The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-28
sobbs-Merriii Company.

seemed vastly pleaSed. Anu n.y."
much 10 this fortune"
Two fhougand crowns. Gretchen
was not sure, but to her there always
seemed 20 be a secret laughter behind
those clear eyes.
"Handseme! And what viii you do
nows''
"She liz to study for this opera
Did not propiesy IL" he cried
jubilant.y 'Did l aot say that some
Inapresario would discover you and
make your fertune?''
There iS plenty II work ahead"
said Gretchen sasels
Always. no matter what we strive
for. But brave heart aud a cheer
fui smile cary you halfway up the
hill. Where were you going when
this popInjay stopped soar
Il was going TO the clock .nea-
der's for a clock he y repairing
i've nothing to do. I'll go with ycn.
I've an faea that sirpnie tfke TO
talk with you about a very important
! matter. Perhaps IL would be easier
to talk first and then go 70. the clock.
II YOU have il youli be watching =
win you come into the garden with
me new?"
Yes, Hsrr." Gretchen would have
gone anywhere with this strange man.
He Inspired confidence
The garden was snug iittis place.
a few peachtrees and arbor- vines an.s
vegetables. and tables AM chairs on
the brick walk
$50 ypu are going TO become Z
prirna donAa?'' he began. seating him
self opposite her.
II am going 10 try" she smiled.
+ what is II yon wish to say IN fne@"
Il am wondering how to begin"
looking a, the blue ssy.
rs 1t dtfficuit%"
Yes, very"
THEN why bother 7"
''Sone things are written before we
are born. And ! must, in the -arGer
Of things, read this writing 10 YOU
"I}esiHsa said Gretchen.
Have you any dreams7'
Yes vaguely,
II mean the kind one has ia il!-
day time, the dreams when the eyes
are wide opea"
'Oh. yes"
'Who has moi dreamed ct riding il.
carriages, OF dressing In silks. Of scar
ing rich ornaments
"Ah'" Gretchen claspeG her hands
aud leaned On her elbows. And theIe
are palaces. too
To be sure" There Was 81 long
ri tste..s wut..ytt YOU fisSv u urwzTE
OF This kind 10 come true2"
10 they ever come true IT,
In this particular case, am Il
fairy. know that / do not LOCK IL;
still. / am. With one touch OF nay
wand--this oak staff can bring lCu
all these things you have dreamed
about
but what would do with carriages
and Jewels | am only goose girl.
aud l am 10 be married"
To that yetaIsg rascal Of a viatftes ~
He IL not a rascal" Loyalty.
'it witt take but little to make him
one" with an old sfianess.
t3retehen did moi understand.
he resumed, How would ssu Hike
q little palace, with servants at yoisr
beck and can, with carriages 10 aide
la, with silks and yeIyets 10 wear.
and jewels 10 adora You. haics How
would yon like THESE things sh.
Never again IN worry about your
hands, never again TO know the wsari-
ness of toll, to be mistress Of swans
finSte@d al geese ~
y shadow fsi upon Grstchen's face;
the eagerness died ont OF Ser eyes.
Il do not understand YOU. Herr. By
whet right should / possess yhess
things ?" ---5
"l5y the supreme right of beauty,
beauty alone
would it be--honests"
For the iirst time he lowered his
eyes. The clear crystal 81 irit IN hers
embarrassed him.
Gene. iet us gu for your clock
he said. risias. Il am an old fool
/ forgot that one talks like this olity
TO opera-dapcers."
Then Gretchen understood. Il ar,
all alone" She said: II have had TO
fight my battles with these two hands"
Il ain black devil. Kindchen, For
get what ! have said. You ara WORTHY
the brightest crown in Europe; but
you wear u better one than that
goodness. IL any one should ever make
you unhappy, come TO me. ! Will &c
yonr godfather. VIII you forgive an
old man who ought to have known
better?"
There was such unmistalabie hon
esty IN his face and eyes that she cid
not hesitate, but placed her hand In
his
why did soua ska IL those cues
tionsas she inquired.
''Perheps II WAS only to test YOUR
strength. You are brave and hon
est girl"
"And IL trouble came. now smil-
ing. 'twhere should l find you?"
II shall be hear when IL comes.
Good fairies are always close Mt haul"
He swept his hat from his head; ease
and grace were in the movement; no
irony, nothing but respect. And do
Oh love this vintner"
with all my heart"
And he loves your
Yes. His lips might lie but not
his eyes and the touvch of Lis hand
so much the worse" said the
mountaineer inandibly
Gretchen Rad gone home with her
clock: but still Herr Ludwig. MS the
mountainer called hilissell. tarriad In
the dim and dusty shop. Clocks. old
and new, broken ami Whole, clocks
from the four ends OF the world; and
watches, thick and clumsy. thin and
graceful OF gold and silver and pew
ter.
liz there anything you want" ASKED
the clock mepder.
Herr I.lsawig turned How cid this
ctctK- Inehdtr was. how very old.
Yes he said. ike i wateh
should like you to look over And
he carelessly laid the beautiful time-
piece en the worn wooden counter.
. The clociS-niender Literally pouueei
upon It. Where did you get Il watch
like thisT he demanded susIticicuSiy.
II is milne. You will fEd my name
engraved inside the hack lid :.
+ The clcck-inender rrtec open tho