Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-09-13
6he
Goose Girl
By HAROLD Mac6RATn
Copyright. 1909. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Company
CHAPTER vi.
oRETCHEN's DAY.

CHAPTER VI
| oRETCHEN's DAY.
| RETCHEN was always a.
when the morning was rosy
when the trees were still darl
| ~ and motionless and the bead
VI dew white and frOstlike, for what
better than to meet the day as 1t come
over the mountains and silence break
here and there In the houses ant
streets, In the fields and the vineyards
Let old age. which has played its par
and taken to the wings Of the stage
let old age loiter In the morning. bu
not green years. Gretchen awoke a
the birds awoke, with snatches ant
| little trills of song. To her neares
| neighbors there was about her tina
which reminded them Of the regularit.
Of q good clock; when they heard he
voice they knew 1t was time to get up
She was always busy In the morning
| The tinkle of the bell outside brough
her to the door, and her two goat
came pattering In to be relieved O
their creamy burden. Gretchen wa
fond Of them. They needed no carr
at all. The moment she had mllket
them they went tinkling Off to th'
steep pastures.
Even in midsummer the dawn wa!
chill In Dreiberg. Gretchen blew OF
her fingers. The fire began its cheer
full crachle. the kettle boiled briskly, ant
the frugal breakfast was under way.
There was daily one cup Of coffee
but neither Gretchen nor her grand
mother claimed this luxury: 1t was TO
the sick woman on the third floor.
What the character Of the woman'i
Illness was Gretchen hadn't an idea
but there could be no doubt that sh'
was Ill. desperately. had the goose
girl but known It. Her face was THU
and the bones were visible under th'
drumlike skin: her hands were merely
claws. She mystified the girl. for sht
never complained. never asked ques
tions. talked but little. and Away:
smiled kindly when the pillow was
freshened.
"Good morning. frau" said Gretchen
Good morning. liebchen."
81 have brought you brick this
morning. for 1t will be cold till the SUI
Is high"
THANK you"
Gretchen pulled the deal table t.
the side Of the cot. poured out the cof
fee and buttered the bread.
81 ought not to drink coffee. but II
is the only thing that warns me. You
have been very patient with me-"
~ am glad to help you"
"And that is why love you Now
| have some instructions to give you
this morning. Presently shall be
leaving. and there will be something
besides crowns"
"You are thinking Of leaving?"
"Yes. When 60 / shall not come
back Under my pillow there is an en-
NelODc. lOu W III uho ~ hVCP ~.
Gretchen. young and healthy. touch
ed not this melancholy undercurrent
"You will promise to take III"
"Yes. frau"
Thanks. little gosling. have an
errand for you this morning. 1t will
take you to the palace"
ITO the palace~ echoed Gretchen.
"What shall dOT
"You will seek her highness and give
her this note"
"The princess! VIII they not laugh
and turn me out2"
IF they try that. demand to see his
excellency Count Won Herbeck and say
that you came from No. 20 Krumer-
weg."
And II I cannot get int"
"You will have no trouble Be sure,
though. to give the note to no one but
her highness."
Gretchen decked her beautiful head
with little white cap. which she
wore only on Sundays and at the
opera. and braided and beribboued her
hair. Who was this old woman who
thought nothing of writing letter to
her serene highness? And who were
her nocturnal visitors? she pondered.
Being Of u discerning mind, she idled
about the Platz till after 8. for 1t had
been told to her that the great sleep
rather late in the morning. What
should she say to her serene highnessl
What kind of courtesy should she
make! At least she would wear no
humble, servlle air. for Gretchen was
a bit Of Il Socialist. Did not Herr
Goldberg. whom the police detested
did he not say that all men were
equal? And surely this sweeping
statement included women. With q
confidence horn Of right and limo.
cence she proceeded toward the east
or side gates of the palace. The sentry
smiled at her.
II have a letter for her serene high
ness" she said.
Leave It."
81 am under orders to give It to her
highness herself"
"You cannot enter the gardens with
out permit"
Gretchen remembered. "Win you
send some one to his excellency the
chancellor and tell him have come
from M 4O Krumerwegr
"Krumerweg. The very name ought
TO close any gate. But girl. are you
speaking truthfully?"
Gretchen exhibited the note. he
scratched his chin. perplexed.
Run along. II they ask me I'll say
that | didn't see you" The sentry re-
sumed his beat.
Gretchen stepped inside the gates,
and the real beauty Of the gardens
was revealed to her for the nrst time
strange flowers she had never seen be-
fore. /: was all a fairyland. There
were marble urns with hanging vines
and marble statues.
A hand grasped her rudely By the
arm.
what are you doing herer tnun'
dered the head gardener. "Be on With
you!"
"How dare you touch me like thatT'
she cried angrily.
Something in her glance cooled even