The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-07

whose aDJect Save ne was.
There is no passion so absorbing as
that provoked by a pretty and coquet-
fish widow. and Frau Bettina was
past mistress in the art. Accordingly,
Max knew that he was safe from any
danger of falling in love with Gret-
chen. But the young girl, alas, had
no such preservative, and to his con-
sternation the authors critical eye soon
noticed that Gretchen was betraying
the most dangerous symptoms.
There was but one thing to do, and
Max promptly made up his mind that
cruel as it was, he would tell his cou-
sin Of his love for the all captivat-
ing widow.
II am very glad for you, Cousin
Max" said Gretchen calmly, as he
ended his confession. "Do you think
you will be married soon?"
Her voice sounded perfectly calm
and unmoved, and somehow Max was
distinctly vexed that she took his news
SO quietly.
Il am very glad" Gretchen repeat
ed, as she took a paper from the desk
and twisted it into curl papers about
her pretty curls. She treated Max as
she would have treated an elder broth
er, and the familiar action served to
reassure him completely.
II must have made mistake" the
young man thought to himself as Gret-
chen, with a soft goodnight, left the
room.
The next day Max awolze with
light heart. He was no longer trou
bled about his cousin, and to-day
Frau Bettina had promised to give
him a definite answer. Their last in
terview had been of a nature to leave
the anxious lover with high hopes of
success. In fact, his triumphant love
had demanded expression In a sonnet
which he had sat up late to compose.
This, Max determined, should accom-
pany the most beautiful flowers that
money could buy, and when he was
sure that the object of his devotion
had received his offering he would go
himself and demand the confirmation
of his ardent hopes.
"Gretchenv'
At the sound of Max's impatient
voice the young girl came quickly out
of her room, still dressed in wrapper
and her forehead surrounded by a row
of bristling curl papers.
"Good morning, Max. Did you call
me?"
Eyes. Has any one been meddling
with my papers?"
"Mercy, no, you may be sure that
no one except yourself ever sits at
your desk, and l never allow any one
to go into the library. But is anything
missing?"
"Y-yes, a-a-something I had writ
ten"
ga page of manuscript?
Max turned sharply toward his cou-
sin. Did that new note in her voice
mean that she was laughing at him?
Forgetting himself in his irritation, he
cried angrily:
$50 it was you, then, who took my
poetry! You saw to whom it was adj
uEcSSbu dllu-
Max stopped, ashamed at the sight
of Gretchen's naughty face.
Forgive me, child. / was vexed,
extremely vexed. This poetry-a SON.
net-had a special Importance for me
and-it is a ridiculous thing to confess
I am absolutely unable to write 1t
over. / cannot even remember sim
gle line. My mind is perfect blank.
Ach, Himmel was ever a man so I'M
lucky before?"
Away he went, slamming the door
behind him.
Max did not return until evening,
and even as he had done in the morn
ing, he slammed the door upon his
return. Entering his library, he was
surprised to find an en-
PITY room instead of a warm fire with
Gretchen toasting her toes before it.
"Gretchenw
In answer to his call, the young girl
hastily appeared, still dressed in her
flowing wrapper and curl papers.
"Whatr' Max exclaimed. 'Not
dressed yet? At 6 o'clock in the even
ing"
For all answer, Gretchen began to
cry.
'I-I was $3.50 sorry about that
poetry" she sobbed. 81 have-been
huntington it all day long, and
can't find it anywhere = and I'm so
tired-and so discoura ged-for now
you'll never trust me again"
Hunting for my old sonnet! cried
Max. "Why, Gretchen, child, can
never be thankful enough that l did
not send it. If you only knew-but
listen.
''When 1 went this morning to see
the-the lady l told you about yester-
day, can you guess what welcome
awaited me? The announcement OF
her marriage to a horrible old man, a