The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-30
By NATHAN HUMPHREYS
Copyright. Ford Pub. Coz

What shall we do"
The man hesitated, and then
glanced toward the door to see that 1t
was quite secure.
"Do?" he murmured. Tell Mrs.
Burnell everything. She'll listen. I
know"
Exhausted, now the critical moment
was over, sank upon chair; Ber-
wertz drew another close to me, while
the boy" knelt by his side, her trem-
bling hand upon his knee.
Madam, we're both Germans" he
said. "Gretel here is my wife, but
we've been separated IL months till
yesterday"
/ breathed sigh OF relief; / was
only a British matron with a due
sense of the proprieties, after all.
You'll see I'm not really deal
older than my wife," went on Ber-
wertz, with swift movement of his
hand toward his face. With a dex-
terity that surprised me, he had re-
moved beard and mustache, and there
sat before me a handsome, clean
shaver man of about twenty-five!
l could only gasp, wondering what
was to follow.
my name" continued the German,
'is-well, not Berwertz. married
Gretel year ago; runaway match
without the knowledge of either of
our parents. Not that my wife's peo-
| pie would have objected; the obstacles
were on my side.'
"As soon as it was known" he
went on, Il had made Gretels ac-
| quaintance, there was trouble. To
place me under restraint was out of
the question; therefore they took care
to keep my sweetheart from me as
much as possible.
One morning We met at a country
village far from home. and were quiet
| ly married. Afterward we separated.
arranging to meet in Paris, the next
day, where we intended to reside till
the thing blew over. / kept the ap-
pointment, but not so Gretel. She was
kidnapped.
THE agony Of my mind that day,
every day since! l returned. and,
giving out was touring broad, COM
menced the search for my wife. l was
hampered in every way; conscious
that wherever went my movements
were known.
How I tracked her need not re-
late now. Though cunning In every
way, DR.. Smith-he's Hartnoll now
left clew, which quickly followed.
Haste was necessary: time grew short.
/ tracked Smith to the house opposite
here. but Gretel was not there at first"
I-Berwertz frowned-"she came a few
days later In common packing-case
like a bale of goods!"
started from my chair. astonished.
Il saw it myself" / cried.
"Ah! Then. Mrs. Burnell. you can
sympathize"
You were courageous" was all I
could murmur.
"And now, Mrs. Burnell, please look
at my case. A special law binding
on-on persons in my position enacts
that a couple living apart for IL
months Immediately after marriage,
the marriage is dissolved. The year
expires tomorrow. You see the plot
At the same time, If we declare our
selves openly. we can not risk going
outside this house. Hartnoll. dare
say, is already on our track"
Thank Heaven you're in time!"
cried. Stay as long as you WISH"
And they did stay-a fortnight
and then returned to Germany. had
the satisfaction of seeing Gretel
dressed as she should have been, and
pretty woman she was. Dr. Hart.
noll and his satellites had moved out
long before; the year gone, and the
girl in Berwertz' safe keeping. he
knew his task was ended-ended igno
miniously.
The morning before they left, let
ter came for Berwertz, with a crest on
the back He was overjoyed; his IA
Ither had granted forgiveness, and was
waiting to receive with open arms the
long-suffering bride and bridegroom
Cd tuC blOuShoin CoAuC " TIC aOuS<
\ to convey. them to the station, the Ger
man grasped my hand.
II can never thank you enough
he cried. "As soon as we reach home
you'll hear from me-"
Gretel kissed me as affectionately al
IL had been her own mother. and
was really sorry when they left.
A week later a parcel came.
opened it; a diamond pendant dazzlet
aad sparkled before my eyes. Thu
writing Of the letter Enclosed recog
nized at once as Gretel's. A sentenc'
,, caught my attention: "The primes
sends his best and warmest regards.
"Prince,",
I was too astonished at first to re
alize the truth, but as l read on