Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-05-14
Her Dowry
By JEANETTE D. CARTER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

the ware thAt Is usually kept on iutIn
was In order, when the door opened.
rnd a gentleman walked in and asked
for a cup of chocolate.
You are too early" said the waiter.
do you suppose we can serve guests
till . o'clock in the morning and he
up at to begin another day? You'll
get nothing here till 0 o'clock. Be off
with you
The stranger made no reply, but left
the shop. Walking across the street
the waiter watching him the while,
he entered another coffee shop and
made the same request.
sit down, sir said the landlord
checrily. The chocolate will be ready
in a moment
While the guest was waiting for his
chocolate he converScd with the land
lord He did not take the proffercd
seat, but walked back and forth. lie
asked many questions about what was
going on in the neighborhoOd- whether
the people were satisfied with their
condition, how the city government
suited them and if the inspectors trou-
bled them much.
While they were talking the land
lords daughter, RoSina, very pretty
girl, came in with the chocolate. The
stranger wished her good day and
made some very pretty speeches to
her. When she went out, pouring the
chocolate, he said to her father:
"She is nice girl. But | warn You
that flowers are not always in bud
nor even in bloom. She should be
married before she fades
The landlord, who stood before his
guest, with a napkin on his arm,
shrugged his shoulders, spread out
his hands on either side and rolled up
his eyes.
''She is fading very fast" he said,
mot from age, for she is only nine
teen but because she loves a young
man, and since | have no dowry to
give her she cannot marry him.
"Who is the young man?' asked the
stranger
"He is an optician, a maker of
glasses, a fine young man. He served
his term in the army and was very
brave He fought for the emperor at
SadoWa and received Il medal for say
ing a standard from falling into the
hands of the enemy. He was badly
wounded and was brought home here
and put in a hospital. My daughter
was serving as nurse, and she took
care of the young soldier. 1t was
doubtless due to her care that he re-
covered"
"Why do you not represent the case
to the emperor?' asked the stranger.
He should pay for the lives of his
soldiers Your daughter should re-
ceive a dovry from the government
for saving the brave young man"
"The emperor. The poor man is al
ready beset by the cares of state
without being troubled by a poor cof-
fee house keepers daughter. What
with keeping so many different peo-
pies together under his flag one would
think he would go crazy"
"Iow much dowry does your daugh-
ter require to marry her soldier low
err
"a thousand crowns"
BY this time the stranger had swal-
lowed his chocolate.
Il would advise you," he said, "to
send your daughter with her lover to
the emperor that she may tell how she
saved one of his soldiers, and perhaps
he will give her Il d0Wry."
care you crazy" asked the landlord
in astonishment at such Il proposition.
Not at all | am perfectly sane
''Why, she could not even get an
audience with the emperor. And II
she did it would be shameful for her
to bother the good man with her af
fairs"
Nonsense. The emperor would be
glad to listen to petition from a
Young girl who had saved Il life for
him. And as for securing an audi
ence, | will attend to that for you.
Give me pen and paper"
The landlord, wondering whether he
was awake or dreaming or out of his
senses, brought writing materials and
the stranger scribbled something on Il
bit Of paper and handed it to the land
lord, saying:
Give that to your daughter and tell
her to go to the palace tomorrow at
u o'clock noon. And be sure she
takes her soldier with her. They will
be admitted to the emperor's presence
by presenting that paper, and l guar
antce that he will listen to them
kindly
Without waiting to make eXplana
tions or to reply to questions the mar
left the shop. The landlord as soon
as he had gone rushed to the door and
watched him as he strolled leisurely
down the street. The waiter opposite
who had refused to serve the stranger
also went to the door, wondering what
had so interested his neighbor in the
man. Togther they examined the pa
per he had left, but could make moth
ing out of it except three letters-F.
]. and r.
All that day and in the evening the
family Of the landlord, with Rosina
and her soldier, discussed the matter
Of riSking making fools of themselves
by going to the palace.
The decision was to go. They were
admitted on the strangers pass, and
on entering room where the emperor
received petitions they saw that he
was the stranger who had drunk chOc.
olate in their coffee house.
He received them with a smile and
without requiring them to state their
case handed Rcsina chcc't for a