The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-02-27
- RETCHAN Meier was, it must be
acknowledged. a. charming crea-
~tdre, although it cannot be de-
~ MED that her leaning toward

~ MED that her leaning toward
romantic sentimentality was
Leauna's poems, ma1treated Chopin on
the piano, sighed when she sought OF ,
the loves of Hero: and Leander, and
wished fervently that her own mar
riage-if she ever married-would not
be of the modern, fearfully prosaic type.
Her cousin was a business man,
youth of considerable ability, whose
Gretchen Meier was his ideal, and it
had long been his dearect hope that
sometime, if the Fates were kind-he
would bring her home as his vile.
Gretchen, for her part, liked ner cousin
we'll enough, but that they should ever
love each other, as their parents fondly
wished, seemed to her a preporterous
tic. Julius, however, did not give UP
hope, although his cousins sentiment
tally annoyed him greatly.
One day when Gretchen paid visit
to his office, he - was particularly
charmed with the beautiful child sitting
in the chair opposite to him and listened
to her chatter with delight. How we'll
the winter jackets and furs became her!
At that moment he resolved to cure his
cousin Of her romantic notions. But
how to do it? He pQndered this prob:
lem, watching her clear cut mobile fea-
ures as she c1atted land. laughed. Sud-
denly an inspiration came to him. Gret-
chen had been talking about her friend
Kate who had BEEN discovered in a
clandestine correspondence by her faith
er who had drawn upon herself a2stern
reprmand.
1T must be exciting to write and re-
ceive letters in secret" Julius remarked
casually.
What, julius! Do you feel that way,
too?' Gretchen cried in establishment.
And l, who always thought you so
fearfully prosiac and n1atter-of fact"
HIN! One is young and has a
heart" he replied with serious air,
mastering his impulse to laugh.
From that moment Gretchen's
thoughts and wishes centered in the
possibility of clandestine exchange Of
love letters with the as yet unknown
hero Of the romance. But the thing
was easier to plan than to carry into
effect. First of all, she must find
secret correspondence with him would
have no charm whatever. Instead of
mourning the disDleasure of her par
ents by such conduct, she would be
praised for her good sense; and a little
fear of discovery was necessary in or
der to give flavor to the thing.
One day, however-could she believe
her eyes?-she received a letter bear
ing the postmark of the: ca pital: With
a beating heart she read: the following
lines.
my dear Madam:
II hardly know how to express that
which ! wish to. say to you: Ever since,
on a trip to your city, / saw your
| face, your image has haunted me and
will not go out of my mind. dare not
| yet tell you my name, but I should be
+, ~ linn
+ from your hand, telling me. that you
are not angry, with ~rne FOR presuming
| to address you. .r14.~ -.
J.. - TX. Y. H., General Delivery"
). -, Gretchen fairly ,trembled with sur.
| Prise She read the letter over and
over, nearly 20 times. SO. she ha6
| her wish; for only one who really loved
| could have written. thus. And here was
IL tafuug 1fts
! in her brain and inspired her ,J1encatt
Il fingers to Mrite and post d ffagrant lit;
/ tie note which contained only 1.-THE
words, Il am not angry" =. -.
BY return mail her correspondent
reply arrived, and: made her .hesid
| herself with ecstacy over another 1ette
from him who had dared >reYerentiall!
to kiss her hand IN his thoughts. ,Woul'
It be obtrusive, x. ": T. wished t
know, to inquire whether the unstabl
February, temperature had bad In
! fluence on Miss Meier's health?
Gretchen had a little struggle witt
herself before she answered this sec
ond letter, but finally she yielded t
temptation and this time her note con
1 tanned two lines.
clandestine correspondence: assume
|: alarming proportions. x. W. openl
acknowledged his passionate love, an
| Gretchen spoke unreservedly of he
] great longing to see her lover face t
face. At last April came, with warn
SUNNY days-days during which Gret
chen spent hours in the garden, read
ing literature of the "Werther" style
One afternoon. when she was thu
occupied. julius came and sat besid
her. He was, contrary to his habi
very serious.
s"Cousin, Gretchen" he began at las
II must have talk with you. kno'
your secret
She turned crimson: my secret?: sh
stammered.
Eyes. You are corresponding, withou
+ the knowledge of your parents, with
man in the capital Not that you nee
have any fears. He is my friend an
has come here to see you and spea
with you. But I don't quite under
/ l a.
! friend?'
NO" came piteously from Gretcl
ems pale lips.
$50 I thought. Well, he will be he>
in a few minutes, for. in order to {
j him a good turn, I have told him
7 meet me at this house. He will ask fl
me. If. when you see your X. "
you feel that you: can never love hir
\ you will get rid of him by merely sa,
/ ing that I have gone" -.
II With this announcement, julius no.
| ded good-by and left poor Gretchen
/ her own devices.
She sat there, rudely walked from h
blissful dream. The veil of secrecy he
been lifted from the affair and the
was now nothing in it to attract he
E He was CONTEMPORARIES to ask +
her hand? Did she love. him."
Her. whole being cried out in deni<
and she wished that Julius had not lie
hec to face her lover alone.
i Steps were heard on the gravel
the path, and man in faultless q
tire stood before her. At the sight
him she turned cold as ice and shi
cred from head to foot. An aneuls