The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-29
CARRIED BY STORM.
sx r. A. mitchell.

By r. A. mitchell.
copyright. 1903 BY American Press Asso-
ciation.l
The Won Puttkamers were one OF the
most respectable families III Germany.
Their customs. their manners. their
daily occupations. were the same as
they had been several hundred years
before. when the first Puttkamer was
permitted to prefix Won to his name.
They lived on the family estate at
Reinfeld. arose In the morning at a
certain hour. attended to their duties,
household and social, during the day
and went to bed and 10 sleep at the
same honr every night. Nothing had
ever occurred TO disturb the serenity
Of their lives. and II did not occur to
any one OF them especially to Herr
Won PuttkameF and his good wife. that
any dlsconcerting episode would ever
occur to them.
But where young women are grow
ing up destined to become wives there
is always skeleton in the family
closet. The mother may realize that
pretty daughter viii mate and leave
the family nest, but the father. If such
thought comes into his head. either
banishes II or considers It likely only
to happen NJ the far future. The time
came. as it must inevitably come.
when the whole puttkamer family
was startled as If BY the shock OF an
earthquake.
An application arrived from a young
officer In the Prussian army for per-
mission 10 pay bis addresses to Johan-
ma Puttkamer. This was equivalent
to asking for her hand At first only
the horrible proposition to take away
one Of the lambs was considered. Then
note was taken Of the wolf who had
broken into the fold. Who was he?
A yon. an officer, a member Of an ex-
cellent family. But with this the list
Of recommendation ended. At the
university where he had studied bis
wild ways had fastened upon him the
sobriqnet OF Mad" A big man, with
long legs. he strobe through German
customs, trampling them at every step.
He never did anything as any one else
would do It. He bad no reverence, no
fear He smoked big black cigars and
drank casks Of beer. Terrible as 1t
was 10 give up the maiden. II was ex-
circulating to risk her happiness with
such a man
A family conciave was called--that
Is. a concIave among the older mem
bers The applicants position. talents,
habits, were discussed and testimony
regarding them taken. on the one
hand was the young officers family
and social status. on the other his mad
FRANKS. his contempt for established
forms II was not deemed wise to posi-
lively decline what might prove a
good match nor to accept what might
prove d very bad one Better tempo
rize until an acquaintance with the
sutton could be gained. The final deci-
sion was to invite him to the family
domain and look him over. II he were
much IN love. be would wait: II not
well. perhaps they would be wei rid Of
him. so Herr Won Puttkamer wrote
the young man permission TO pay the
family visit Of inspection. just as a
church congregation permits candi-
date to preach them sample sermon.
Word having reached the Puttkamer
home Of the hour az which the suitor
would arrive, preparation was made
to receive him according to the sacred
traditions Of the first families OF Ger
many-aunts and uncles were invited
TO be present during the visit that the
benefit Of their observations might be
obtained. He was to be permitted to
remain till some estimate Of his prom.
Use as a husband had been secured.
then 10 be sent away for further de-
liberation. perhaps other visits and
final decision. which would be com
municated to him ID due form.
Meanwhile the girl applied for de-
murely waited for the result OF ali
this investigation.
When the Gay came round and the
hour approached for the suitor's arriv-
al the Puttkamer family and the old
est and most trusted relations were
lined up to receive him to protect the
lamb from any sudden dash Of the
wolf Johanna was stationed In the
center Of the group between her ia
Their and mother, while the others ex-
tended as wings on either side. A
clatter OF horses boots was heard
coming up the driveway at gallop,
and a moment later tall, lank young
man threw himself to the ground.
There stood the father and mother
giaring solemuly. between them the
blushlng Johanna. With her eyes cast