Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-21

krumerweg. and he asked her many ques
| tons. and some of her answers surprised
him.
Never knew father or mother?"
NO. herr: I am only founding wh'
fell into kind hands. This is where
| live"
'And IL ! should ask to come in?"
| But shall be too busy to talk. Th
| is bread day." evasively.
Il promise to sit very quiet in a chair.
Her laughter rippled; she was Away,
| close to that expression. You are {
! funny man. Come in, then; but mind
you will be dusty with flour when yol
| leave
Il will undertake that risk" he re
piled. with a seriousness not in tune with
the comedy of the situation.
Into the kitchen she led him. She was
moved with curiosity. Why should any
man wish to see woman knead bread
Sit there. herr" And she pointed to q
| stool at the left of the table. The sun
light came in through the window and ar
aureola appeared above her beautiful
head Have you never seen q woman
knead flour?'
Not for many years. said Hans
thinking of his mother.
Gretchen deliberately rolled up hei
sleeves and began work.
There are three things which human
growth never changes-the lines in the
hand. the shape of the ear and scars. The
large to their predestined mold. but these
three things remain. Upon Gretchen's
left arm, otherwise perfection. there was
white scar, rough and uneven, more like
an ancient burn than anything else
Grumbach's eyes rested upon the scar
and became fixed.
Where did you get that?" he asked
He spoke with a strange calm.
The scar? 1 do not remember. Grand
mother says that when / was little
r.c%I 10, a
"Gottr'
what did you say. herr?'
Nothing. You can't remember? Think
tensely now.
Whats all this nonsense about?' she
cried. with nervous laugh. Its only
a scar
She went on with the kneading She
patted the dough in to four squares.
These she placed on the oven-stove. She
wiped her hands on a cloth for that pur-
pose and sighed contentedly.
There! It's fine mystery, isn't it,"
YES" But Grumbach was shaking as
with ague.
What is the matter, herr?" with con-
Germ.
Il grow dizzy like this sometimes. II
doesn't amount to anything"
Gretchen turned down her sleeves. You
must go now, for 1 have other work"
And SO have I. Gretchen
He gained the street. but how he never
hilcW. he uOdlcu. oDJEClS near dL idIO
were shadowy and unusual. A great
calm suddenly winged down upon him.
and the world became clear, clear as his
purpose, his courage, his duty. They
might shoot or hang him. as they saw fit;
this would not deter him. 1t might be
truthfully said that he blundered back
to the Grand Hotel. He must lay the
whole matter before Carmichael. There
lay his one hope. Carmichael should be
his ambassador. But, God in heaven,
where should he begin? How?
The gypsy, standing in the center of
the walk. did not see Grumbach, for he
was looking toward the palaces. a kind
of whimsical mockery in his dark eyes.
Grumbach, even more oblivious, crashed
into him. 4
Grumbach stammered an apology. and
the other replied in his peculiar dialect
that no harm had been done. The jar,
however had reused Hans out OF his
tragic musings. There was CLINT OF
yellow in the gypsy's eye, flaw in the
iris. Hans gave a cry.
You? I find you at this moment, OF
all others?'
The gypsy retreated. IT do not know
you. 1t is a mistake"
But l know YOU" whispered Hans.
And you will know me when 1 tell you
that am the gardeners boy you ruined
some sixteen years ago."