Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-03

Gretchen Is beautiful enough 70 be
n queen. and yet she IS merely a Hebe
in a tavern" remarked Carmichael
~HebeY' suspiciously.
-Hebe was a cup bearer TO the myth
illogical gods m olden times" Car
michael explained. He had set trap.
but the vintneT had not fallen into #.
"a fairy story" The vfntner nodded.
He understood now.
Carmichael would lay another trap.
what happened 10 herr
"Oh." said Carmichael, "she spilled
wine on a god one day. and they ban
ished her"
1T must have been rare vintage"
Il suppose you are familiar with all
The valleys. NosellT~
Yes. That is a anc country"
The old man in tatters sat erect in
bis chair.
You have servedT'
a little. II l could be an officer I
should Ike the army" The vintner
reached for bis pipe. which lay on the
table
TRY this" urged Carmichael. orer-
ing his pouch.
This VIII be good tobaccoeI know
The vintner filed his pipe.
Carmichael followed this gift with
many questions about wines and vim
tnges, and hidden In these questions
were n dozen clever traps. But the
other walked over them unhesitant,
with n certainty OF step which cha
grined the trapper.
BY and by the vintner rose and babe
his table companion good night lie
had not offered 20 buy anything. This
frugality was purely Of the thrifty
peasant. But the vintner expressed
many thanks. on his way 90 the door
re stopped and whispered into Crotch
ems ear.
The press 10 the room was thinning
A carter sauntered past and sat down
unconcernedly at the table occupied by
the old man, whose face Carmichael
had not yet seen. A little later q
butcher approached the same table and
seated himself 10 was then a dusty
baker came along AID repeated this
procedure. and Carmichaers curiosity
was enlivened. Undoubtedly they were
Socialists, and this was little con-
clave. and the peculiar manner OF their
meeting, the silence and mystery. were
purely fctitbonal
Had Carmichael not fallen a-dream-
ing over his pipe he would have seen
the old man pass three SHIPS OF paper
across the table. He would have seen
the carter. the butcher and the baker
pocket these slips stoldly. He would
have seen the mountaineer wave his
hand sharply and the trio rise and dis
perse. Carmichael left the Black
Eagle. nursing the sunken ember in
his pipe.
intermediary the mountaineer paid
his score and started for the stairs
which led % the bedrooms above. But
he stopped at the bar. A very old man
was having q pail filed with hot cab
bage soup. II was the ancient clock
member across the way. The noun.
taineer was startled out OF bis habitua
reserve. The clock member had the as
pect OF n weary. broken man lie
Ehufied noiselessly out. The noun
taineer followed him cautiously. Once
IN his shop the clock member poured
the stes ming soup into q bowl. broke
bread IN II and began his evening
meal The other. his face pressed
against the dim pane. stared anC
stared.
"Gott IN himmell 1t is her b,
gasped chokingly.
Krumerweg was indeed a crooked
way. II formed a dozen elbows an,
ragged half circles as it skunk of from
the Adlergasse. II was half after
when Grechen and the vintner pickle,
their way over cobbles pitted here anS
there with mudholes. They were arm
In arm.
"Only a little farther" said Gretchen
for the winner had never before pass
ed over this way.
Long as il is and crooked. HEAVIER
knows IL is short enoughr' He en-
circIed her with his arms and kisse,
her. II love you! love you!" he said
Her bosom swelled, her heart throh
bed. and she breathed in ecstasy tn
sweet chill air that rushed through tn
broken street.
After the vintage" she said. givinl
HIS arm a pressure. For this hand
some fellow was 70 be her husban,
when the vines were pruned and fresh
ened against the coming winter.
AYE. after the vintage" he echoed
Bot there was tragedy ia his heart a
deep and profound as his love.
MY grandmOther-I call her that. 70
haven't any grandmother-is old an
seldom leaves the house. promise
that after work tonight I'd bring m
man home and let her see how hand
some he Is. She is always saying tha
Uzs.rrNr