Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-04-20
THE SHEPHERD.


the fields. Then came rhododendrons, Ill
les. and, still farther up, the edelweiss,
the immaculate star of the heights.
Dominating the slopes where the breeze
stirred numberless petals, the glacier it
self was like an immense open blossom.
Hand in hand they descended the narrow
path. The sun was already low in the
horizon, and the glory of its setting
gilded their youthful idyl
The young girl walking beside her
friend wore the costume of the peasant
women of the Valais. iier white chemi-
set set off her fresh complexion and her
hair fell in large curls from under the big
hat. Around her neck hung a gold chain
that tinkled at every step. The sun van
ished. and the two young people, touched
by the gloom of approaching darkness,
remained silent.
They were near the village of Bourg-
Saint Pierre short distance on one
side a chalet stood on the granite rocks.
Cows were grazing in the inclosure. a
slender column of blue smoke rose from
the roof. The lovers fingered a moment,
ter of thcket of pine trees.
Tomorrow. Gretel," murmured the
youth, you will come. won't you? You
will come as soon as it is dark? | will
wait here. All! What news will you
0ring
And as she remained silent, he added,
Don't YOU think / ought to speak to
your father MYSELF"
Before the young girl rose the image
of the old peasant, with his honest but
stern obstinate face the eyes whose
cold steeiy gaze she feared for her lover
No she Said, IF any one can per
suade him, it is l. Farewell, Franz, my
friend. Let us hope"
She held out both hands. and he
pressed a long kiss upon them. Then
she drew them away and fled.
He saw her white chemiset huttering
IKE a bird through the foliage. Some
times, turning, Gretel threw him kiss
from the t4Ps~of her fingers. which came
on the wings of the mist to thrill the
lovers heart.
The next evening Franz was waiting
at the same place. At last he heard a
light step on thS moss.
"Gretel!" he cried.
The young girl, weeping. threw herself
into his arms.
Your father will not consent, Gretel %
Then amid her sobs, she told him
about the interview with her father. the
old mans fury when she named the
shepherd. Nothing could move him; his
daughters tears only exasperated him.
And she concluded. "he told me
that he wanted our ncighbor, Marc. who
owns the Rock farm, for his son law.
that the two estates might be united.
Never do you hear. never! You or no
one Oh, Franz, it is not possible that
we can be separated"
ALAS" he murmured. would to
heaven that you were as poor as /! No
one should tear you from my arms"
lie lowered his head. pierced to the
heart. Light and Joy had vanished He
saw himself wandering alone through
the paths she had frightened by her
wcsence the skies were darkened soil
tude swallowed everything. He clasped
the beloved hama, pressed his burning
brow against it, and sighed, Il cannot,
Gretel"
At that moment a harsh voice shouted,
"Gretel! Gretel!"
With a sudden movement the lovers
parted the young girl turning toward
the almost luxurious chalet, where her
father and theri neighbor Mare awaited
her.
Franz went sadly back to the pastures
where the hocks intrustcd to his care
were sleeping under the open skv. He
stretched himself ON the grass, fancvinp
he saw GretePs eyes sparkling in the
starry throng. The summer passed
aw"y Nothing happened to change the
late of Franz and Gretel Sometimes
they met in the fields, but their quiet
happiness had fed Their affection was
Shadowed by deep anxiety. and Franz
no longer dared to speak to Gretel of
the future
After the calm autumn. winter covered
the valley ana the mountain with it's
white mantle The tlocks and herds had
come Gown again to the plain and meet
1ngs were less frequent in the frozen
roads.
1t was May of the year 1900. Events
we're preparing of which the peaceful in
hohitants of the Nalais had little sus-
pic;on. They scarcely knew the name of
lionap0rtc, the conqueror who had borne
'''H WV tfAtN N'AAlNS dlti1 tue EtDe, the
l'mnr, into Italy and Egypt Suddenly
the frontier threw into Switzerland. and
the sleepy shores of Leman. a whole
army, horse, foot and officers, bedizened
with gold lace And the figure of the
eenqucror appeared before the hurrying
crowds
What was he going to do at the head
OF his troops: People cried out that it
was Impossible, when they heard that
these cannon, regiments and munitions
of war were to cross the Alps and de-
>eend into Italy. What! Pass st. Ber-
nard. the inaccessible mountain. the
mountain of avalanches. crevasses, walls
OF snow? What horses will draw. over
semyely visible paths. the heavy artil-
lerN. cai>sons, and ammunitiong Every
thing had been arranged in advance.
Sled2es Tor the gun carriages secretly
made, were hastily brought and the can.
non placed on them. Then it was found
that these were too wide to follow the
winding roads. But nothing would stop
iioulPar'e. He abandoned the sledces
and pInp trees fellpd arJ tbo;,. rr,,rt-s