The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-14
SCRUPLES
Adapted From the Danish.

our coffee out on the wide veranda, she
remarked with the light of mischief shin
ing in her eyes:
If you will be very good and promise
to be discreet, l have story to tell you.
/: Oh, such story
l fastened to vouch for my goodness,
and promised the most absolute discretion,
whereupon Madame X commenced
DO you see that little white house over
there, the other side Of the park. with
the garden in front? Well, there live the
respectable Muller family. They are eX-
ceedingly honest people. The father is a
professor Of mathematics and the mother
is out and at work long before the servant
is awake. There are also five daughters,
all Of an age to be married. Are they
pretty? Alas, no; neither are they rich.
And in these times it is more than ever
difficult to find husbands for girls who
have neither beauty nor fortune.
However, last spring, my neighbors re-
ceived, every Sunday, call from a young
man who had been made known to them
thru mutual friend. He was, it appeared,
a student at the university.
Very timid, with long faded-out yellow
hair, he was named-let us say, in order
TO compromise no one, that he was named
Christian"
AT these last words I must have made a
start, Tor Madame X quickly demanded:
DO you know him."
"Ah, dear madame" I replied. chow
should 1 guess a man, disguised beneath
an assumed name and with the one dis
tinguishing mark Of looking like every
body else? Be easy. I am all Impotence
to hear your story, which interests me ex-
ceedingly."
How will it effect you when finish. I
wonder!" laughed Madame X. How
10 he 70 rbri cfj
did I tell you he was licentiate?-was be-
ginning to pay his first bashful calls at
the Mullers. " .".r -.
HE listened respectfully to all the
| learned dissertations from the master Of the
house, he played croquet with the young
ladies and afterwards applauded Mama
Mullers violent diatribes against modern
society The professor thought him a
remarkable subject; a specimen Of rare
mOdesty'; the five sisters found him
'amiable and interesting, and the mother
praised the surety of his judgment and his
deep moral sense. They all praised him
and made much Of him.
In their hearts the fond parents cher
ished the hope that the sympathetic liCen-
tiate might desire to unite himself to
the family by means of the marriage ties.
Madame Muller already saw Mariana, her
eldest daughter, established. the least
pretty Of them all, as she indulgently re-
marked.
lone night she confided to the professor:
'Mariane and M. Christian seem made
for each other
Hum, do you think SOP" re re-
piled. r
"'Why not' she rejoined, he will make
her an excellent husband
meanwhile, one thing was certain in
the gentle Marianes breast, and that was,
that If any one was going to marry
I,fi- rI 1~ol ,-1f
of her sisters. It was her right as eldest
daughter. And this right was recognized,
and Wien Christian appeared the follow
ing Sunday, Madame Muller and her four
daughters disappeared as if by magic and
left the two alone
lat length, the vacation of Pentecost
drew near, and it was planned that Chris
tan should come and stay with the Null
lers.
'They had a glorious dinner in honor OF
the occasion, tender roast lamb, and a
superb apple pie. Christian ate greedily,
and passed his plate twice for pie. But
afterwards, when they went out into the
garden and he sat alone with the eldest
daughter beneath the arbor, Christian be-
gan to feel uneasy. - ~E --rr~.. ~.
Finally they returned to the house and
| then came an unutterable scene. AS il
| by chance, the whole family sat there and
Madame Muller advanced toward them
beaming her brightest smile.
Come to my arms, my future son-in
law she cried,
| "And Christian was smothered in he
volumlnous embrace. When he was re
leased, he sank weakly down into chair
a cold perspiration standing on his brow
| " In my turn, cried the professor, lie
me embrace you, worthy man.
He pressed the unhappy and aston
ished Christian to his white shirt, AM
Madame Muller said approvingly:
My maternal heart has long sine
OWNED your sentiments for our dea
Mariane, and your longing! Make he
happy, that is all we ask!'
And her husband added:
Secure your doctorate now, and the1
we will see.''
"Christian was silent: vague smil
lowered upon his lips. Was he tastin
the joy Of his betrothal? Or, did he re
greet being engaged so soon? The trut
is that his bewildered air covered stat
of internal turmoil. He was a prey t
the most torturing anguish.
AT 10 o'clock they separated:
Madame Muller, however, could nc
bear to say good-by to this historic day
The joy Of triumph was awakened With
her breast. and she wished to see one
more the parlor, the witness of such
touching scene. What was her surprise
when she saw upon the table, a lette
carefully folded and directed to her! Sh
opened it hastily and read its contents
ALAS! must I say what it contained
this crafty ceremonious letter? -.
Dear friends!
And you, beloved Mariana!
I have meditated long upon what oe
Cured this evening. I have sounded tn
depths of my soul and am beset wit
overwhelming scruples.
: You are too high above me, exuuisit
Mariane. My limited understanding Is II
: capable of following your mind in Il
poetic flight. I could cause you nothir
but suffering from my inferiority 7
render Willingly miserable person
your merit would be to VOW myself
continual remorse. Stern duty bids N
flee from a happiness Of which I am NJ
worthy
When you read this letter, I sha
have left your hospitable home. sha
depart at daybreak. Thus the hear
break of a good-by will be spared me.
Forget me, oh! my friends! ~
As for me, If cannot forget, my COZ
science at least, will be at rest
=" Christian ;
THE professors wife trembled. Wi
a sharp movement she placed the Ian
upon the table and sank into an arr
chair, and for several moments gave he
self up to the intensity Of her grief. So,
reused, however, by her indignation, 81
hurried to the room where her daught