The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-26

be finished. To my great regret, ow'
ing to the depression of business, ii
is necessary for me to deny myself
the qualification of possessing this
| masterpiece. Let me express n
wish and Che hope that the times will
| soon be better, when I shall feel jus.
titled in purchasing n of your truly
admirable works of art. I remain,
dear sir, very truly yours,
"ALOIS KLEEMULLER."
This letter was like a thunderclap
to our artist. He had counted upon
Herr Kleemuller as a sure patron;
prosperity would certainly follow the
| sale of his Landscape by Moon
light" which was now nearly COM
pleted, but, alas, that dream had
fed!
At the Einhorn in the evening, he
ordered only half a bottle of Ingel-
heimer, and the groan accompanying
his order created a deep impression,
not only on the landlord, but on the
other guests.
The score that night was scarcely
half as large as usual.
1.-The times are degenerating,'
moaned Herr Grundhuber, as he ex-
amined his cash box next morning.
A new reduction of his family ex-
penses was the result of this knowl-
edge.
Before q week had gone by, the
village of Gruningen, but now so
prosperous, had assumed an air of
misery, such as might be accounted
for only by the horrors of a civil a
The cry, hard times" rang out
from mansion and howell. Business
was about at a standstill, credit at an
end.
3 A fortnight later, Paul sat again in
the Einhorn, which he now visited
only twice a week.
Again he drew toward him the il
Illustrated volume which had been the
means of disclosing to him so clearly
the Situation" The paper with the
Vienna correspondence Icy there
still. He cast a forlorn glance oa the
fata! sheet before him. Then he
raised /, suddenly, and what dismay
filed his soul as he read for the first
time the date of this correspondence
it was four years old!
"This is foolisher than foolish"
he cried. Have I allowed myself
to be nearly frightened to death by
this nonsense of four years ago."
Rising and Selling the latest news
paper just brought in, he read in the
Geographic dispatches that the con-
fict so long feared had at last broken
out.
His hands fell at his side.
: 1--WE are then in truth ruined, an.
nihilated!" he groaned. "All hope is
gone. It matters little what use ]
make of the two thalers in my pocket,
all I have left. Heaven grant the
rest of my misery may depart with
my money!"
Thereupon, in this reckless mood,
he ordered two bottles of champagne.
The landlord smiled.
1.-THE painter IS a mighty poll
tician," he said to his wife next morn
ing. Before any one else saw the
approaching fearful business depres-
sion he foretold it, and now he fore
sees a change, for he is drinking
champagne again. That is a favora-
BILE sign. I I'm sure, Jetty, that the
times are better. This afternoon you
may engage the cake again a. be-
fore"
THANK Heaven!" said the baker,
when Frau Grundhuber gave her or
der as of old. "The times are i'm
proving. I tell you what, wife, we'll
but a fine dress for Mathilde now"
A week later Herr Kleemuller pur-
chased the Landscape by Moon
light,
Business was cup" again. The
prevailing depression" had taken
leave of the village, although the war
that had caused it was only just de-
clared.
This short period of unusual terror.
to the honest citizens of Gruningen
formed a subject for discussion for
many years after.
Heaven ave US from hard
times" the housewives muttered, as
they crossed themselves devoutly. !?
A certain professor, passing;
through the town at that season of:
misery, was heard to exclaim, as he
took his departure from the hospita-
BILE Einhorn:
"There are, forsooth, more simple
tons among US than hard times!"