Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-06-15

4 women = tAttA@ &c ~0~~N
already filled nearly the whole place.
eCan | be mistaken said one, Are
you not Gretel Schmitt?"
Eyes, indeed, it is /. Frau Lopie."
But what are you doing here? |
thought you had gone to the city,
Have you not heard? My poor dear
mother is dead"
ZACH Himmell Is that true? l saw
her at the fair on Thursday, we talked
together, and she was perfectly well
! then"
Dear mel" said her companion, one
of those who know everything before
1t has happened. Eyes, they told me
today that poor Frau Schmitt was
gone. A good woman she was, too
Indeed she was. How did mt hap
pen-an accident, perhaps?" inquired
Dame Lopie, feelingly.
81 do not know" sobbed Gretel. 81
heard the news to-day, In Berlin, and
| started home Immediately"
At half-past nine she left the coach
and FASTENED along her way over the
two miles which still separated her
from the farm.
The bright moon shone full on the
road, turning the soft snow to silver
and throwing into strong rellef the
black skeleton of the trees, despoiled
of their leaves.
Alone for the first time since she
had read the sad news, Gretel thought
of her mother. Before her the lonely
road stretched across the white fields
like a dark ribbon, and disappeared
into the shadow of the forest.
The poor little lady's maid thought
longingly of the coach she had left,
of the compartment full of people, and
the noise and hustle of Berlin. oh,
md the still more fearful noises!
AS she drew neal the woods her
heart began to beat like a trip-ham-
mer. 1t seemed as though voices were
whispering in her ears and white
forms pointed through the bushes at
her side.
Suddenly, overcome with terror,
Gretel began to run, running until
she was out of breath and her flying
veil caught ON the bushes and BRAN
bles, leaving each clothed in mourn
ing.
At length she emerged into the
moonlight once more, and in another
moment was safe in the familiar court
yard of her fathers farm.
Out of breath, she paused for an in
slant on the threshold.
At the same moment the door OPP
ened, and Gretel, terror stricken, saw
the figure of her mother standing be-
fore her!
The little lady's maid gave a pierre
ing shrek. and fell back, crying:
60 away, go away, mamma! You
make me afraid, for you are dead!"
Dame Schmitt was equally startled.
but, drawing her daughter within the
warm cottage, she said, soothingly:
"But | am not dead, Gretel. You
are crazy. Why should l be dead?
Come, drink this warm milk, and
then you will feel better"
The next day, when Max came home
from school, he bounded toward his
sister, whom he had not yet seen, cry
ing:
"Tell me. Gretel, wasn't that a
fine letter that | wrote o for New
Years day? Don't you think you
ought to give me a little present for
my trouble?"
Naughty boy!" cried Getel, indig.
nantly. You ought to be given a
ine spanking. that's what"
But why?" protested the boy. 81
promised l would write you a letter on
New Years day. and did. Why were
you not pleased?"
"Do you know what you wrote me,
stupid?"
"Of course | know! Here, ! will
show you"
And, fumbling in his bag of books,
Max drew out a little volume worn by
much use.
Look yourself, here are the models
for New Years letters, and there was
only one which began my dear sis
ter Don't throw the book on the
floor, Gretel, for big Maurice lent it
to me, and he might thrash me-"
And what did 1t say. this fine let
ter?" demanded Dame Schmitt.
ut said hat you we're dead and that
| must come home to the funeral. Here
It is" added Gretel, taking the urfor-
tunate epistle from her pocket.
Dame Schmitt shuddered at the
thought of her funeral, but, as she
unfolded the beautiful sheets Of pa
per, with its roses and doves and
hearts, she was filled with a deep re-
spect.
Il don't know what 1t says" she
remarked, as she held it upside down,
but it is easy to see that it is a fine
letter"
Then. turning to Max, she contin-
ued:
But I'm afraid, my son, that for
poor people like us you are getting to
be much too clever. Too much knowl-
edge is a dangerous thing!"-From