The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19

a pretty little person with luIuriant brown
hair which her enemies called red.
Enchanted, said Papa Van der Berg
as Nicklaus proffered his request Pray
drink a glass Of schiedam with me-
But, alasl when the would be sutton re-
turned the next Sunday to learn the de-
oision OF his chosen lady. he was met with a
fresh refusal. Fraulein Van der Berg did
not think him handsome enough for her
lord and master.
so she will not have me'- said Nioklaus.
interruptng Mynheer Van der Berg's
bashful apologies. Very WE'LL" and he
walked away in his most dignifed manner.
He was far from admitting himself
beaten. Indeed. only two weeks elapsed
after this disappointment before he called
upon Mynheer kerkhof. the father OF a
golden haired damsel with big blue eyes.
Deeply honored.' replied Papa Kerk-
hon. offering Nicklaus third glass Of
schiedam. Il will speak to my daughter.
Come back on Sunday
This time the well balanced Nicklaus
was almost disturbed when the Fraulein
herself told him coolly:
Il am not particular az TO good looks or
great wealth, but could never consent
y
is no poetry, no romance in your business.
After all, persons opinion is his own
affair thought Nioklaus; but he was,
nevertheless. horribly veIed, and his vera-
ton was not soothed by the extra moos OF
beer which he took 10 console himself.
One evening the first time in ten years.
the unfortunate cheese manufacturer did
not appear at the tavern a his usual hour.
- oil huf
noticed his companions absence.
-Ha,' he murmured phlegmatical
"Nicklaus has not come
Neither did Nicklaus appear the following
day Nor the day after that.
Good thought jacob, he is probably
going to be married
This was a mistake.
Tired OF his weekly promenades in the
streets where the Frauleins Schravendyk,
Van der Berg and Kerkhofr lived, the sight
of whom recalled his matrimonial rebuffs,
Nicklaus had simply left the country.
For twenty years, nothing more was
heard of him.
Then one fine day. he came home, the
richest man in Holland
He had discovered diamond mine in
South Africa and his fortune ran away mp
INTO the mlllonS-
The evening of his return to Amsterdam
Nicklaus went to the old tavern. jacob
was already there, sitting near the porce-
lain stove. his moos OF beer before him and
his long pipe between his teeth.
The two friends greeted each other as
II they had parted only the evening previous
-Good-day. Nicklaus, said Jacod.
-Good-day, jacob said Nicklaus.
Il am glad to see you. said jacob. after
he had smoked while
so am L. replied Nickaus, laconically.
They sat silent for half an hour when
jacob took his pipe out Of his mouth and
asked:
BY the way. are you married.
NO Nicklaus answered.
Evidently the warm sun Of Africa had
not made him any more loquacious than he
had been in the past
They drank three moos in silence, and
then Nicklaus, III his turn. asked
BY the way Fraulein Schra-
vendyk?-
Widow replied jacob tersely Illus
band happy now. She beat him like
carpet
An said Nicklaus
The two friends talked no more that
evening.
The neat night the newcomer inquired
OF Fraulein Van der Berg
Widow answered jacob again Her
husband happy now. too. She led him
pretty dance while he was alive, he added
after long pause.
All said Sicklaus again.
The third evening he asked
What about Fraulein Kerkhon1'