The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-12


d Dreiherger."
.sFrom the north, grandmother"
forcing a smile to his lips.
The reply rather gratitied her.
Your uanTs.
Leopold Dietrich, vintner by
trade"
'sYou speak like a iianoverian or a
frusgian'
II have passed some time in both
countries. / have wandered about q
good DEAL
"Give me your hand
The vtntner looked surprised for a
rsnment Gretchen approved. SO he
a save the old woman his left hand.
\ The grandmother smoothed il out
tpon her own and bent her shrewd
exes Silence Gretchen could hear
! the matter stirring above; the log
cracked and burst INTO flame. A frown
regAn To gather ON the winners brow
and sweat in his palm,
II SEQ many strang things here,
r~ti the palraist. In a brOod.ng tone.
And what de- you scey" asked Gret-
chen eagerly
II see very little of vineyards
r rec riches, pomp, ] see vast armies
moving against each other; there ls
thte smell of powder and fire; devas-
nmong those who tramp with guns on
lEeir shoulders. You ride, there IL
guild on your arms. You viii become
Rreafffi bat | do not understand.
do not understand. closing her eyes
i 10 ra moment
The vintner sat upright his chin
truclent, his arm tense.
WAR" he murmured
Gretchen's heart sank: there was
/ 10y In his voice.
go on, grandmother. she whisper
I'd
Shalt ! 1fve7+' asked the vintner.
whose belief in preseience tn this
hour had been ri negative quality.
There is nothing here save death
tn old age. yintner." Her gnarled hand
seized hts In wise. do you mean
well by nay girl ?"
''Grandmother." Gretchen remon-
strated.
Silence"
The vintner withdrew his hand
slowly
rs this the hand Of liar and
cheat Is 1t the hand Of. dishonest
man -
There Is no dishonesty there,- but
there are lines | DO not understand.
Oh. cannot see, everything; II In like
seeing people I'm a mist They pass
thHt1&hts AMY dAa@ pAtEads 3bht 4 repeat,
do you mean well by my girl"
fefors God and His angels love
her: before ali mankind | would glad
Nv declare II. Gretchen shall never
come 20 harm at these hands, swear
H''
II believe you" The old wonan's
farm relaxed its tenseness.
Thanks. grandmother" said Gret-
chen. Now, read what my hand
SAYS.
The old woman took the hand She
loved Gretchen.
Il read that you are gentle and
brave and cheerful, that YOU have a
loyal heart and pure mind | read
that you are in love and that some
day you will he happy" A smile went
over her face, a kind of winter sum
set
sYeu are no; looking at my hand
At all. grandmother" said Gretchen in
reproach.
II do not need. my child Your life
n written in yonr face The grand
mother spoke again tn the vintner
So you Will take her away from me o.
.sWiil IL be necessary" he returned
quietly Have YOU any objection To
nay becoming your foster grandehild
much as Gretchen is?"
The old woman made no answer
E2ztE IA1SAa tiSE skEN anu via NOT open
them Gretchen motioned that this
was a sign that the interview was end
ed. But as ne rose 10 his feet there
was a sound outside. A carriage had
stopped. Some one opened the door
and began to climb the stairs The
noise ceased anly Whom the visitor
reached the top landing. Then all
became still again.
There Ii r>methiug strange going
xtzr a - L
yer.
I'm what way" asked the vintner
In like nndertones.
- .--.sn 1..e tifnns u Neiled Lady has-cali4
81 at night. three times "a man muf-
fed UP 50 one could not see his face. ="
Lat AS not question our twenty
crowns rent Gretchen" interrupted
the grandmother, waking. 80 long
4 Nh no one IL disturbed. So long as the
police are not brought TO our door. it
& IA not eur affair Leopold, Gretchen.
one sspon the other, then spread out
her hands above their heads. THE
Hptv Mother bring happiness and good
lack u you Gretchen
And to me-" said the youth
II could not wish son better luck
than ito give. yon Gretchen Now,
lRave me"
Inc WINNER HtCheG up htA NAT ana
Gretchen led him to the street.
He hurried away, giving no glance
at the closera carriage the sleepy driv-
er, the weary horse Neither did he
heed the man dressed AZ a carter Rhe.
when he saw the vintner. turned and
followed Finally. when the vintner
ftered into the Adiergasse. he stop
ped his hands clenched, his teeth hard
upon each other, He even leaned
against the wall OF house. his face
. for the moment hidden In his arm,
Wretch that am Dainnatie
wretch. Krumerweg. krumerweg'
Crooked way, indeed" He flung down
his arm passfonateiy. There viii he
b God up yonder." looking al the stars
He will see into my heart and know
that IL IN not bad, only young Oh,
Gretchen
II tsretchen?" The carter stepped into
n shadow and waited.
Carmichael did not enjoy the opera
that night. lie had missed the first
actE. and the last was gruesenae, AND
the royal box was vacant. Outside his
4 ut Down on orse ut trr benches near
~ fountains In the platz. Hts pro-
Nae Imagination took the boundaries
& A. That mornings ride, down the
mpnthSrn psEtas OF the nscuntafns the
!. Hack nnuirreiA IN the branches, the