Putnam patriot., 1910-09-02
GOOSE
aAnf whereT

sN4 sNan < at the bottom Of all the kinks and "a ists in this short life, not heav- en. But Herbeck is right You shall marry when you will"
 The knock of the valet was again beard.
 your highness. there is a young woman outside. peasant. who desires 10 speak to her serene highness."
 What! She enters the palace with out any more trouble than this?'
 By my orders. father" said Hide carde. who gathered that this privileg- ed visitor must be Gretchen of the Krumerweg. Admit her"
 Gretchen was usAered in. Her throat was little full as she recognized the three most important persons In the grand duchy.
 "rhe little goose giri~ the duke said half audibly.
 "Yes. highness" Gretchen's face was serious, and her eyes were mourn ful. She carried an envelope in her hand tightly.
 "Come to me. Gretchen" said the princess What Is ity'
 She is dead. highness, and 1 found this letter under her pillow"
 Herbeck took the envelope.
 "Deady Hildegarde's eyes filled.
 Who is dead?' demanded the duke.
 Emma Schultz. father Oh. know you will forgive me for this deception She has been In Dreiberg for month dying. and l have often stolen out to see her" She let her tears fall unre- strained.
 The duke stared at the rug Present ly he said: Let her be buried in con secrated ground. Wrong or right that chapter Is closed. my child. What Is in the letter. HerbeekT
 Herbeck was strong man. He WAS always far removed from tears, but there was mist over the usual clarity of his vision. He ripped down the flap It was only a simple note to her serene highness begging her to give the ine1osed banknotes 10 one Gretch- en. who lived in the Krumerweg The notes represented thousand crowns
 Take them. little goose girl" said the duke. Your ship has come in. This will be your dewry."
 An icy shiver ran up and down Gretchen's spine. a shiver of wonder. delight, terror A thousand crowns. A fortunei
 And I shall add to 1t another thou sand" said Hildegarde. Give them to me. father"
 In all this fortune amounted to It, tie more than s400, but to Gretchen. frugal and thrifty. to whom a single crown was a large sum, to her 1t rep resented wealth. She was now the richest girl in the lower town. Dreams of kaleidoscopic variety flew through her head. Tears sprang into her eyes weep.
 The duke was the first to relieve the awkwardness of the moment
 Count. has 1t not occurred to you that we stand in the presence Of two very beautiful young women"
 Herbeck scrutinized Gretchen with care. Then he compared her with the princess. The duke was right. And the thing which struck him with most force was that, while each possessed beauty individual to herself. 1t was not opposite. but strangely alike.
 When the duke was alone he slowly passed on to his secretary and opened a drawer. He laid small bundle on the desk and united the string. One by one he ranged the articles-two lt- tie yellow shoes. little cloak trimmed with ermine. There had been locket. but that was now worn by her high ness.
 Hermann Breunner lived in the gran ite lodge just within the eastern gates of the royal gardens. He was a wiu- ower and shared the ample lodge with the undergardeners and their families. He was a man of breeding moods, and there was no laughter in his withered heart. He adjusted his heavy specta- cles and held the note slantingiy to- ward the candle. A note or letter was q singular event in Hermann hie. This note. left by the porter or the Grand hotel moved him with surprise. It requested that he present himseii at o'clock at the office of the hotel and ask to be directed to the room or Hans Grumbach, whoever he might be.
 He decided to go. Certainty this man Grumbach did not urge him With out some definite purpose. The con cierge at the hotel. who knew Her mann. conducted him to room 10 on the entresole. Hermann knocked A voice bade him enter.
 You wished to see me?'
 Yes" offering a chair.
 You are Hermann Breunner, De- gan Grumbach. and you once nao brother named Hans"
 Hermann grew rigid in his chair. Il have no brother"
 You did have"
 Hermann's head dropped My God ses. did have a brother. but he was . scoundrel"
 Perhaps he was a scoundrei. He IS >-dead.- softly.
 Gods will be done~ But Her mann's face turned lighter.
 'As a boy he loved you
 And did I not love himg said Her mann fercely Did l not worship that boy, who was more like son to me than a brothery
 T knew your brother. l knew nm well. He was not a scoundrei. oniy weak He went to America and De came suceessfui-in business He fouSnt with the north in the war. He was