nervous, and no one need won
der that they all laughed at him when
they saw that he had cut out a figure
that looked more, like a heart than a
Snoe: s, GFetehe en-, knew why Hans had
glad and sorry, and tried to smooth the
matter. over as best she could. She said
cheerlly: You must set out your slim
pers, Hans, and so will I put out mine.'
IN, L am too old, Gretchen" but the
GSn Ga are1 an insisted; and to please them
that night he placed the slippers outside
MS bedroom door, thinking, "Perhans
Gretchen has planned some little gift
TOT me-, as she must know how sad
am, and wishes to let me think I am
no{ forgotten at Christmas time?"
w nen morning came, he found that he
was as e1pectant as child, and hurried
~ opened the door to see what St. Nick
had left for him. He was moro disan.
pointed than he had thought he could he
Tor there was no gift, and what was
worse, no slippers; perhaps it was all
JOKE ana ne felt more sorrowful than be-
the rector's home for Christmas. The
children were calling to him to como
downstairs and see the pretty things.
and he tried to appear as Cheerful IS h.
could. When he went into the din;ne
room they all greeted him with "A Wer,
i9 your %inn;rx and What did you ind
He smiled little and said: "Not,;no
at all, and even my slippers were spirited
away. l think st. Nick must have y
srudge against NE and has taken this
way to let me know about it,
me ch1ldren were all very sorry for
Hans, and he felt glad that the rector and
and also that Gretchen was not :ther 1tn >:
ne felt foolish and childish and heartily
wished that he had not tried to nlease thee
little people at all. '
There was shutting noise at the door
and everyone turned to see who it could
* *, ana mere stood Gretchen with a
her cheeks and sunshine in her ewes. ::
Sne moved slowly across the room; in
such a queer way and stopped right -
front OF Hans. Her face was quite s1ber
now, and full Of bushes, and everyone
understood but Hans himself, and tie
and Hans, looking down at the floor. e saw
Gretchen's little feet almost lost in hissl
great slippers, and the truth came IL him
and he took Gretchen in his arms and
cried for very joy. His old slippers held
the most precious gift that st. Nick could
ness. e
Outside the window the birds sang a
Christmas carol and the teakettle over
the fire sang more cheerily than ever. for
it had had part in the play.
am afraid you will think Hans
very silly lover and not much like the
young men Of today, but you must re-
member that this s. is an old-time love tale.
think it ended about right. don't YOU p
Lena Blinn Lewis in Detroit Free Press.