Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-07-01

darkness and furious speed but he fuT
ther saw, wl,.. all the details OF the low
warm room, the image OF Resale, lying
pale IN bed and waiting for the return
Of ler sor from his baptism; he could
see all the houses Of the village in the
valley. the faces of his mother and his
father the companions OF his boyhood
and even a red cock which he had once
ionecI TO possess and whose clarion cry
he could hear II the midst of his anguish.
Then. suddenly, he was cut in the blessed
air again, bruised and aching, his legs
torn in ten places by the sharp stones
Happily. the leather bag. which he had
protected with his arms. was safe and its
treasure also; olLy the bottle OF milk
had escaped from II moorings and went
rolling down the mountain side, followed
by a cloud of shaw.
well, little one. that vas not SO bad
"a Leeinuin4,' said the father Dent
cry; il was onh a white blanket that
fell on cur back
He pickcd himself up. painfully and
started through the beech forest, carry
ing the baby. who had not even awak-
erred. Progress was slow work. however,
and more thaa two hours passed before
he could distinguish through the white
mist Che old man Traquet's farm 1t
was the first farm between the mountain
and the valley, close to the border line
and therefore hospitable to smugglers.
Wcariness, cold, and the desire to dry
his garments by the heat of the stove.
decided Schmidt to enter. regardless of
whom he might meet He climbed the
steps. made of three logs of wood, and
knocked at the door
The hostess who opened was a strong,
tender hearted Alsatian woman, and,
much to Schmidts establishment. she
-tood cautiously III the doorway and de-
mHnded in 4 whisper:
What do YOU want, Louis? And how
lid you get into such condition? Speak
very low
The guard explained why he had come
down from the mountain and what had
occurred on the way.
Then size said quickly, half serious and
half testing:
Brig. Gottfricd Barth has been here
for nemly two hours. He is more than
two Thirds drunk, and | cannot get him
away. There is nothing he would like
better than to be the godfather of your
son, just the same, you had better come
III, If you really can't go any further"
She stood aside and Schmidt could see
in one corner of the wide hall man
clothed i'll the gray and green uniform of
the German fOresters. Without speaking
he made sign to the woman that he
would remain outside, and, drinking
glass o; brandy which she brought him,
he started once more into the snow.
when at length he presented himself
at the parish house of the village be
was so eXhauste,. that he tainted and Law
like log for two hours.
Coming to himself, the guard keeper
Louis Schmidt, had second astonish-
ment From the little group of houses
with t'c pointed roofs came the people
Alsatians of every age, the poorer hunt
ers as well as the important members Of
the village. who wore thick coats with
silver buttons. They all crossed the
street to the church door where the sex
ton was waiting, with a candle in his
hand; near at hand, in the warm kitchen
where the guard aad had Just sufficient
strength to enter and throw himself
down, the cures servant, a withered, age
less woman, dried up like nut, was
proudly holding in her arms the baby
boy who never in his short life had been
dressed so richly as then; white robe.
white knitted shoes. and ruffied bonnet,
whole baptismal outfit loaned by one
of the richer families of the village.
Relatives and friends had gathered
around, all dressed in their Sunday cos
tunes the girls with black bows in their
hair, twice as large as their heads. The
good cure grasped the gamekeeper's
hand; he was smiling with pleasure and
an foo IA
content at another's surprise
Listen" he cried, isn't that fine mu-
sic"
The church bells were ringing a joyous
peal such as only the rich could have
lGng for their children, so alive with
sound now soaring high into the heav-
ems. now sinking softly to earth, so
bright and so happy that the swallows,
doubtless thinking that Easter had come.
began to twitter and call in the chimneys
and along the edges of the roof
You see, want to thank you, Louis
Schmidt. for showing such faith and
strong courage. You have given one ex-
ample, | am giving another"
1t was beautiful festival, this bap-
tism of the little BABY, and when it was
over a tear hay on the fathers tanned
cheeks
All" he said, 1T was too beautiful
for us; there is only one misfortune, that
Rosahe could not have heard it from
where she lay!"
But it was decreed that. for that dav
at least, the dreams of a man should he
fulfilled.
As the afternoon advanced and it came
time to return, Louis Schmidt saw that
the two choir boys had put ON their
snoWshoes and taken their stats to ac-
company him. One of them, already
tan and robust grasped the leather bag
with a tender hold, but even here the
magic OF the day had been at work.
Around the mouh Of the bag was
wreath Of gay colored roses. placed there
by some tender hand. The other lad had
ms pockets stuffed out beyond measure.
itTs,. -