Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05
VII.

A Young man and a young girl-the two
youngest and most handsome-brought the
food in a mighty iron pan a mountain OF
golden brown dumplings: in a huge carmen
bowl the stewed cherries.
II was as If a race of giants was to be
stated. Pan and bowl were placed on shin
ing wooden trays before Miss Fritz she
served me first and then the count Tor
each one two-no three-dumplings swim
ming in purple juice
| had my high-heaped plate before me
and may have looked down at it somewhat
hopelessly, for suddenly l heard a peal OF
laughter opposite me. The fairy creature
under the Christ picture was laughing at
me- That she fairy or some oihei
unearthly being l recognized by the laugh
for only n Mike or a fairy could utter so
silvery so bell-like, so sweet a laush;
First | was immensely startled. Ihen L
laughed over my fright ana my ni,rhoGy
ness and when l began to laugh everybody
else began too. Even that Finished man Oh
the world. the count. ard MISS f[ ny, laue" IL
ed-laughed at me. 1t was splendlu!
did like all the rest. ate ana drank anu
enioved II Immensely. What L had on my
Mate l ate-really and truly. Imagine!
second mountain of dumplings and a sec
and lake of cherry sauce were oLous ,no,, ~
NV the two youngest and most handsome
onas and also devoured. If L had not peeh
ashamed l would have eaten thiTd tline
of the dumplings. But said. NO, thahh
YOU" modestly. and the child ana thel aii
Of us laughed again like anything NOW
If that was not merry meal!
Then | heard the low, sweet voice again
as it offered thanks. l saw the wohuel iai
eves lowered again, the pale, slender hahuS
Folded reyerently. How beautiful the glrl
was under the martyr picture of the CHRIST
and the crimson wreath of the red pinks.
Then the happiest and the most lesiiNe
meal of nv life at an enu
had not only eaten anu
laughed. but conversed. What l said 90
not know now. l can only remember elle
others and the pleasure feit IN my ii ir1
count who managed to make even Lols s
laxative He understands wonderfully
we'll to deal with the people.
NV handsome defiant Loisl talked OF ms
hunting life Miss Fritz told OF the terrors
of winter when she was snowbouna IN hel
Alpine farm. Even the stablemen knew ol
many important matters which needed Tell
ing. ,-.-....o5 o,a
enchanted me that the whole world had be-
come a dream to me. l noticed with what
calmness and dignity, with what tact, THESE
people knew how to behave In the presence
of the son of their king. Pleasant TOO, was
tba moment when we arose and all in turn
gave us their hands, to the mistress, the
Count and me When l turned to look for
the child it had disappeared-vanishedh ike
an elfin thing All, then became sad
Now the thing was to observe good man
ners and let none notice anything But
how If l should never see the dear lorIh
again?
Miss Fritz proposed to US to go into the
arbor whittier she would send the coffee
/ begged her not to let us drink IL without
her but dared not mention the name OF the
lovely child as If l might thereby betray
nv Young and ah, so hopeless love, and
thus desecrate IT.
After Miss Fritz left us 1 said to the
count suddenly:
How did YOU come to make a part of the
train of royal prince, you, proud, free
mann
Il was tempted to learn to know this
world"
1 thought: ut is mournful world"
Aloud l said: Learn to know it as fast as
possible and flee it
81 should like to remain with your royal
highness until you send me away
at IS not in my power to keep you or to
send you away, But that you know your
self" And after pause l added In low
voice:
'They will take you away from me as
soon as they observe that you are liked by
me We may love others as little as If we
were monks. Our love appears to be equally
He answered nothing. I held out my
hand and said:
LAS long they let us remain together
let us be friends.
was frightened at my own daring.
Only In the intoxicati in which my whole
being was could / have risen to such bold
i
1t, for the count grasped my hand with a
powerful pressure and held II fast In MS
for a space
So everything came to r1e In this day
TO make II the most eventful and rich or
my life. First friendship and then love
It was almost too much to bear.
Count Gebhardt and 1 sat in the arbor.
Since he was my friend now L said TO
him:
"PIease seek out Loisrs mother, and If
money can help her. SO help am not able able
today to see piece of human misery, well
as II might serve me to know II"
He looked at me silently as If he did not
understand. So l had to make confession
of my disgrace.
yes. then. listened. Hereafter you will
surely despise me. but you must know IT.
When l heard my name In the aroor l
stood still Deeply as ! was ashamed. l
liked me- that you consider me q good man.
but fear that, before long, ! will prove
myself TO be one of my kind do not
ask you now why you believe this OF me
and what is the matter with us all. l know
that you must not tell me about IT. !
would be a bad friend were l to attempt
to lead you to do something that would
violate your duty. If you do not feel that
you must despise me too much for my
eavesdropping If l am still loved by you
you will surely help me ,t to earn m, the d good
need help. need friend so much;
spoke with face turned aside. with
choking voice. What day this was!
When / turned back again after A while
the count said no world met the grave,
sympathetic face of the man who was will
Ing to be my friend. From his eyes there
spoke the same pity that had heard in the
voice of Miss Fritz when she called me the
''peor prince Why do all who love me
pity me?
had intended to keep silence. to ask
Questions Suddenly l sprang up and cried
passionately:
what is II with my father? Answer me!
beg you answer me!'
And he replied. The king is H."
And my brother?'
'"The crown prince Is I'll. At least he
himself thinks So
He thinks himself disordered in mind?'
IT may not name it,
You are right. Forgive mo. I had In
tended not to ask. But Ill am healthy.
surely. Look at me and see how healthy
am. Therefore you should not pity me.
And II remain healthy. My poor father
my poorest brotherr'
hid my face in my hand and sobbed.
And gently hand was laid upon my Shout
der. the hand of friend
Gebhardt went to meet Miss Fritz and